How's it all been workin' out for you thus far? Have you been goin' it your own way? I want it to go well for all.
It's a holiday! I hope that Christ is the central and primary focus for you this Easter!
Face it, people who have another central focus in life are not satisfied inside. Why stay unsatisfied with an inferior central focus?
Q: What was central to him at the start?
Yes, CENTRAL in our focus should be this question today: What will I do with this person named, Jesus Christ? Will I get right with Him on His terms, or ditch Him and His will on mine? Will I humble myself before him, believe in Him to establish an ongoing relationship of obedience? Or will I reject him as my God and choose myself or something else.. or someone else as my God? Will I put off this most important of decisions off because it's uncomfortable to focus on?
As for you, Christian, there's a question that should be Central and primary.. daily in the very for front of my mind should be this question: Will I allow the person of Jesus Christ to be Lord of every area of my life? Will I follow him step by step and fulfill the purpose for which He created me for? Will I pray in faith and take the steps that He leads me in, with the believers who are also seeking to grow spiritually in obedience to His Word? Will the study and wise application of His Scriptures be Central or peripheral for me? Will I, by faith, serve Him to fulfill my calling in life? Will I go the whole nine yards with him, keeping in step through my whole life, all the way home?
Perhaps you've had many interesting financial aspirations in your focus, or shady money-making schemes, or good-sounding career goals that you've wanted to make and keep primary in your life? I'm not judging, I couldn't know.
Have you been a tithing and giving (in different ways) born-again Christian seeking to glorify the Lord? Seeking to help your contemporaries get to safety and into maturity?
I've always been told that God has his ways of getting what is his. I say give yourself away to him first. Today is Good Friday -- it was good for us. Sunday is Easter and you've been bought at a price, Sport. You are not your own and that family has been on loan so to speak. Those children are God's property too.
He's far more interested in you than in what you have and think is yours. The storms come and go, and the circumstances of life change but God remains sovereign over it all. Has he gotten your full attention to where he and his will are Central?
Will you be happy in the end, having learned the lessons that he's repeatedly brought your way.. or will it continue to be another lap around the mountain in the wilderness.. never crossing over into the promised Land so to speak of walking triumphally (instead of religiously or in the flesh according to your old fleshly nature) in victory by His Spirit within you? In victory over this corrupt World system, the flesh, and devils? Your own plans and politics can't save you. No religion. No matter what that is can save you. We all need Jesus as Lord.
Not talkin' down to or at you. I want to hear from you. How can I sincerely pray for you and your family?
Hey, I figure.. if it's new it ain't true, and if it's true it ain't new -- this is no new revelation. You've heard it all before from me, so which are you...
The Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual Man?
- The Natural Man: He (or she) is lost and without Christ, holding onto dead hopes that wither quickly and fade like cut flowers.
- The Carnal Man: They've got too much of the Kingdom to be happy in the world, and too much of the world in them to be happy in God's Kingdom. These people are most miserable -- mugwumps. They need to decide and be all in for Christ. Their mug in on one side fo the fence and their wump is on the other. Struggles between worldly desires and spiritual growth, often driven by fleshly impulses.
- The Spiritual Man: Born again and growing spiritually. This believer is saved and confidently equipped with sound doctrine, experiencing a “living hope” daily through Christ’s resurrection power (1 Peter 1:3) and with the imperishable seed of God’s Word (1 Peter 1:23).
We mere mortals often have different categories for people (Yo, he's an athlete, he's a drama buff, she's a musician etc), but go study in the Bible about the the Natural Man (See 1 Peter 1:24–25), the Carnal man and the Spiritual man. God only lists three.. and two conditions.
Sure, there's lost and found people (two eternal conditions of man). I was lost and God found me when I wasn't really looking. There's also types--the natural man, the carnal man and the spiritual man. I say choose to live spiritual in Christ, yes, as real Christians. I challenge you to.. not all alone!
Q: So how has it been with you -- I want it to be going well for all?
"God is love" and has His way.. who has a name.
Our Father has a tendency of picking up a nobody, to become a somebody, in front of everybody, without asking or getting permission from anybody.
That's who He is and He's thinking 'bout you! He's not mad at you, He's mad about you! Loves you so much He just can't take His eyes off you! What'll you do about it?
Our Father has a tendency of picking up a nobody, to become a somebody, in front of everybody, without asking or getting permission from anybody.
That's who He is and He's thinking 'bout you! He's not mad at you, He's mad about you! Loves you so much He just can't take His eyes off you! What'll you do about it?
God joys in wooing you in close. He's happy to forgive and regenerate.. to help each of His kids mature, and delights to use us for His glory.
So many are still talking about spiritual growth these days, but there's zero spiritual growth independent from God's living Word.
