Eight Ways to Hear from God #5 - Godly Counsel

 Today we will continue our Bible Study on Eight Ways to Hear from God.  We’ve already looked at Preaching, the Bible, Prayer, and Visions and Dreams, so today we’re going to look at the fifth way that we hear from God – Godly Counsel.

 Let’s start with our text for the overall study:

 

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)
^1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

 So, in the Bible there are a number of times where God spoke to people through a booming voice that came from Heaven.  He spoke at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my Son in whom I’m well-pleased.”  He spoke to the disciples at the Mount of Transfiguration.  He spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road.  But our text here tells us that God spoke at various times in various ways.  In other words, God speaks to us in different ways.  I made a list of eight ways God speaks to us.  So tonight, let’s look at the fifth method – Godly Counsel.  Here’s the text for tonight’s study:

 

Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)
^11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

 God uses men of God to speak truths to others.  Pastors can often bring correction and guidance to members of their congregation:  Through the use of scriptures; through the use of prayerful wisdom.  A pastor also often has spiritual discernment and can “rightly divide” the word of God. 

 We like to think that we have it all together.  We like people to think that we can understand any set of circumstances.  We have great confidence in our own abilities, sometimes too much confidence.  But the truth is that we sometimes we allow ourselves to be too emotionally involved with a situation to clearly discern God’s will in something.  That’s where Godly counsel comes in. When we NEED to hear from God He sometimes uses someone else to speak for Him.  We need counsel:

 

Proverbs 12:1 (NKJV)
^12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.

 

Proverbs 12:15 (NKJV)
^12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

 

Proverbs 17:10 (NKJV)
^17:10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

 Solomon is the wisest man who has ever lived.  God has given this wisdom:

 

2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (NKJV)
^1:10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" ¹¹ And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-- ¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

 God gave wisdom to Solomon who passes it to us.  The entire Book of Proverbs is Godly counsel.  If we consider that to be true then we can see a need for Godly counsel.  What I’m really talking about here today though, is counsel from godly men and women.  People that we can go to and hear good biblical and godly advice. 

 

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
^4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

 So, God uses men to equip us for the work of the ministry.  That word translated as “equip” means to thoroughly furnish what is needed for ministry.  What is needed for ministry? 

 For one thing we need to recognize God’s calling and will for our lives.  Is this thing I WANT to do really what God has called me to?  We may need someone else to tell us if we’re on the right track.  Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are usually men of God.  These are people whose lives are built around God’s will.  They pray, they hear from God.  They RECOGNIZE the sound of God’s voice.  God can use them to speak for Him.  God places godly wisdom in godly men! He does that for us.

 

Proverbs 22:17-21 (NKJV)
^22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; ¹⁸ For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, ¹⁹ So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. ²⁰ Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, ²¹ That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?

 God says, “Listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to MY knowledge.” (paraphrased)  If we listen to wise words we’re hearing the words of God.  Men can speak wisdom and counsel and it’s God’s words that are the ones who come through. 

 Does one person have all the answers?  Not likely.  I know that I’m a person who prays.  I look for God to speak to me about a lot of issues in my life and others’ lives.  I can recognize the voice of God, because I’ve heard it.  Do I always have great and abounding understanding of every issue that people face?  Not by a long shot, I don’t.  But I do know that God will speak to me if I ask.  The Bible tells us to seek counsel from more than one person:

 

Proverbs 24:6 (NKJV)
^24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

 

People have talents and understandings.  Some people know and understand things that someone else may not grasp.  The Bible tells us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.

 Should we just go to anyone for advice, though?  Or should we carefully choose those who advise us?  Look at this:

 

Psalms 1:1 (NKJV)
^1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

 Blessed is the man who walks NOT in the counsel of the ungodly.  That word blessed literally means HAPPY.  Happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.  You don’t want to go to sinners for advice.  If you look at someone’s life you can see whether or not they’re living God’s Will for their lives.  How can we expect them to speak the things of God into our lives, when those things aren’t in their own.  As a sinner I went to my friends for advice sometimes and I heard a lot of strange things.  A lot of the advice I accepted and followed led to even worse situations.  But as I watched my pastor and saw that He was living God’s will for his own life, I knew that he knew and understood God’s will and could speak it into my life as well.

 See the question that should be foremost on your mind when you ask for and receive advice is how does their life line up with what you know about the nature and character of God. 

 God speaks to people through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the liaison between man and God.  He is the one who brings conviction.  He’s the one who acts as a conscience for us, and He is the one who guides us into the truth:

 

John 16:13 (NKJV)
^16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

 He will guide you into truth.  Truth leads to discernment, because discernment is knowing the right thing from the wrong thing.  

