Blessed Assurance - Part 2 - Assurance of What We Have

Temple Baptist Church - 6-28-2023

John 10:22-30

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we saw the blessedness of who we are in Christ Jesus.  Saved, forgiven, washed, sanctified, justified, Sonship, and completion.  Praise the Lord that salvation is both an act of God and a gift from God!  We do not have to maintain our salvation because we are in Christ Jesus and in Him is no sin!  Free from the penalty of sin though still having to live in the presence of sin but one day will be delivered from the presence of sin!

 

B.  That introduction is a mouthful because books have been written upon each individual part of that statement.  I do not debate the Scripture, I defend it.

 

C.  Tonight, along with who we are in Christ Jesus, we need to understand what we have in Christ Jesus.  Most lack of assurance of salvation is bred in the cesspool of unbelief.  God has give to us a precious Bible that explains both our position in Christ and our blessings in Christ.

 

D.  In Christ Jesus, we have:

 

1.  Assurance.  2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

In Life.  Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

In Love.  1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

 

2.  Deliverance. 

 

Eternal Deliverance.  2 Corinthians 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

 

Temporal Deliverance.  2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

3.  Peace. 

 

Peace with God.  Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

Peace of God.  Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

4.  Blessings.  2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 

Physical Blessings.   Philippians 4:19-20  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (20)  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Spiritual Blessings.  Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

 

MY place!

 

5.  Security.  John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

The Period of eternal life is found in “eternal life.”  I am not sure why people have such a problem with those words but, as one man once said, “It may just be a family secret!”

 

The Promise of eternal life is found in “they SHALL NEVER perish.”  That is a promise, not a stipulation.  You either are eternally saved or you are not saved at all.

 

The Power of salvation is found in “neither shall any man pluck them our of my hand.”  His hand spanned the universe, and we stand in the middle of His hand.  You think that you can get out of that hand, start walking.

 

6.  The Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

Our Possession by the Spirit.  Colossians 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

Our Position in The Spirit.  Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

7.  The Word of God.  1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

The Power of the Word of God.  “Being born again.”  So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

 

Perfection of the Word of God.  “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible”  This is what the Bible says about the Word of God and it is what I believe about the Word of God.

 

Permanence of the Word of God.  “which liveth and abideth for ever.”  We have God’s Word in our hand tonight!

 

8.  Representation. 

 

A High Priest.  Hebrews 8:1-2  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;  (2)  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

 

An Advocate.  Christ Jesus Pleads our Cause.  1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

An Intercessor.  Christ Jesus Presents our Case.  1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Joseph Walked with God in Integrity

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-25-2023

Genesis 50:15-21

 

Introduction:

A.  This morning, we will take a short look at the second “Greatest Story Ever Told!”  The greatest is the story of Christ which is unparalleled.  The second is the story of Joseph, the most beautiful type of Christ in the Bible.

 

B.  Joseph’s story is, like that of Christ, one of both spiritual and physical triumph.

 

C.  The Book of Genesis is a book of contrasts.  It is about INTEGRITY!

 

1.  INTEGRITY defined:  1.the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness: honesty, uprightness.  Unity, unification, wholeness, coherence.  Soundness, robustness, strength.  Internal consistency, lack of corruption. 

 

2.  The opposite of INTEGRITY: dishonesty, division, fragility, corruption, weakness.

 

D.  Genesis began with Adam and Eve which exposed the weakness of humanity and the flesh.  Through personal failure, a lack of INTEGRITY brought upon our beautiful earth a sin and curse.

 

E.  Genesis ends with a man who, despite his beginning and most of his youth rose above the circumstances of sin and curse because he had INTEGRITY!

 

F.  We do not get to choose our parents and siblings; we do not get to choose our family history.  We are born into the families that God intended us to be born into.   Neither birth or birthright gives us INTEGRITY as it is something that we personally choose to form within and live by. 

 

G.  The story of Joseph is one of a family gone wrong. 

 

1.  A true love story gone wrong!  As we find the love of a young couple grew into a sinful multiplicity of mates for life. 

 

2.  We find sinfulness among the children that caused the first, second, and third born sons to be set aside with Christ coming out of Judah, the fourth born.

 

3.  We find a father who chose to have favorite sons which caused a division among the siblings, which lead to the early life of Joseph being not so good.

