Our relationship with God...is it there?
Genesis 2:7-20
God was Adam's first relationship. Adam was able to clearly hear God's direction. He was able to perceive God's presence. God had established with Adam a foundational relationship that came before all the others in his life.
1. Why did Adam wait on God's plan to unfold?
2. Was it because of the depth of their relationship?
3. Did Adam trust God with this area of his life (an intimate relationship with a woman)?
4. Do we trust God with this area of our lives?
5. Are we out handling this area on our own?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
God's Order or our order? Genesis Chapter 2 - Questions for the Reader (Part 4)
God's Order or our order
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (KJV)
In verse 18, God spoke into existence man's need to not be alone. Yet, the next thing God did seemed to have nothing to do with addressing this need. God gave Adam a task. Adam performed the task given to him despite the need that he now carried in his heart and soul.
Questions:
1. Are we so obsessed with the need to "not be alone," such that we have no idea what God has given & equipped us to do?
2. Have we placed our own spin on life and decided to fulfill our desire for companionship with a human first, then resolve to follow God's plan for our life...later? (After I get married, after I have kids, after...)
3. Have we allowed God to develop His relationship with us before we have pursued the secondary relationships or things in our life?
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (KJV)
In verse 18, God spoke into existence man's need to not be alone. Yet, the next thing God did seemed to have nothing to do with addressing this need. God gave Adam a task. Adam performed the task given to him despite the need that he now carried in his heart and soul.
Questions:
1. Are we so obsessed with the need to "not be alone," such that we have no idea what God has given & equipped us to do?
2. Have we placed our own spin on life and decided to fulfill our desire for companionship with a human first, then resolve to follow God's plan for our life...later? (After I get married, after I have kids, after...)
3. Have we allowed God to develop His relationship with us before we have pursued the secondary relationships or things in our life?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Suitability: Genesis Chapter 2 - Questions for the Reader (Part 3)
Suitability
Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. (New American Standard version)
Questions:
1. Has God brought "unsuitable" things/people before us for a different supernatural reason? (A new friend for us to pray for; encourage in godliness; give witness of God's greatness)?
2. Have we instead intimately pursued someone that God has not designed for us just because they were placed in front of us? God brought both the animals & Eve before Adam. Yet only one was designed for him.
3. Have we taken what was unsuitable for us and demanded that it be deemed suitable for our own purposes/needs/wants/desires?
4. Is the burning mantra or whine of my life..."But God, I want..." or is the surrendered question, "God, what do You want for this life you have given me?"
5. Do my desires match the desires that God has for me? Are my desires in alignment with how I have been designed by God? Adam did not desire the animals. Later, Scripture shows that he fell in step with God's plan for he and Eve. God specifically designed Eve for Adam's ordained need of companionship in God's time.
Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. (New American Standard version)
Questions:
1. Has God brought "unsuitable" things/people before us for a different supernatural reason? (A new friend for us to pray for; encourage in godliness; give witness of God's greatness)?
2. Have we instead intimately pursued someone that God has not designed for us just because they were placed in front of us? God brought both the animals & Eve before Adam. Yet only one was designed for him.
3. Have we taken what was unsuitable for us and demanded that it be deemed suitable for our own purposes/needs/wants/desires?
4. Is the burning mantra or whine of my life..."But God, I want..." or is the surrendered question, "God, what do You want for this life you have given me?"
5. Do my desires match the desires that God has for me? Are my desires in alignment with how I have been designed by God? Adam did not desire the animals. Later, Scripture shows that he fell in step with God's plan for he and Eve. God specifically designed Eve for Adam's ordained need of companionship in God's time.
Monday, October 24, 2011
It is not good that the man should be alone: Genesis Chapter 2 and Its Implications for Relationships: A Commentary - Part 2 of 10
Genesis 2:18-20
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18-20. According to Scripture, after God spoke of the reality of man's psyche, "It is not good that the man should be alone" the next passage does not seem to fit our order of doing things.
God first brought the animals before Adam and enabled him (supernaturally) to name them and to see that they were not suitable as companions for him. Before their suitability was spoken of, Adam began and finished the work that God had set before him. He focused on being obedient to God regarding the task he had been given instead of fulfilling for himself the need that was also placed in him to not be alone.
God is The Great Multitasker. He accomplishes more than we can imagine with what seems like one task or "project." If we view His work or "projects" from our little perspective, we will miss much of what He is really doing.
This life is not about us and our needs, it is about God and His Kingdom.
When you think you understand or don't understand what is happening around you, ask God to open your eyes to see what He desires you to see. Then wait for Him to reveal to you what He wants to reveal to you and it will most often "blow your mind!" So many times God's perspective just takes my breath away!