Eight Ways to Hear from God #4 - Visions and Dreams

 Today we will continue our Bible Study on Eight Ways to Hear from God.  We’ve already looked at Preaching, the Bible, and Prayer, so today we’re going to look at the fourth way that we hear from God – Visions and Dreams.

 Let’s start with our text for the overall study:

 

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)
^1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

 So, in the Bible there are a number of times where God spoke to people through a booming voice that came from Heaven.  He spoke at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my Son in whom I’m well-pleased.”  He spoke to the disciples at the Mount of Transfiguration.  He spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road.  But our text here tells us that God spoke at various times in various ways.  In other words, God speaks to us in different ways.  I made a list of eight ways God speaks to us.  So today let’s look at the fourth method – Visions and Dreams.  Here’s the text for today’s study:

 

Acts 2:17 (NKJV)
^2:17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

 This is Peter on the day of Pentecost and he’s quoting the words spoken by Joel the Prophet.  This scripture speaks of how the Holy Spirit will work in us.  You sons and daughters will prophesy – That is to speak under divine inspiration.  Speak words that God has put in us.  They may tell the future or they may speak a warning of what MAY happen if people don’t repent and change direction.  Jonah prophesied when he called the Ninevites to repentance:

 

Jonah 3:4 (NKJV)
^3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

 But today, I’m more concerned with the next part of the text, “Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream, dreams.”

 First, what is a vision?  What does it mean to see a vision?  That word translated as vision means an inspired appearance.  In other words, God shows you something that speaks to His plan, for humanity, or for your life.

 Here’s an example:

 

Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV)
^6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. ² Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" ⁴ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵ So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts."

 This is Isaiah’s vision.  He’s seeing the throne room of God.  Above the throne of God stood the Seraphim.  This is interesting.  The word seraph means to burn.  Seraphim means “burning ones.”  These are the ones who are zealous in their worship of God.  Let me ask you, have you ever heard the phrase, “He’s on fire for God.”?  That’s similar to what these ones are – They are on fire in their worship of God.  It can be seen in the way they use their wings.  One set covers their eyes.     Hiding their eyes represents reverence.  They aren’t worthy to look at God’s face.  It’s like when God passed before Moses in Exodus 33:

 God has called Moses up to the mountain.  While he’s up there, Moses asks to see God’s glory.  Look at God’s response:

 

Exodus 33:19-23 (NKJV)
^33:19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." ²⁰ But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." ²¹ And the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. ²² So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. ²³ Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

 In this vision, God tells Moses you cannot see my face.  The seraphim are the same they CANNOT look on the face of God.  So, the wings covering their eyes speak of reverence for God.

 Two wings cover their feet. This indicates humility.  They are humble before God.  The feet are considered to be inferior parts.  They speak of our limitations and unworthiness.  The reason we don’t walk around naked all the time is that we feel some parts are not to be seen by everyone.  So, we keep them hidden.  This is what is signified by the seraphim hiding their feet.  Humility before God.

 With two wings they fly.  These are the wings of service.  They use these wings to freely move about in their worship of God.  They are using their energy to serve God in worship.  Worship is what they are to do for God.  It’s their calling.  We are supposed to be in motion for God.  We are also to be ACTIVE in God’s service.  It’s also a form of worship. 

 They cry out so loudly, that they shake the doorposts of heaven.  This is the zeal with which they worship.  Isaiah sees all of this and so “Whoa, I’m not measuring up to this.  I’m full of sin.  I’m unworthy.”  He sees his OWN SINFUL condition.

 

Isaiah 6:6-8 (NKJV)
 ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. ⁷ And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." ⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

 Isaiah is a prophet he’s supposed to be the spokesman for God, but he can’t do that with unclean lips.  So, the seraphim take the coal and cleanse his lips.  The fire removes the sin and he is able to speak for God.

 God has SPOKEN to Isaiah.  He’s given him revelation of whom he is.  In the presence of God, he recognizes that he isn’t worthy to be God’s spokesman.  He sees the depth of his own sin.   But then he sees the mercy of God in that the angel cleanses his lips and makes him useful for God’s purposes.  Even though we are imperfect God can use us.  Isaiah willingly, even eagerly answers God’s question – Who will go for us? 

So, revelation can come through visions.  God speaks to us through visions. What’s He saying to us?  That we can hear from God if we approach Him in reverence, humility and service.  We must prepare ourselves to hear from God.

