God's Garden

God’s Garden

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:1-10

Scripture Text: Genesis 2:8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Introduction:

Sometimes Christians behave much like some of the vegetables we find in the average farmers garden. Let us take a look at some of them and learn some Scriptural truths.

I. The Bell Pepper Christian.

A. Lovely to look at (nice and shiny on the outside).

B. Very little on the inside (almost hollow).

C. What is inside is what counts to God.

Matthew 23:25-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for

the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Matthew Henry: “We must not judge ..... any by their outward appearance, but by their worth, and by the gifts and graces of God’s Spirit in them.” (These things come from within.)

II. The Green Bean Christian (sometimes called “running/climbing” bean).

A. Good if you can get them to produce.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

B. These must be staked and tied or they will run all over the place and rot.

Jeremiah 2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Jeremiah 2:36 [Living] "First here, then there, you flit about, going from one ally to another for their help; but it’s all no good--your new friends in Egypt will forsake you as Assyria did before.

C. They take the path of least resistance.

D. When trouble comes Christians must stand and fight the forces of evil - not run somewhere else.

1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.....

E. Some run after signs and wonders, but “these signs shall follow them that believe” - not “believers shall follow signs.”

Ephes. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

III. The Okra Christian (the spiritually immature).

A. Okra irritates the skin.

B. One must use gloves to handle it.

C. Some Christians must be handled with kid gloves or they will get irritable and stir up others.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Matthew Henry: “These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, and watch and pray against them; and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their

rank.”

D. Christians should not cause problems for other Christians; only for the devil and his cohorts. Christians should grow up in Christ!

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.