Prepared For Lexington Church Of God For Sunday Morning March 16th, 2003
“From The Garden To A City”
TEXT: 1 Cor 2:4-13 (KJV)
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Only to those of mature faith can he impart God’s wisdom
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul declares that the Mysteries Of God are accessible to
God’s People.
God has made His future plans for the church known.
(1) What a privilege we have as Christians.
(2) The things that baffle Kings, World Leaders, Scientist, So-called
Physics, and even the Leaders of DEAD RELIGION are accessible
To God’s children.
(3) You don’t have to be some super duper, whipper whopper.
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(4) You just have to be a child of God.
[A] Should we study Bible Prophecy?
(1) Should we take the time to read the Prophecies of the Bible?
I have heard people say and I have even in times past used this as an out; “Well I am not planning on being left behind, so I am not going
to try and figure it all out. Just give the Gospels & Acts.
(2) Some people read the New Testament through from Matt to Jude
And then they go back to Matt. Again.
[B] Reading and studying the Prophecy Scriptures has changed my
Whole Perspective of God.
(1) I see Him in a whole new way now!
(2) Why should you read the Prophecy Scriptures?
Rev 1:3 (KJV)3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
{a} Those who read it and seek to understand it will be happy
and secure.
{b} Those who hear it will be happy and secure.
{c} The prophecy scriptures tell of the things that are to
Come to pass. We are to be misled, caught off guard.
{d} Those with the proper knowledge can take the proper
measures to escape from the impending evils.
[C] The Revelation Of Jesus Christ as given to John begins with this
promise and it concludes with this promise.
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Rev 22:7 (KJV)7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the
prophecy of this book.
[D] There’s a great deal of interest in the world today about the future,
About the “End Times.” “Armageddon”
The best seller list has been dominated by “End Time” novels.
People turn out in massive numbers to view movies that deal
With the “End Times.”
Even sinners are spending quite a bit of money on these items.
(1) People have a natural Curiosity about future events,
mysteries the mysterious etc…..
[E] “What does the future hold for me?”
I. We Learn About The Depth Of God’s Love
[A] His deep affection for us. His abiding love.
[B] You are the apple of His eye!
Psalms 17:8 (KJV)
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
*Prophecy scriptures reveal --Christians are the apple of God’s eye!
[C] To the Heavenly Father, you are the apple of His eye, you have
a bright future, eternal hope, peace, Joy
II. A Solidified Hope
[A] God in His Word has a lot to say about our future.
(1) 28% of the Bible @ the time it was written was prophetic in
nature.
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(2) That is slightly more than 1/4th of the Bible.
[B] Yet ALL the prophecies that have been fulfilled, have been fulfilled
with 100% accuracy.
(1) No other religious text in the world can claim that.
(2) God declares this special ability that no other god has.
Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)
9 And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God--I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me.
10 Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
(3) He’s the only God who can declare the end from the beginning.
(4) He declared the end and NOT ONE OF HIS WORD’S HAVE
FAILED.
[C] He said: “My Words will come to pass and I will have My
pleasure.”
*Nostradomus and the likes of him cannot boast of such things!
(1) God’s Counsel
Isaiah 46:11 (NLT)
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east--a leader from a distant land who will come and do my bidding. I have said I would do it, and I will.
Prov 21:1 (NLT)
1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases.
(1) The king’s heart is in the hand of God.
The Lord is the only ruler of princes.
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He alone can govern and direct their counsels.
Here lies the main theme of prophecy; “Trust God,
For He is In Control.”
Even when everything around us seems out of control.
(2) But there is an allusion here to the Eastern method of watering
their lands. Several canals are dug from one stream; and by
opening a particular sluice, the husbandman can direct a stream
to whatever part he please: so the king’s heart, wherever it
turns; i. e., to whomsoever he is disposed to show favor.
(3) As the land is enriched with the streams employed in irrigation;
so is the favorite of the king, by the royal bounty: and God can
induce the king to give that bounty to whomsoever he will.
III. God Has Proved Himself In Old And He Continues To Do So.
[A] There are 100 prophecies in the O.T. about Christ and His 1st
coming.
