Discovering Genesis, Part 1 Series

Discovering Genesis, Part 1

Various Scriptures (Rev 4:11)

- Thankful to have the Gideon’s and their ministry to present to us today

-- If you wish to donate please see Bro Bob for more information today

- Praying for a new visitation program for our church

-- 1) Faithful Volunteers

-- 2) Effectiveness to reach our community

-- 3) Oct 19 will be our beginning of this outreach

Introduction

- Last Sunday, we completed a thorough look at the Creation and God’s history

- The huge take-away is that we have a Creator, His name is God, and there is no dispute in the account of His plans and actions to create all we see/experience

- This morning, we begin our discovery of several key events in Genesis

- My plan this morning is to outline the entire series; unpacking only a bit today

- Take your Bible, go to Genesis Chapter 2, and let’s join together in prayer

Point 1 – Interacting with a Righteous and Holy God

- In the shadow of creation; we look ahead to understand God’s plan

- In the beginning of this let me say, YOU and I were NEVER the “it”

-- That is, we were (and never will be) the reason everything was created

-- Creation was done to respond to, in WORSHIP, a Holy and Righteous God

- At our core, at our very molecular level, we were created to worship God

- APP: Worship is not just our praise but also our obedience (critical point here)

-- We must obey the God we serve; in everything; else we are not worshiping

-- It’s more than singing a few songs and listening to a sermon and giving

-- It’s more than showing up once a week and calling ourselves Christians

- Rev 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

- I want to be the first to say that this series may cause you to examine your faith

- It is NOT to cause you to doubt your salvation (unless you don’t know Jesus …)

- But when we come into contact with God’s Word it MUST cause us to change

- If we can have an encounter with God and not be changed we are faking it

-- It means that we consider ourselves on the same level as God; which is sin

-- It is the sin of pride … and something that we will work a lifetime to restrain

- 1 John 1 gives us clear instruction that Christ causes the change in us

-- When we encounter God, if we say there is no sin we lie and make him a liar

-- It is not a change which is vice-verse; God does not change – we must

-- Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

-- So, since Jesus is always the same, 1 John 1:9 tells us that only He cleanses

- When we take a look at Genesis, one thing becomes abundantly clear:

-- Life existed long before we were born; but God has always existed

-- It has always been God’s plan to reveal to us who He is; which is His glory

-- Prov 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”

-- APP: We act as kings (as heirs with Christ; Rom 8:17) when we search Him out

- TRANS: So, let’s look just at the topics we will cover (just general) and perhaps even now the Lord will begin to work on our hearts to change for Him

Point 2 – Outline of Genesis Chapters 2-11

- Very little time on each section; but just a brief preview of the text before us

- Genesis 2; Adam and Eve

-- Man was given responsibility to not only rule; but to tend the garden

-- Given complete dominion over naming the creations

-- God’s wisdom also provides man with a partner; one to accompany him

-- God’s condition that is placed on mankind in a form of probation; don’t eat

- Genesis 3; The Fall

-- 2 chapters of “good behavior; that is all we get before we blow it completely

-- The fall is not just about a sin of eating a fruit; nor about a talking snake

-- Man’s fall sent him into a life of peril when (Ch 2) was perfection

- Genesis 4; Cain and Abel

-- Pride and jealousy and all that goes with it

-- First real examination of the results of man’s rebellion to God’s decree

-- From the time of the garden to Ch 4, we see the real “death” that God spoke of