 Now let’s look at a dream.  Jacob is in the desert.  He’s on the way to his uncle’s home to find a wife.  He’s just ripped off his brother’s blessing.  He’s stolen his birthright.  Jacob is NOT a nice guy.  He’s a con man and a thief.  While he’s in the desert he has a dream:

 

Genesis 28:12-17 (NKJV)
^28:12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"

 Jacob has a dream of a ladder descending to Heaven.  This is a connection a bridge between earth and heaven, between men and God.  Jesus makes a reference to this later:

 

John 1:51 (NKJV)
^1:51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 Jesus says that HE is the ladder.  He is the bridge between God and man. 

 So, Jacob has seen the future here.  God has spoken to him of the future.  This is a prophecy of Christ.  Jacob is blown away by this.  He suddenly recognizes the presence of God and it changes him:

 

Genesis 28:18-22 (NKJV)
^28:18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, ²¹ so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. ²² And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."

 He vows to honor God.  And he is a changed man.  We don’t ever hear of him being a thief or con man again.  He leaves this place different and becomes the namesake of the people of God.

 God has spoken to him through this dream.  When God speaks to us it changes us.  It moves us.  Sometimes as we can see from these illustrations there is a symbolism that’s there.  We need to pray and meditate for the revelation.  Look at Daniel 10.   God has given him a vision that he doesn’t really understand:

 

Daniel 10:2-3 (NKJV)
^10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. ³ I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

 He prayed and fasted for clarification.  God does use visions and dreams to speak to us.

 

 

Personalities of the Old Testament #9 - Isaac "A Type of Jesus"

 In Today’s Bible Study, I want to look at Isaac, the son of Abraham.  Isaac is the “Son of the Promise.”  He’s the one that God said:

Romans 9:7 NKJV

nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."

It’s through Isaac that all of God’s promises to Abraham would begin:

1)      I will make you a great nation (Gen 12:2)

2)      I will bless you and make your name great (Gen 12:2)

3)      I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (Gen 12:3)

4)      In you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:3)

5)      To your descendant I will give this land (Gen 12:7)

Here, though is what I want to look at.  We already looked at this through Abraham’s faith but now I want to look at it with regard to Isaac.  In Old Testament there are a number of people that are considered to be a “TYPE” of Jesus.  This is a person that foreshadows some aspect of Jesus.  For example:

·       Adam is a type of Christ because both were representatives of humanity, but while Adam brought sin, Jesus brought salvation.

• The Passover Lamb is a type of Christ, as its blood saved Israel from death, just as Jesus’ sacrifice brings eternal life.
• Jonah spending three days in the belly of the fish foreshadows Jesus’ three days in the tomb before His resurrection.

Those things, “which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)

As we look at Isaac, we can see that in one experience in his life, he is a type of Jesus.  That’s what I want to look at today!  So, let’s begin with the story of God’s call and we will work from there:

Genesis 22:2 NKJV

Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

I want you to see the ways in which Isaac is a type of Jesus so as we go through the story we will break it down.

Only Begotten Son

God told Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 

Isaac was Abraham’s only son, just like Jesus was the “only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This is the first way in which Isaac is a type of Jesus.  Both were only begotten sons that were to be sacrificed.  Now look at this:

Genesis 22:3-6 NKJV

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

Carrying the Wood

Abraham gave Isaac the wood for the burnt offering.  Isaac carried it up the mountain to the place where the altar was built.

Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha (Calvary):

John 19:16-17 NKJV

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

So, both Jesus and Isaac carried the methods of their execution upon themselves.

The Promised Son

Abraham was seventy-five years old when God called him out of Haran.  It was then that God promised him descendants:

Genesis 12:1-3NKJV

Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

The inference of this statement is that Abraham’s descendants would become a great nation.  But Abraham was childless and his wife was barren.  So, in a sense God was promising him a son to carry on his lineage.  Then there was this:

Genesis 15:3-4 NKJV

Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed, one born in my house is my heir!" And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."

God tells him, “…but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."  This is a definite promise of a son.  God is making a promise of a son.

There was another son whom was promised by God.  Here’s God speaking through Isaiah:

Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Abraham waited twenty-five years for the son of God’s promise.  This prophecy by Isaiah was made approximately seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth.  So Jesus is also a promised Son.

A Sacrificial Offering

Genesis 22:2 NKJV

Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

God has called Abraham to “offer him there as a burnt offering.” This is a call to offer his son as a sacrifice.  Abraham in his obedience gave his only “begotten” son.  Although Ishmael was his son, also, Isaac was his only legitimate son.