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18-20. According to Scripture, after God spoke of the reality of man's psyche, "It is not good that the man should be alone" the next passage does not seem to fit our order of doing things.
God first brought the animals before Adam and enabled him (supernaturally) to name them and to see that they were not suitable as companions for him. Before their suitability was spoken of, Adam began and finished the work that God had set before him. He focused on being obedient to God regarding the task he had been given instead of fulfilling for himself the need that was also placed in him to not be alone.
God is The Great Multitasker. He accomplishes more than we can imagine with what seems like one task or "project." If we view His work or "projects" from our little perspective, we will miss much of what He is really doing.
This life is not about us and our needs, it is about God and His Kingdom.
When you think you understand or don't understand what is happening around you, ask God to open your eyes to see what He desires you to see. Then wait for Him to reveal to you what He wants to reveal to you and it will most often "blow your mind!" So many times God's perspective just takes my breath away!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Fearing or understanding God's plan regarding "not being alone" Genesis Chapter 2 - Questions for the Reader (Part 2)
Does the desire to "not be alone" dictate to your heart and mind . . .
a) Creating fear about being alone?
b) Causing you to pursue any means necessary to not be alone?
c) Making you believe popular culture's methods for not being alone?
d) Compelling you to follow the traditions of family and friends?
e) Calling you to give in to the pressures of others to not be alone?
OR
Does God, the Giver of the righteous desire, direct your path on how He desires you to relate to Him and others (your neighbor )?
a) Enabling you to seek Him above self and all others.
b) Teaching you how to commune daily with Him (praying to Him, reading about Him, listening for Him, looking for Him, obeying Him, studying Him, desiring to please Him)?
c) Ministering peace and truth about who He is and who you are?
d) Knitting your heart, mind and soul to His through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ?
e) Revealing awesome truths about the purpose of relationship with Him and others (you neighbors)?
a) Creating fear about being alone?
b) Causing you to pursue any means necessary to not be alone?
c) Making you believe popular culture's methods for not being alone?
d) Compelling you to follow the traditions of family and friends?
e) Calling you to give in to the pressures of others to not be alone?
OR
Does God, the Giver of the righteous desire, direct your path on how He desires you to relate to Him and others (your neighbor )?
a) Enabling you to seek Him above self and all others.
b) Teaching you how to commune daily with Him (praying to Him, reading about Him, listening for Him, looking for Him, obeying Him, studying Him, desiring to please Him)?
c) Ministering peace and truth about who He is and who you are?
d) Knitting your heart, mind and soul to His through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ?
e) Revealing awesome truths about the purpose of relationship with Him and others (you neighbors)?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
My most important relationships? Genesis Chapter 2 - Questions for the Reader (Part 1)
In everyday life, with whom is your primary relationship?
>>With whom do you communicate the most? (Talk to, listen to...)
>>Who do you think about most often?
>>Who gives you the emotional support you feel you need?
>>Who nurtures your soul?
>>Who is the person you agape (unconditionally love) the most?
>>With whom do you spend most of your time each week?
>>On whom do you spend most of your money?
>>Who gives you direction or advice on dealing with people, finances...life?
>>Whose advice do you use in dealing with people, finances...life?
>>With whom do you communicate the most? (Talk to, listen to...)
>>Who do you think about most often?
>>Who gives you the emotional support you feel you need?
>>Who nurtures your soul?
>>Who is the person you agape (unconditionally love) the most?
>>With whom do you spend most of your time each week?
>>On whom do you spend most of your money?
>>Who gives you direction or advice on dealing with people, finances...life?
>>Whose advice do you use in dealing with people, finances...life?
Monday, October 17, 2011
God's Truth vs. the world's distortion of relationships: Genesis Chapter 2 and Its Implications for Relationships: A Commentary - Part 1 of 10
1. Genesis 2:7-17. God created man. God provided abundantly for man. God related to man & man to God. God instructed man on what his work would be, and what he would eat. Genesis 2:20a. God enabled man to know things (classify/name the animals).
2. Genesis 2:18. God spoke a key component of the reality of man’s psyche into existence. “It is not good that the man should be alone.” God spoke the reality/challenge into man’s life & He created the solution to the reality/challenge.
Unfortunately, this truth spoken by God has been used by man & the devil to ensnare and destroy man. We are not intimately familiar with God’s spoken reality and His solution to it. God is redeemed man’s first relationship.
God is redeemed man’s foundational relationship. God is man’s pivotal relationship. It is not good that the man should be alone is a reality that comes after this foundation has been laid. This foundation is laid by God with our surrender of our will and wants.
We have distorted the order of the relationships. The desires of believers in Christ mimic those of unredeemed man in that we do not pursue the fullness of the foundational relationship, nor the instruction of God in building our secondary relationships.
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