Family History

Scipture Reading : Gen 2:4-7

"The generation of the heavens and the earth" constitute the first of

the eleven generations in this book. The first one extendes to 4:26,

there are two other generation in all. The last of fourteenth is found

in the N.T (matt 1:1) These versed now reveal the offspring of creation,

both as to matter and man, but with special referencce to man. Man is

the offspring of both heaven and earth.

There is a change in the name of God in verse four. We are introduced to

Jah or Jehovah which is joined to Elohim, and translated Lord God. The

name Elohim is God as the Creator of all things. Jehovah is the same God

in covenant relationship to those whom He has created. Jehovah is the

Eternal, Immutable One who was, is, and is to come. He is the God of

redemption.

The narrator now tells us that therewas a time when the world of plants

had not yet appeared on the earth; and he proceeds to give two reasons;

There was no moisture on the earth because it had not rained, and there

was no man to till the soil. But there is provided moisture in the mist

that came up from the earth.

However, the crown of creation is man, Delitzsch says of this creation;

"The body of man was first formed of the moist dust of the ground by

divne power, and then man became animated being through divine

inbreathing." The breath, which creatively went forth from God, entered

into man and becme the principle of his physical life. This man became

"a living soul." So this Adam who is last formed, and for whom all other

things wait and are prepared, is made the interpreter of all, and the

glory of all, and the glory of God to them, God intended that his body

should become a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) His Spiirit is

the creation and gift of God (Eccl 12:7) Isa 57:16 Zech 12:1) With both

his bodyand spirit he should glorify his Divine Creator (1 Cor 6:20) we

see here the true nobility of man's creation, and the consequent

obligation of neither dishonoring nor abusing it. 

Lord and Law of the Sabbath.

Scripture Reading: Gen 2:1-3 ; Mark 2:23-28; Col 2:16

The Sabbath reaches from the first paradise when God said, "and God

blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had

rested from all his work which God created anhd made", util that future

and greatest paradise, "there remaineth a rest to the people of God" (Heb

4:9). These verses should belong to chapter one as the crowning point of

the days of creation.

 We see here first of all the Fact of Completion. "Thus the heavens and

the earth were finished." Everything, the material heavens and earth,

with all creatures visible and invisible, has now been completed. The

verb "finished" is in the empahatic position, indicating a complete and

perfect termination. "All the host" suggests marching orders. It is like

a military armament marching forth.

The fact of Cessation is brought before us in verse two. In no sense

must the rest of the Creator be understood in the sense of fatigue (Isa

40:28) He rested because His work of creation was finished. It was a rest

in joy because of the satisfaction a perfect and harmonious creation

brought Him. The word sabath translated "rested" has the meaning "to

sit still." Elohim now desisted from His creative labors and assumed a

posture of quiescent respose. However God had to start working again

(John 5:17) and will work until the work of complete redemption is finished.
There is also The fact of Consecration. "blessed the seventh day and

sanctified it." This means first of all that God set it apart from all

the other days of the week. The sabbath became the special object of

Divine Favor. It was to be a day or epoch of blessing for the whole

creation. There is also a sense of permanence which did not belong to

the other days. They passed away and gave place to another. The sabbath

is a divine institution so ordered in creation. We have our rest in the

Lord of the sabbath, and not in the Mosaic ritual of the Sabbath (Col

2:16-17) One day's rest out of the seven will give both physical and

spiritual benefit, even under this Dispensation of Grace.

How Can A Person Know He is A Christian?

1. It is right for a person to try to know that he/she is a Christian?

2. What change must take place in every man's life before he can be certain he is a Christian?

3.How long does a man need to wait before he is assured of his acceptance with God? 

   Romans 5:1-3.

4.How can we be persuaded in our own hearts that we are of the truth?

   1John 3:19-21

5.How can a man know from the life he lives that he is a child of God.?

   Luke 6:35 Matt 3:17 Romans : 8:14

6.How does God's spirit bear witness with our spirits that we are children of God? 

   Romans 8:16,17 Gal 4:6

7. How may we know from the Bible that we have eternal life?

    John 20:30,31, 1 John: 5:13

a) His Birth - John 3:7

b) His Name - Acts 11:26

c) His Food - Matt 4:4

d) His Growth - 2 Peter 3:18

e) His Dress - Romans 13:14

f) His Speech - Matt 26:73

g) His Character - Acts 5:15

h) His Influence - Acts 5:15

i) His Standards - Col 3:2.