 

4.  We find hatred instead of love.

 

H.  Joseph had no choice in how he was born but he made a personal choice of how he would live!  A life of INTEGRITY!

 

1.  If a man ever had a human reason to be bitter in life, it was Joseph. 

 

2.  If a man ever had a human reason for “throwing in the towel” and quitting, it was Joseph. 

 

3.  If a man ever had a human reason for vengeance, it was Joseph.

 

J.  Joseph, a boy sold into slavery in a strange land who rose to rule the world!  Joseph, throughout his life, maintained his integrity in the midst of injustice and hardships while maintaining a walk with God.  A walk of INTEGRITY.

 

1.  Joseph walked with God in integrity when he was sold into bondage at age 17. 

 

a.  Hated by his brothers through no fault of his own.  Genesis 37:18  And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

 

b.  Sold into slavery by those same brothers.  Genesis 37:24, 28, 36  And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it ...  (28)  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt ... (36)  And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

 

c.  Because of his integrity, he became great in his master’s house.  Genesis 39:1-6  And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.  (2)  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.  (3)  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.  (4)  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.  (5)  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.  (6)  And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

 

2.  Joseph walked with God in integrity when he was enticed by Potiphar’s wife. 

 

a.  Potiphar’s wife constantly tempted him.  Genesis 39:7-9  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.  (8)  But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;  (9)  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

 

b.  Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him and he was cast into prison.  Genesis 39:10-20  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.  (11)  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.  (12)  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.  (13)  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,  (14)  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:  (15)  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.  (16)  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.  (17)  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:  (18)  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.  (19)  And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.  (20)  And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

 

c.  Because of his integrity, he became great in prison.  Genesis 39:21-23  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  (22)  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.  (23)  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

 

3.  Joseph walked with God in integrity when he was forgotten.

 

a.  The butler and baker forgot him and he spent 2 more years in prison. Genesis 41:1  And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

 

b.  He was remembered by the butler and faithfully interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream. Genesis 41:14  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

 

c.  Because of his integrity, he was elevated to second in command in all of Egypt. Genesis 41:39-41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:  (40)  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.  (41)  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

 

4.  Joseph walked with God in integrity when his brothers came to buy corn. 

 

a.  Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.  Genesis 45:1  Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

 

b.  Joseph forgave his brothers. Genesis 50:15-18  And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.  (16)  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,  (17)  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  (18)  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

 

c.  Joseph glorified God in the paths in which he had walked.  Genesis 45:7; 50:19-21  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance ... (19)  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  (20)  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  (21)  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

 

d.  Joseph made commandment concerning his bones.  He wanted to be buried in the land of his people. Genesis 50:25-26  And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.  (26)  So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

Conclusion:  Joseph walked with God throughout his life amid his integrity!  At the end of the day or our life, we must be willing to like the Christian life that we have lived.  Not a life of perfection but one of faithfulness and integrity!

Blessed Assurance - Part 1 - Assurance of What We Are

Temple Baptist Church - 6-21-2023

John 10:22-30

 

Introduction:

 

A.  For the next four or five weeks, I want to look, from the context, at the blessed assurance of salvation.  Dr. Harold Sightler once said that the book that he wrote on assurance of salvation was the most sold and read of all his books.

 

B.  Why?  Because of:

 

1.  The Importance of knowing for sure that you are saved.  Until you learn to trust the Lord with His promise of salvation to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, you will never have the peace of God that passeth all understanding.

 

2.  Because of the constant spiritual attacks from Satan and this present evil world in which we live.  Satan attacks the assurance of the believer more than anything else.  He cannot attack the believer’s salvation because that is a work of God, therefore he attacks the assurance of salvation which will render the believer almost useless in the work.

 

C.  There are many preachers that will tell you if you doubt your salvation, you probably need to be saved but this is not scriptural.  The Book of 1 John was written to “my little children”.  Saved people, not lost people.  The Key verse, in this pastor’s opinion, is chapter 5:13:

 

1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  (Why was 1 John written?  To stabilize the believer by instilling within them confidence in God.)

 

1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

D.  Three things about God’s children:

 

1.  Verse 14.  They know Him!

 

2.  Verse 27.  They hear Him!

 

3.  Verse 27.  They follow Him.

 

E.  Now, if you do not have these 3 attributes of sheep, you may need to check up.  These are three things that we become as a new creature in Christ Jesus.

 

F.  What we are in Christ Jesus that gives us biblical assurance.  I emphasize “biblical assurance” because it is through faith in what the Bible says that will ultimately give the believer an unshakeable faith.