God also gave His Only begotten Son:

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 9:28 NIV

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

In the same way that Abraham freely gave his son for a Sacrifice, God also freely gave His Son for a sacrifice. 

Substitutionary Sacrifice

Isaac was spared when God gave a Ram (lamb) as a substitution for Isaac.

Genesis 22:13 NKJV

Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

The Ram was killed so that Isaac would be saved.  Look at the following verses about Jesus:

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Hebrews 9:28 NIV

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Jesus was sacrificed as a substitute for us.  He was the “Lamb of God.” Offered freely for us.  A substitutionary sacrifice.

Resurrection

Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Abraham was tested by God in all of this.  Go was testing his faith.  We discussed that in our last study, as we talked about Abraham’s regained faith. He understood and was confident that God could and would raise Isaac from the dead, in order to fulfill his promises to Abraham.

Luke 24:44-46 NIV

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

There are a number of prophecies concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection.  His death was the fulfillment of these promises.  In the same way that the lamb offered in stead of Isaac was the fulfillment of promises that God made to Abraham.  I am sure that the prophets spoke as confidently of God’s fulfillment of these promises as Abraham did.

Submitted to Father’s Will

Do you remember that I said last time that Isaac must have had great faith, because he willingly submitted to Abraham tying him up and setting him on the altar.  He didn’t fight, he didn’t run, he just allowed Abraham to prepare him to be the sacrificial lamb.  He submitted to his father’s will in this sacrifice.  This is a powerful example of faith and obedience.  He was willing to submit to death to obey his father.

Jesus, when his time to be betrayed came to pass, He went to Gethsemane to pray.  Three times He went to His knees and said this prayer:

 Luke 22:42 NKJV

saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

He is submitting to His Father’s will.  He is obedient in the same way that Isaac was obedient. 

So, after looking at this comparison you can see how Isaac is a foreshadowing, a picture, of Jesus in the Old Testament.  They both:

1)      Were the Only Begotten Son

2)      Carried the Method of Their Execution

3)      Were Promised Sons

4)      Were to be a Sacrifice

5)      Substitionary Sacrifice

6)      Resurrected (Isaac Figuratively, Jesus Literally)

7)      Submitted to Their Father’s Will

 

 

Personalities of the Old Testament #1 - Adam "The Garden Lost"

Overview:

Today we’re going to start our series called, “Personalities of the Old Testament.”  We’re going to look at a number of people in the Old Testament and see what we can learn from them.  We’ll begin with Adam and then move through nine others.  Some we will look at in depth in a later study.  For example, David, Daniel and Jacob may need a more in-depth look.  The purpose of this study is like an introduction.  I would encourage you to look at each of the characters we discuss in more depth on your own.  What I’m trying to do is two things.  First, I want you to see these characters, not only as historical personalities but also as a lesson for us to learn a truth that God is teaching us.  Second, I want to encourage you to read and study your Bible on your own. 

If you are a computer person there is an app called Esword.  You can download the program, a number of Bibles including a Chinese Language Bible. Commentaries and dictionaries for free.  It can be found at Esword.net.  This is the program that I use.  I recommend it. 

So, today we want to start with the beginning – Adam. 

First what can you tell me about Adam?

Let Us Make Man in Our Own Image

Here’s the first mention of Adam in the Bible:

Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

So, Adam was made in the image of God.  No other creation was made in God’s image.  All of the plants, animals, stars and everything else was created by the spoken word.  The Bible says, “Then God said let there be…”

But with Adam He didn't say, “Let there be…” He said, “Let us make man in our own image…” Look at what transpired when Adam was created:

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God formed Adam from the dust of the ground.  He was personally involved in the creation of people.  He was called Adam.  The name Adam means man or mankind, but it speaks of dust.  So, Adam was the first man.  Question, did he have a bellybutton?  No, he was created not born he had no need for an umbilical cord. 

God formed him out of the dirt and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: “and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;”.  This is interesting because the Hebrew word for spirit can mean breath and also life (according to the Strong’s Concordance).  So, when God breathed life into Adam, He also breathed His spirit into him.  Mankind is the only creation of God that was made by Him personally and has the Spirit of God breathed into him.  We are different from animals.  We contain a part of us that is a part of God. 

Adam is like God in that there are three parts that make him complete.  1) The Mind.  We have a mind that contains our intellect, will and consciousness.  This relates to God the Father.  2) The Body is our physical manifestation.  This is a picture of Jesus who is the physical manifestation of God on Earth.  Finally, 3) The Spirit represents the core of whom we are.  It influences our behaviors, and how we relate to the world and people.  Our spirit relates to the Holy Spirit who guides us in our relationship with and our connection to His will, direction and commands.