The creation of the human race was without a doubt the central object so to speak ..of all God’s creative purpose from the beginning.
God created man (who by choice, sadly fell, sinned in the garden) with this in mind:
Angels (the non-fallen third of them) will continue to exist and serve the Lord of course. Those who were rebellious and fallen will be sent into the Lake of fire. That place was designed for them, not for people. Why go join them there? Hang a U-turn please! Here and now is good!
In other words, the unfolding of creation establishes a theater of sorts, in which the great redemptive saga of God will be fully played out. Man is the main character of God's creation, focused on and serving His Son, Jesus. Yes, He's to remain the main focus too.
The genealogies listed in Genesis begin with a reaffirmation of this type of principle:
Except you and I, believer. God created man to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever. Spend some time alone with Him today.
Find out why you were made! Find out your own specific purpose here. Yes, God has a glorious purpose and plan for you--come to Him to find out, image-bearer! knowGod.org
In a very important sense, everything else was created for humanity's good use and blessing, and every step of creation up to that point had one main purpose: to prepare a perfect environment for Adam and Eve to live in.
Many Liberal theologians and other liberal unbelievers hate this idea, calling it hubris and presumptuous, but it's true.
Yeah, I talk about a race. The human race is still at the center of God’s purpose for the entire material universe!
Many Liberal theologians and other liberal unbelievers hate this idea, calling it hubris and presumptuous, but it's true.
Yeah, I talk about a race. The human race is still at the center of God’s purpose for the entire material universe!
How do we know this? Well, we know this because Scripture says everything else material-wise will eventually perish and go away. Your stuff is not primary, and it's not to be central for you. Stuff, what's material has not been primary or central for God the the Trinity either. They are our good Examples right. Jesus showed us what to major and minor on.
Hey, there are going to be some big changes here in the very near future.
Look around you. It will all go out of existence. According to Jesus Christ in the Bible. There is soon coming a time when even “the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken” (Mark 13:24–25). Are you ready for that.. are you ready to meet Him face to face?
Ultimately, even the heavens will roll up like a scroll (Revelation 6:13–14). “The heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
You and I will get new physical, glorified bodies that will be able to travel like Christ gets around. Christ was physically resurrected out of that grave, and you will too out of yours, believer. That's what Easter is all about!
I do hope for the Rapture.. cuz then the change would happen midflight.
In effect, everything material here.. that was created will be uncreated. Except humanity (the righteous and the wicked dead will be resurrected according to their eternal future destination).
Everything material in this whole universe around us will cease to exist. Talk about an upgrade to enjoy that's ahead!!!
God created man (who by choice, sadly fell, sinned in the garden) with this in mind:
Salvation, Sanctification and then Glorification! Unending righteous fellowship with Him--how exciting! His plan has always been good--real good! We were made to walk with Him and to enjoy Him forever. Yes, even when every other element of this universe is long gone. A vast multitude of the redeemed human race will dwell in the presence of the Lord forever, worshipping acceptably. We can start this today, even.
Angels (the non-fallen third of them) will continue to exist and serve the Lord of course. Those who were rebellious and fallen will be sent into the Lake of fire. That place was designed for them, not for people. Why go join them there? Hang a U-turn please! Here and now is good!
In other words, the unfolding of creation establishes a theater of sorts, in which the great redemptive saga of God will be fully played out. Man is the main character of God's creation, focused on and serving His Son, Jesus. Yes, He's to remain the main focus too.
God’s own Son even became a man, lived perfectly, then died on the cross at Calvary and rose from the dead for us (yep, He's 100% man and 100% God) at the climax of His redemption’s drama here. Happy Rez Day!
What was the purpose for which the entire universe was created: It's for us to come into righteous fellowship with the Lord. It's so that God’s grace, mercy, and compassion could be lavished on this creature whom God had created in His own image. Man and women. Please.. you must be born again, because Jesus said, You must be born again!
In the end, the very theater here so to speak ..will literally be destroyed. There will be a new heaven and a new earth for us to explore, travel in and enjoy.
The Church is His bride. Will you submit to Jesus (the royal groom)? Let's be a part of His excellent purpose and plan. This is a profound and humbling thought. We can be used of Him to win others into His Kingdom.
Clearly, the creation of the human race is the MAIN THANG in Genesis 1. Everything culminates with that event, and Scripture devotes more space to describing Adam’s creation than to any other facet of His creation. It's all here because of Him.
Clearly, the creation of the human race is the MAIN THANG in Genesis 1. Everything culminates with that event, and Scripture devotes more space to describing Adam’s creation than to any other facet of His creation. It's all here because of Him.