[B] There are 500 prophecies in the N.T. about 2nd coming.
[C] No need to fear the Prophetic Scriptures
Psalms 19:7 (NLT)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
[D] God gave ALL scripture to the Church. He did so because it
is all needful.
2 Tim 3:16 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
(1) “ALL” That includes the prophecy scriptures as well.
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IV. The Trip From The Garden To A City
[A] God created Adam and Eve.
(1) God spoke and the worlds were framed!
(2) God spoke for all other things, but what did God do
when He created man?
Gen 2:7 (KJV)
7 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 soul.
(3) He formed us with His own hand
(4) He put HIS BREATH in us. Breath = Spirit.
[B] He placed Adam & Eve In A Perfect Place.
(1) Garden of Eden
(2) God saw that it was good.
[C] God came down and walked with Adam & Eve. They saw Him
Face to face.
(1) No guilt, no shame, no condemnation
(2) God gave them just ONE COMMAND.
Gen 2:16-17 (KJV)
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(3) They had no idea what evil was.
(4) They had no knowledge of evil and darkness.
(5) All they knew was GOOD.
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[D] The serpent (Satan, The Devil, The Deciever) comes and entices
Eve.
(1) In Gen. Chapter Three he is called the serpent.
(2) And in Rev. 20:2 he is again refers to as the old serpent.
Rev 20:2 (KJV)
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[E] Adam & Eve made a bad decission to say the least.
(1) Can you live with your decision?
(2) Can your decision bring you life eternal ?
(3) Your decisions can make you or break you.
(4) Adam and Eve decided to eat of the forbidden fruit.
[F] The consequences of their decission:
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(1) We need to seek Godly counsel.
(2) Be led by the Spirit.
(3) Sin separates us from God.
(4) Adam & Eve are cast out of the perfect place, where they had
been in control of all things.
~Up to that time all things, all living things were subject
Adam.
~Perfect State.
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[G] The relationship that Adam & Eve had enjoyed with God was
severed!
(1) But God already had a plan to restore fallen man.
Gen 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(2) Jesus -- The seed of woman will bruise the head of the enemy.
Head Wound = Fatal Blow
Rev 1:15 (KJV)
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; …”
~An emblem of his stability and permanence, brass being
considered the most durable of all metallic substances or
compounds.
(3) God sent His son just on time!
Gal 4:4 (KJV)
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
V. Satan Defeated At Calvary
[A] Even though he has lost the war, he continues his attempts to
destroy mankind.
(1) It is the conflict of the ages, but the outcome has already been
Determined by the Cross Of Calvary.
(2) There Jesus conqured death.
(3) The outcome has been determined!
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Rev 20:14 (KJV)14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.
[A] Every person must make his won decission.
(1) Repent from their sins
(2) Reject Christ & remain in sins.
[B] The ultimate destiny of Satan.
Rev 20:10 (KJV)
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
[C] We also know the ultimate destiny of Satan’s followers;
Rev 20:11-12 (KJV)
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[D] Now contrast that with the Ultimate destiny of those who have
received Christ as Lord.
Rev 21:1-7 (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I
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will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Closing:
Now we have taken the trip from the garden to a city, a new Jerusalem.
The choices you make today wil determine your future.
If you were to leave this earth today, where would you spend eternity?
Two Options: (1) Heaven
Christ has prepared a place for those who live Him
And keep His commitments.
(2) Hell ‘Lake of Fire”
A place that was never prepared for men & women.
It was prepared for Satan and his angels.
Life can take a drastic turn at any moment. Remember 9-11.
(1) We heard of the possibility but doubted such
a catastrophic thing could ever take place here.
(2) We had never seen anything like that here on
American soil, but that didn’t stop it from happening.
(3) It was a beautiful day
Sunny and bright……………
It just seemed like a great day to be alive.
God’s Words Will Be Fulfilled!
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(1) Everything His Word predicts--- it declares & not one Word
Will fail.
(2) From a garden to a city-------
Many things in life are uncertain-------one thing you can be certain
of-- where you spend eternity!
Rev 21:27 (KJV)
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