This is what we mean by being created in the image of God.  “Let us make man in our own image.”

Placing Adam in the Garden

Genesis 2:8 NKJV

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

I want to look at the Garden of Eden for a moment.  God planted a garden:

When God created the Garden, He carefully met every need of mankind.  As human beings there are basic needs that we all have. Food, shelter, purpose, companionship, and a spiritual need (We are looking for a spiritual relationship).  God met all of those needs in the Garden:

Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The trees provided food and shelter. 

Genesis 2:15

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Genesis 2:19 NKJV

Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

Adam had a job.  These things gave him purpose and meaning in his life.  He was serving God with these tasks.  It is interesting how men will often identify by their work.  How many times have you heard one man say to another, “What do you do for a living?”  Often our purpose in life is defined by our job.

Genesis 2:18 NKJV

And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

God realized our need for companionship.  People are social animals, we need each other.  Eve was created for Adam as a helper. 

Genesis 2:21-22 NKJV

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

But what does that mean helper?  Why did Adam need Eve’s help?  Look at Genesis 1:28:

Genesis 1:28 NKJV

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

God told them to go forth multiply and subdue the earth.  He created us male and female.  Adam could not multiply without Eve’s help.  So, she was created for him. 

Genesis 2:23-24 NKJV

And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

This is the first marriage.  Adam and Eve joined together by God, and become one person.  We are a part of each other.  We complete each other.  Men have a tendency to be logical and woman are more emotional and nurturing.  A partnership for raising children. 

Finally, let's look at the spiritual aspect of the Garden:

Genesis 3:8-10 NKJV

And they heard the sound 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 among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

I will go into this in more detail in the next section, but I wanted to show that Adam and God had a relationship.  God walked with them in the garden and Adam recognized the voice of God as God called him. 

So, we can see that all of Adam’s needs were met there in the garden.

The Sin of Adam

In order to see this we have to go back a few chapters to God’s one command in the garden:

Genesis 2:9 NKJV

And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16-17

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

God put two trees in the midst of the Garden.  1) The Tree of Life – A symbol of eternal life.  It’s position in the garden made it a daily reminder of God's intended future for mankind.  Adam was able to regularly eat the fruit of that tree if he desired.  2) The Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil – A call to a choice.  To know good – is to be obedient to God’s commands.  To know evil is to choose not to obey God.  It isn’t that suddenly you will gain some useful information.  It is that you will understand that to obey God is good, but to disobey God is evil.

Genesis 3:1-6 NKJV

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 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 its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

The serpent came and spoke to Eve and in that conversation caused her to begin to doubt God.  And it led her to disobey God and eat of the fruit.  Look at this:

This is the description of sin in 1 John 2:15-16:

1 John 2:15-16 NKJV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

The Bible describes Eve’s thought process:

1)      the woman saw that the tree was good for food – Lust of the flesh

2)      that it was pleasant to the eyes – Lust of the eyes

3)      desirable to make one wise – Pride of life

She gave it to Adam to eat.  Look at what happened when he ate:

Genesis 3:7 NKJV

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.

After Adam sinned innocence was lost.  They knew that they had done wrong   They “knew” evil and they were ashamed.

Genesis 3:9-10 NKJV

Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

As a result, Adam and Eve were driven from the garden.  They lost all of the blessing of the God’s graciousness in the garden.  Those things that God had given them as blessings of meaning and purpose were turned to curses, and they were kept from the tree of Life:

Genesis 3:24

So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

One last comment, God held Adam accountable for the violation.

Genesis 3:11-12 NKJV

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?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

Isn’t it human and interesting that Adam immediately tried to justify his sin by blaming Eve.  Isn’t that just like people today?  The bottom line is Eve was deceived, but Adam made a choice that was where the sin was found.  Their eyes weren’t opened until Adam ate the fruit.

A Lesson for Christians

As Christians we are given our own “Tree of Life” in the way of eternal life in salvation of Jesus Christ.  Adam was given the Tree of life as well in a beautiful paradise.  The Garden of Eden is a picture of Eternal Life in Heaven in the presence of God, a personal relationship with Christ in just the way Adam had.  You can see though, that we make choices and decisions, and those decisions affect our relationship with God and the blessings of Eternal Life.  The Tree of Life was given as a reminder of God’s promise of Eternal Life, it was placed in a place where it would always be accessible to them.  That is the Tree we should concentrate on and eat from.

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