Three Marks of the Victorious Christian Life.

1. It is an Abiding Life ( John 15:14)

2. It is an Abounding Life ( 2 Corinthian 8:7)

3. It is an Abundant Life ( John 7:38)

TRAFFIC SIGNS IN CHRISTIAN LIFE

"And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the Vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that read it." Habakkuk 2:2

1." GO"

    -"Go forward" toward the better things for Christ and the Church.

    - Grow in grace.

    - "We need fewer, "Look out committees and more Go out commiittees.

    -  Go ye into all the world and..."

2. "STOP"

     - If you are on the wrong road.

     - If you are saying something, or doing something, that might cause others trouble, sorrow, etc,

3."DETOUR"

    - Stay away from bad company,

    - Give questionable amusements a wide berth.

    -  Boycott business concerns that sell booze.

4."SHARP CURVES AHEAD"

   -Many dangerous curves on life's highway;extreme caution necessary.

5."SCHOOL-SLOW DOWN"

    -Young people, if you are thinking of quitting school, speeding by it, or taking a short cut with your education, you had better think twice about it.

6."ROAD SLIPPERY WHEN WET."

    -When the "wets" are on the loose, the highways are never safe.

    - Alcohol and gasoline are dangerous mixture.

7."MOUNTAIN AHEAD-FILL UP."

    -There are mountains ahead of us in the pilgrimage of life. Let us prepared.

    - Have you enough oil?

       (foolish Virgins)

   

Drawing Near to Lord

"It is good for me to draw near to God." Psalm 73:28

Why is it good thing to draw near to God?

1. In doing so, We draw away from ourselves:

    a) A man needs to get away from himself at times.

    b) Too self-centered; selfish; self-pity.

2. In doing so, we draw away from the world.

    a) Away from the temporal; away from mammon;away from the snares and pitfalls of sin.

3. For same reasons it was good for the prodigal to return home.

    a) Forgiveness, re-in statement,abundance, peace of mind, self-respect, blessings of home.

4. It produces christian unity.

    a) the closer we draw to God the closer we come to our comrades of the cross, of all         denominations.

5. Thus we shall learn to know him.

    a) We can't know God by following at a distance.

    b) Be still, and know that I am God. 

Spreading The Gospel

"They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word." Acts 8:4

1. WHO PREACHED.
     a) The disciples Peter, James and John etc.
     b) The rank and file of the Church. "They that were scattered abroad."

2. WHAT THEY PREACHED.
     a) The word of God, "preaching the word."
     b) Salvation through Jesus Christ.

3. WHY THEY PREACHED.
     a) Because they believed the word.
     b) Because they realized the value of human soul.

4. WHERE THEY PREACHED.
     a) They began at home, Jerusalem.
     b) They spread out far beyond.

Conclusion: It is our duty to follow the example of this early church. They believed in the Gospel and they went everywhere preaching in the name of Jesus salvation from sin. The Church today finds here a worthy example to follow. 

Can Almighty LORD Be Limited?

"And they limited the Holy One of Israel." Psalms 78:41

God's wise and benevolent purposes are often frustrated. There are many things God would do for men if permitted.

1.Inconsistent Christian Living Handicaps God.

--Your inequities have separated.... Isaiah 59:1,2
--Your sins have withhold en  good things... Jeremiah 5:25

2.Lack of Faith Limits the Deity.

--Jesus of Nazareth "Could there do no mighty works because of their unbelief." Matt 13:58.
--Jesus: "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed." Matt 17:20.
--Many of us lack adventurous religion; we are afraid to "launch out into the deep."

3.Shallow and Selfish Prayers Restrict God.

--"Ye ask and receive not because..." James 4:3
-- The Pharisees in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.

4. A Stubborn Will Limit God.

-- "He Came unto his own, and his own received him not." john 1:11
-- "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,... how oft would I have gathered thy Children.." Matt 23:37.


Application

-- God extends His gifts, but we must accept them.
-- Jesus invites us to come, but He can't compel us to come.
-- Jesus stands at the door and knocks but we must open the door. The key is on our side..