Sermon # 29- How To Be Truly Blessed Series

The blessings of God on Adam and Eve

We read in Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (KJV)

When God created Adam and Eve, He spoke words of blessing on them, and it was those words that bequeathed them with the authority to rule over all that God had created. The authority to rule came from the words that God declared over them, and they were able to execute it in their lives.

To explain this authority that was bestowed on Adam and Eve let us consider some examples from our day to day lives. In general, when a person is appointed to an office, for any post, they will be required to sign a joining report, to endorse their appointment for that post. However, when it is person who is a political head of a state or country, the rules are different. They are required to take an oath, at a swearing in ceremony, where their words will ratify the position that they are being conferred upon. Once they are sworn in, they become the head of a particular department. Therefore, for instance, though the police department or armed forces on their own may be powerful and have loads of weaponry at their disposal, none of it can be used unless the person who has acquired the post as head of that department, issues them with the orders to do so. The elected leader receives the authority by way of announcement by a superior, and on the basis of that word he can now exercise his authority over those under him.

Another good example is that of a man and woman who come to the altar for marriage. They both come in singly as man and woman, but by the powers invested in the pastor, he pronounces them husband and wife, which immediately changes their status from that point onwards from being single to being married.

We must understand that what the world considers blessings, are contradictory to the blessings that God longs to bestow on us. In a worldly sense people consider a big house, worldly possessions and other material goods as blessings. In reality, the true blessings of God are the divine words that God pronounces on us, which explicitly describe the way we ought to live. If we can comprehend that God is the one who actually blesses us, we will be able to receive these blessings as God intends for us, and live accordingly. It is only when we receive the word of God in this manner, will we be able to live out the blessings that God intends to lavish on us.

This is also the reason why we must be cautious about the words that are spoken to us, and those that we declare to others, for those words will become reality. When a person is a ruler or one in authority, the implication is that because of their position, when they speak, it is obligatory for those under them to obey their orders. So also the word of God transforms us to be those people of authority, but in order to experience that, we must first understand and obey God’s word as instructed to us.

God cursed the serpent

In Genesis 3:14 we read, “So the LORD God said to the snake, "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all the wild or domestic animals.” (GW)

The reason the Lord cursed the snake, was because it cunningly ensnared Eve with all its lies and deception. Adam and Eve were in close communion and fellowship with God in the beautiful Garden of Eden. Adam was bestowed with the authority to rule over all that was in the Garden with just the word of his mouth, and God was with him. It was because the serpent messed up this wonderful relationship that Adam and Eve had with God that He declared to the serpent, that it would be cursed more than any other animal that God had created.

God’s original purpose for creating Adam and Eve in His likeness and image was that they might enjoy and experience the rule, peace and joy of God in their lives. When Adam and Eve were in perfect communion with God, the evil scheme of Satan was to destroy that joyful union.

There are some people who also take pleasure in destroying the harmony and unity that other’s enjoy. The desire and purpose of God for mankind is that they would live in wholeness, and oneness with each other. We must be aware that it is always the scheme of the evil one to bring division and disharmony. Sometimes when there is a misunderstanding between a husband and wife, there are those who advice wrongly that they stay away from each other for a brief period, which often leads to a permanent separation later. God’s command is clear in His word that those He has joined together in marriage, no one should separate. Therefore, when someone gives advice that is contradictory to the word of God, one should be extremely cautious to not accept such advice, as the source of such counsel is the devil.