In fact, because that final act of creation is so crucial, all of Genesis 2 is devoted to an expanded description of it. You didn't evolve from the scum or mud (Genesis 2 is not a different story or an alternate account; it is an expansion of that description of day six from Genesis 1.) Genesis 1:26-31 simply gives us the descriptive basics about day six:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female
The Trinity created them. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female
The Trinity created them. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
"And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.'” Genesis 1:28 amp
Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.
Then God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Bear in mind that the creation of Adam occurred on the same day all other land animals were created, but you and I were far different from animals. Some people today says "NO", but you and I were made in God's image. (Being involved with the Lord saving people is more important than us merely saving hurting and other animals, but God and Christians do care about animals. There's indeed a place for animal rescues).
Bear in mind that the creation of Adam occurred on the same day all other land animals were created, but you and I were far different from animals. Some people today says "NO", but you and I were made in God's image. (Being involved with the Lord saving people is more important than us merely saving hurting and other animals, but God and Christians do care about animals. There's indeed a place for animal rescues).
All of this creating occurred in one twenty-four-hour period—one revolution of the Earth.
Adam, as we see from the text, was specially and personally created by God. There is no way to do justice to the text and maintain the notion that Adam over millions of years emerged.. or evolved from some already–existing form of animal life on this earth (we are not to worship).
Genesis 2:7 is so clear and explicit: “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Adam, as we see from the text, was specially and personally created by God. There is no way to do justice to the text and maintain the notion that Adam over millions of years emerged.. or evolved from some already–existing form of animal life on this earth (we are not to worship).
Genesis 2:7 is so clear and explicit: “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Genesis 2 also describes how the first woman, Eve, was made from Adam's rib of her husband (Genesis 2:22). So the man and the woman were each created individually—both of them by direct and immediate acts of God. Yes, he actually did this. There was a real Adam and Eve living on Earth here.
We all have our roles and callings--we each--all of us are to gladly submit to God's direct and delegated authority for order and purpose's sake.
Matthew Henry said, "She was made from man's side to serve alongside, not from his food or head."
It's true. Eve was literally created from Adam's rib to be his equal in this life (and for eternity too), not to be his inferior subordinate or commanding superior. Liney has submitted to my leadership short of sinning in the home, even when I wasn't doing so great as a leader. I've never told he to go sin, don't want to. I want what's best for our family.
Women are not meant to be subservient doormats so to speak, or ruling over men, but rather equal partners. I submit to Liney when she has a great idea, but she let's me be the leader. I am the head (small h) of the home, Jesus is the Head of the Church and of our home, and Liney is often like the neck that turns the head (me). It's cuz she prays and has some great ideas. The closer we get to the Lord, the closer we get together too. He brings us together via prayer to the Father in the Name of Jesus! Glad I have a wife that loves to go to a healthy local church too!
The genealogies listed in Genesis begin with a reaffirmation of this type of principle:
“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created” (Genesis 5:1–2).
That verse opens and closes with references to a single day as we know a day.. in which God made humanity. Repeatedly, Scripture refers back to that momentous day (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32). Jesus even spoke of this creation and He was very much involved.
In this broken world with gobs of broken laws, (with serious crimes happening all over the place), world of broken marriages and broken families, the secularists say that "It's just narcissistic and egotistical to view people on this planet Earth as the central part of God's creation in the universe." It kind of makes you feel different to grasp Bible truth about image bearers with great value (people) huh! This universe is so incredibly huge indeed and it might seem that way to them, but it's actually true! Man (humans, now flawed) are the APEX of all of God's creation! You are loved and have ginormous value to God. Jesus would have gone to the cross for you alone!
It was day six of Creation week—and man was God’s final, crowning creative act.
A significant change in the creation process occurs at this point. Genesis 1:26 starts with familiar words: “then God said.” That is the same formula used to introduce every previous act of creation (see vv. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24).
A significant change in the creation process occurs at this point. Genesis 1:26 starts with familiar words: “then God said.” That is the same formula used to introduce every previous act of creation (see vv. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24).
But suddenly, there is a major shift in the language. Up to this point, every occurrence of “then God said” had been followed by the words “let there be..” (vv. 1:3, 6, 14); “let the earth sprout..” (v. 11); “let the earth bring forth..” (v. 24); “let the waters teem...” (v. 20); or “let the waters.. be gathered into one place” (v. 9)—notice it's always in the language of fiat “let it be done.”
Those expressions are impersonal in the sense that they are Authoritative mandates issued to no one in particular. I just love His directives--they are always good for us even if they don't seem like it at first. They are sovereign cuz He is, yes, creative decrees that immediately brought things into existence ex nihilo (out of nothing. Man can't do that via "speaking it" like the false TV preachers teach. We humans create from already created material that God made from nothing).