 

1.  We ARE saved.  Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved (to deliver and protect) it is the power of God.  (Our salvation comes from hearing the finished work of the gospel and accepting this work of God with a repentant heart.  Hebrews 6:1 speaks of the ”foundation of salvation” as repentance and faith.)

 

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

2.  We ARE forgiven.  1 John 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

 

Colossians 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

3.  We ARE washed.  1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

4.  We ARE sanctified.  1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

5.  We ARE justified.  1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

6.  We ARE sons.  1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

7.  We ARE complete.  Colossians 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  (31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

A Saint’s Prayer

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2023

Psalm 64

Introduction:

 

A.  Verse 1.  In this verse, we find a very important truth.  That prayer is available and avails. 

 

1.  David was a man of Communion.  David was a man after God’s own heart and spend much of his time in communion with Him. 

 

a)  “My Voice” - Here, we find a familiar voice.  One that the Lord was well acquainted with.  Lord, Hear Me.  “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer.” 

 

b)  “My Prayer” - Here, we find a familiar circumstance.  Lord, Help Me.  “preserve my life from fear”  David did ask God to preserve his life but to preserve his life from fearfulness.

 

c)  “My Life” – Here, we find a man God was familiar with. Lord, Hide Me.  “Hide me from the secret.”  Things that we can see, we can fight, but an unseen enemy is a dangerous one.

 

2.  David was a man of Confidence.  David knew that his God was up to any situation at hand.  As the Lord is with us and for us in the New Testament, the Lord was with and for David in the Old Testament.

 

a)  “Hear” – David’s confidence that God would hear his prayer.

 

b)  “Preserve” – David’s confidence that the Lord would answer his prayer.

 

3.  David was a man of Consistency.  60 times in the Psalms, we find the phrase “Psalm of David”. 

 

a)  Between 73-75, according to who you read after, Psalms are Davidic.

 

b)  Many of these Psalms were prayers of David.

 

Psalms 72:20  The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

 

4.  David realized his weakness and continued to ask the Lord for His strength.

 

B.  This Psalm covers some of the unseen devices Satan uses against God’s people.  The word “devices” is found 16 times in the Bible.  I found out long ago that when an enemy is quiet, it does not mean that he has quit.  It means that he is working behind the scenes while we “sleep” in pseudo peace.

 

1.  The First Mention of the word “devices”:  Job 5:10-13  Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:  (11)  To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.  (12)  He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.  (13)  He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

 

2.  The Last Mention of the word “devices”:  2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

C.  David was a man  of great power and had many enemies who would not face him openly but devised his downfall in secret.  Here we find such instances in this Psalm as David calls upon the name of the Lord for help.

 

D.  There are times for long prayers but also for short prayers.  In verse 1, we find a short prayer of David with three aspects,

 

E.  Let us take a short look at some of the hidden works of the devil that we need protection from.

 

1.  Verse 2.  Their secret ploy.  Hide me from their planned destruction.  They take secret counsel that we do not know to destroy us.  An ungodly attack by wicked people and a wicked world is too often subtle and effective.  This attack can be either a physical attack or a spiritual one.  David asked the Lord to not let their plans work out.

 

Ephesians 6:12-13  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

2.  Verse 3-4.  Hide me from wicked tongues.  They “shoot” at the perfect.  Spiritually mature.  They do not worry about the carnal because he is already out of the battle.

 

Job 5:21  Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

 

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

3.  Verse 6. They love to dig up dirt!  They seek the failures of my past to prevent my future useability and happiness.  Hide me from the pitfalls as they are cunningly devised and implemented. 

 

Psalms 140:4-5  Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.  (5)  The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

 

4.  Verses 7-8.  The Retribution of the Lord in defense of the righteous.  Sometimes, we need to cease in our fear and worries and allow the Lord to take charge and defend us.  “Let go and let God!”

 

5.  Verses 9-10.  The Deliverance and praise of the Lord.  In verse 9, men will fear Him and in verse 10, God’s people will praise Him.

Father’s Day – 2023 - Let Us Make Man

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2023

Genesis 1:26-28

 

Introduction: 

A.  First of all, “Happy Father’s Day!”  I pray that today will be a special day for each person here this morning.  None of you would be here this morning if it were not for your dad.  Artificial Intelligence can never replace the men that God has placed in each of our lives.  Make this a special day for both your father and your family.

