RESPONSE AND RESPONSIBILITY
INTRODUCTION:
We continue today with our study of Genesis. In the previous weeks we have identified that the following:
Genesis 1: God created everything for YOU!!
Genesis 2: You were created to “live” not just “exist”
(i.e. You have a purpose)
Genesis 3: You have an enemy trying to steal your purpose and
keep you from progress with God.
Today we continue on in Genesis 3: 1-13 as we look at the responses of Adam and Eve as a result of their fall, which equates to our fall as well.
First thing we learn about Adam and Eve is …
I. Adam and Eve had Personal Purpose vs. 6
Adam and Eve got tripped up by the idea of gaining wisdom because they did not understand who they were, God’s children; Who God was, their father that created everything around them FOR them; or their purpose, which was to live FOREVER in fellowship/companionship and peace with God. They choose the exact opposite of their purpose: DEATH!
A. Everyone has a Godly Purpose and it’s our reason to live
“God has called us not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” ~ 2 Timothy 1:9
In regard to the scriptures we have already studied through this Genesis study, we know that we are here to glorify God- to know Him and serve Him- but how that looks for each of us is unique and individual. Your purpose will not be that of Adam and Eve’s. You will not name the things of creation; you will not walk with god in the Garden of Eden. Your purpose is specific to the way God created you for such a time as this.
Do you know your purpose?
Many of us have spouses and parents who have a strong desire for us to” be” something or “do” something in life. Sometimes it’s even our own desire to “be” someone. A someone with status, respect, wealth, things, high education. But as a Christian, we are being deceived by the enemy, because in Christ, as a Christian, we already are someone. Not by our merit, but on the merit of Christ. As a Christian, you have the highest call, the most respectable job….that of bringing hope and life to a dying world. Or as DJ once said, “to finish the work Jesus started”.
Perhaps that was the stumbling block for Adam and Eve, too. Perhaps they couldn’t be content with the merit of God and they wanted things on their own merit, too. Is that the pride that fills your heart today? Can you accept that if you did nothing more in your job or in this life for yourself that what Christ has done for you is enough?
Do you know your purpose?
We need to know God’s specific purpose for our life so we can spend our time, efforts and resources storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Where are your treasures being stored up? Where is your time spent, your efforts, your resources? Are you consumed with what your spouse, parents, or friends think you should be doing with your life? Are you working a job for the prestigious status that comes with it? Are you working a job your parents think you should be working? Or out of obligation that they paid for your schooling to do it? Is your time spent in the pursuit of pleasure or acquiring material things for your pleasure/entertainment?
Married couples, How much time have you spent praying for your spouses purpose this week? How much time have you spent complaining about them? Pressuring them to pursue what you think their purpose is? Do you set the agenda or does God?
Adam and Eve had a personal purpose and it was fueled by our next point:
II. Adam and Eve had Personal Drive vs.6-10
• Selfishness vs. 6: they cared more about gaining wisdom and the pursuit of pleasure than following God’s plan/purpose for their life. The cry of their heart was not “Thy will be done” rather “My will be done”. Which is true of you? What would your neighbors say? Your spouse? Your children?
• Guilt vs.7 Guilt and shame go hand in hand. Out of their guilt, Adam and Eve sowed fig leaves to cover themselves because of their shame. Some people spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often punish themselves and sabotage their own success/happiness. We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. God’s purpose for your life is not limited by your past. God turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and truly He can do amazing things with your life as well.
• Fear vs 8 The principle we see here is that doing the right thing eliminates fear. Adam and Eve were in bondage to fear now, imprisoned to it, because they knew what they did was wrong. Once we sin, we often allow the enemy to keep us in bondage with his legalistic view, but as a Christian, we do not have to miss opportunities or deny a great purpose, or allow ourselves to be imprisoned from becoming what God wants us to be. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind___. You must move against your fears with the weapons of love and faith. The Bible says, Well formed love banishes fear. Understanding the kind of love God has for your, the kind that knows the depths of your heart and loves you the same, will free you to fulfill your purpose without fear (Ephesians 1:4) Msg.
What’s your drive in life? Do you do what you do out of selfish ambition? Guilt? Fear? Or can you say your drive is to do the will of God and fulfill His purpose in your life? Is what you’re doing-what you’re driven by- lining up with who you are in Christ and the plan He has for your life. The plan to prosper you, to give you hope and a “God-sized” future? If you are pursuing the purpose god has for you there should be a peace and joy in your life- a rest- regardless of the circumstances around you. Everyone will go through hard times, without suffering God cannot teach us patience, long-suffering, compassion, trust, but in the midst of it, if you are in the purpose and will of god, you will still have a peace knowing that their isn’t anything else you should be doing right now. There should still be a settled ness about you. A confidence. If you don’t find that kind of peace in your heart or life, we’re going to take a few minutes to just reflect and I want to encourage you to ask God to search your heart, just like King David did and to show you what is driving you, what your purpose is………
“Change my Heart O God”
If you cannot identify a specific purpose for your life, it isn’t because God doesn’t’ have one for you, we’ve already established that He has one for all of us but let me just suggest some next steps for you to help identify your purpose:
1. Pray
2. Pray with a spouse/close friend
3. Spend time daily in god’s word/journal what you sense God saying (scriptures that stand out to you)
4. Plug into a Bible study
5. Take a spiritual gifts test
6. Pray!!
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. The greatest tragedy is not death, but a life that is lived without a purpose. And knowing your purpose simplifies life, focuses your life, motivates your life and prepares you for eternity. When we have purpose we have promise, when we have promise we have hope and when we have hope we have a future.
When Adam and Eve had a Godly Purpose they had a promise of a hopeful future for eternity with God!
When Adam and Eve had a Personal Purpose they had a certain future of eternal death with the Devil!
Here’s the Best part of today’s Reality Check…. God gives us a choice!
III. Our response is our responsibility!
The decision of a Godly Purpose that brings eternal life or a Personal Purpose that brings certain death isn’t anybody’s choice but yours! Nobody can choose for you. Only you can choose life or death, Godly purpose or personal purpose for yourself.
This is one of those facts that the enemy would like to trick you into believing. You ever heard someone say, “The devil made me do it”. Let’s take a look at vs. 11-13 to see where that old saying came from.
Read Genesis 3:11-13…
In the very beginning, Adam being the man decides to be the leader, “This woman, YOU put here with me, gave me the fruit.” As if that would make it ok!
Then Eve, seeing Adam’s example, follows up with her own “blame game” approach, “the serpent tempted me!” It’s all his fault! Like little kids in kindergarten, they point the finger at someone else for their own choices.
Do you know what is the saddest part about this whole account that we read in scripture? Of all those involved who do you think takes the most responsibility for their actions?
It wasn’t the man, Adam.
It wasn’t the woman, Eve….
It WAS Satan! Our enemy is the only one who didn’t deny his responsibility and play the “Blame Game”.
If our enemy is not foolish enough to try and lie or hide from God, who do we think we are to believe we can lie or hide things from our wonderful creator.