Never before in His own history has God said, “Let Us make” (trinity speak here) ..not that we read of, not of anything that we know of.
But here int the Scriptures for the first time is that expression logged, “then God said” and it is followed by personal pronouns: “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis added).
But here int the Scriptures for the first time is that expression logged, “then God said” and it is followed by personal pronouns: “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis added).
This does speak of the creation of Adam in terms that are uniquely personal. Scripture deliberately employs such pronouns in order to stress God’s intimate connection with this aspect ..with the people.. of His creation. It establishes a personal relationship between God and man that does not exist with any other aspect of creation—not with light, not with water, not with animals, not with other elements or even the very earth itself.. not with the sun, not with the moon, not the stars that sing (makes sounds), or with the stellar bodies—yes, not with any of the other living creatures He made here.
He has no personal relationship with any of those things in the same sense He does with humanity. Is the fellowship with Him broken today. Let's see that fixed. Repent and believe in Jesus. The Father in heaven longs for a right personal relationship with you through Christ today!
All those things were created by God the Father through His fiat decree, and they began to exist because He ordered them to exist. But there is never a hint of any intimacy yet, or of personal identification between God and those things. You were born to enjoy intimacy with the Lord -- you must be born again cuz He said that!
The creation of man contrasts profoundly and powerfully with all that preceded him. The account is replete with God’s meticulous care, and the crowning importance He placed on this culminating event—forming Adam out of what!? Out of the “dust from the ground,” breathing “into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7), and fashioning the father of all humanity with soul, body and human spirit. Making Adam “in [His] image, according to [His] likeness” (Genesis 1:26).
Please understand who we really are and what God has for you, and God’s glorious purpose for each of us as His image-bearers is incredible!
May I say that that once again: Man was created as the apex of His creations!
The creation of man contrasts profoundly and powerfully with all that preceded him. The account is replete with God’s meticulous care, and the crowning importance He placed on this culminating event—forming Adam out of what!? Out of the “dust from the ground,” breathing “into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7), and fashioning the father of all humanity with soul, body and human spirit. Making Adam “in [His] image, according to [His] likeness” (Genesis 1:26).
Please understand who we really are and what God has for you, and God’s glorious purpose for each of us as His image-bearers is incredible!
May I say that that once again: Man was created as the apex of His creations!
The creation of the human race was the central object so to speak of God’s creative purpose from the very beginning. He knew what would happen with us--he made us with emotions and free will to choose. He knew we'd sin, were not robots or ai.
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In an important sense, everything else made.. was created for humanity, and every step of creation up to that point had one main purpose: to prepare a perfect environment for Adam. Jesus would come later, and then come again.
He's mindful of you today. You have hair or lack of that and God knows the number of them on your head. The human race is still at the center of God’s purpose for the entire material universe.
He's mindful of you today. You have hair or lack of that and God knows the number of them on your head. The human race is still at the center of God’s purpose for the entire material universe.
Everything else here will eventually will perish, will go away. Everything in this universe will go away--cease to exist as it has. A new heaven and new earth mean exactly that. It will all go out of existence. Never forget this. In effect, what was created will be pretty much uncreated.
Except you and I, believer. God created man to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever. Spend some time alone with Him today.
And when every other element of this universe is long gone, a vast multitude of the redeemed human race will dwell in the presence of the Lord forever.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
“Be fruitful and multiply" -- when was the last time you paused to listen well to someone confused, or verbally witnessed to someone who wasn't sure.. or was sure that they are lost? When was the last time you won someone to Jesus? Become fruitful by His power. He'll give you the words to say.
Remember when "Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow Me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed Him." (Matthew 4:18-20 See context)
Jesus told us to "Go..tell" Mark 5:19
Sure, and you can practice with real people in need (because we care) to become skilled and blessed in fishing for all kinds of people.. even in far away ponds so to speak.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 nlt
You might feel like you were an accident, like your life is totally insignificant. Sorry about that! I've felt like that before, but to our loving heavenly Father your life is significant. You can talk to Him about that. Let not Easter (the cross with Christ's resurrection day) be in vain for you, or for your family!
You might feel like you were an accident, like your life is totally insignificant. Sorry about that! I've felt like that before, but to our loving heavenly Father your life is significant. You can talk to Him about that. Let not Easter (the cross with Christ's resurrection day) be in vain for you, or for your family!
There is a hell to avoid, and you've probably already experienced a small degree of hell here. People sin. We all have, but His forgiveness is free. Call out to the Lord while you still can. Most people are not afforded the luxury of a deathbed conversion, and even with those who die in bed.. many never get right with God there.
Find out why you were made! Find out your own specific purpose here. Yes, God has a glorious purpose and plan for you--come to Him to find out, image-bearer! knowGod.org