 

B.  Our text is the First Mention of man, woman, children, and home.  In the First Mention of these, we find the will of God for each within the divine structure of the home.  The world has done its best to destroy homes and is doing a good job of it.  Today, homes are out of order, filled with division, and filled with the world.

 

C.  God has purpose in the structure for the blessing of our homes, but homes must follow the purpose and pattern that God intended to prosper. 

 

D.  Man has been on this earth for approximately 6000 years.  As we go back to the “dawn” of creation, through the inspiration of the Word of God we get to see through God’s eyes. 

 

Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

 

Genesis 1:10  And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:12  And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:25  And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

E.  Six times in Genesis, chapter 1, the Bible says that “God saw” and “it was good”.  A seventh time, God added the word “very” to “good.”  A perfect creation was only perfect when God created man in His image and after His likeness!

 

F.  Let us look at three verses found in Genesis, chapter 1 that made this world a perfect place.

 

Genesis 1:26-28  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  (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.

 

G.  God made man:

 

1.  After His image.  Image: From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.  (Something that cannot be seen but can be perceived.  You can see my physical body, but you cannot see my spiritual person.  Today, I live in my body, but I will also live outside of my body one day.)

 

Genesis 2:7  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.

 

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

 

2. After His likeness.  Likeness: resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.  (As God is a trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, so man is a trinity: body, soul, and spirit.)

3.  Before God established the first home, He gave Adam everything that he needed to head it up.

 

a)  A body that was world conscious.  When God created Adam, my thinking—as he was created a full-grown man—is that we could say that his life began at what we would call 30 years old in looks and strength.  I base that upon Christ beginning His public ministry when He was 30.

 

b)  A soul that was self-conscious.  Adam’s soul or heart or seat of affections is where he was conscious of self which forms our conscience.

 

c)  A spirit that was God conscious.  It is in spirit that Adam worshipped the Lord and walked with “the voice of the Lord God.”

 

H.  All this seen by God and given to us to see and know that it is very good?  God made man spirit and also multiple in one.  “Male and female created He them.”

 

J.  Now, for the structure of the first home created by God created Adam, the first man, to be the embodiment of all three aspects of the family.  In Adam was Eve and through Adam and Eve came children.  All were in Adam when he was created!  This is an important revelation given to us.  God made man along with women and children to eternally co-exist with Him!

 

K.  I used to be hard on Adam because of the thinking and actions of Eve in the Garden of Eden but they were probably equal at the time as God did not appoint Adam to rule over Eve until after the fall.  Submission was a part of Eve’s judgment.

 

Genesis 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

L.  Adam was the head, Eve was his helpmeet, and children were the offspring.  Look at the New Testament structure of the home as it perfectly agrees with the First Mention of the home.  Homes will never be right until the order of the home is right.

 

1 Corinthians 11:2-3  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  (3)  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

Ephesians 6:1-2  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

 

M.  A good father must have:

 

1.  His Relationship with God MUST be right. 

 

a.  Salvation.  This relationship must be based on Redemption.  This is heart searching in that the question is now asked to you know Jesus Christ in salvation?  If you do not, you need to.  EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God!  Period!

 

b. Sanctification.  A proper relationship with God requires a Walk with God.  I have been preaching a series on “Walking With God” as it is essential to our relationship with God.  If you are not walking right, it is because you are not living right.

 

b.  Service.  A proper relationship with God continues with a Walk in the Word of God.  Personal and family devotions are essential to a spiritual home.

 

c.  A proper relationship with God will produce a biblical Worship of God.  In these last days, for the most part, the women are more spiritual than the men. 

 

2.  His Responsibility to Biblical Obligation MUST be right.  Both to the family and each other.

 

a.  To Protect his family.  This has virtually become a bad thing in our day but the Father should be ready to fight and die for his family.  Real men are vicious protectors of their wives, children, and grandchildren.

 

b.  To Provide for his family.  Shelter, clothing, food, and every essential to family life.  God’s men should have a work ethic and take care of business.  They should keep their bills within their budget.

 

c.  To set a Pattern for his family.  If the wife and children are to follow the Father, then the Father MUST walk in a spiritually plain path that the Bible calls the Old Paths wherein is the good way.

 

3.  His Reason MUST be right.

 

a.  Obedience to God!  God made you men the head.

 

b.  Love of Family!  Family first, not friends or finances or fancy!

 

4.  Then his Ruling WILL be right.

 

a.  Just!

 

b.  In the fear of God!

 

Happy Father’s Day!