Gtcotr/ss042521
Genesis 2 NKJV
18 ¶ And the LORD God said, “It
is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable
to him.”
19 Out of the ground the LORD
God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them
to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living
creature, that was its name.
20 So Adam gave names to all
cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam
there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 ¶ And the LORD God caused
a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and
closed up the flesh in its place.
22 Then the rib which the
LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the
man.
23 And Adam said: “This is
now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because
she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become
one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
“It is not good that man should be alone.” How prophetic!
Everything
we read in the Word of God is just that, God’s Word.
·
66 books
·
1189 chapters
·
31,102 verses
·
Penned by 40 authors
·
From 3 continents
·
In three languages
· Taking over 1500 years to complete
Yet it all fits together as one orchestrated and detailed account, telling one story, about one subject, contained in one person, whose end is revealed from the very beginning. The Bible records God’s eternal plan in the greatest detail, describing events before they ever happen.
The world is a stage set by God Himself, hosting a play written before the ages to tell the story of the Gospel and bring about His plan for His only Son, Jesus. Every person is a player and God has cast each one to His preferred role. However, how the role is played is up to each individual. They are allowed to play the hero or the villain; they can play the lead or have no lines at all. Each scene fits together to reveal the eternal plan of God. There is nothing more precise than the predetermined will of God.
I
would like for us to look at the familiar account we read from Genesis 2 in a
new way this morning. I believe we can gain added insight and grow our faith by
viewing this passage from a different facet than we are used to seeing it. To
set the stage, first let me say:
·
It
is evident God created man with a social need. Social security comes from the
mutual respect and support of someone like you.
o Social security does
not come from a relationship with a father, even when that father is good and
loving and kind.
o Social security cannot
come from a relationship with a pet.
o Social security comes
from another person just like you – known, accepted, common experiences, and a
shared life.
o Genesis 2:18
…“I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
§ Like him.
§ Who understands him.
§ Who walks where he
walks, think like he thinks, faces what he faces, and does what he does.
§ Same goals, needs,
joys and same toils.
§ To sit with him, walk
with him, work with him, play with him, share with him, support him, encourage
him, and be productive with him.
§ The same as him … to
help, support, and secure him.
§ A helper comparable to him …
It would be enough if that were all that was intended in the creation of the woman. However, God having spoken of the loneliness of Adam and his need for companionship to share life with, is but the overlying visual of a greater underlying truth. What truth? His heart and His plan for Jesus!
We would be mistaken to imagine the Bible and God’s unfolding plan for mankind was absent His motivation to be the best Father to His Son, Jesus.
Before we look further into the verses from this passage in Genesis, let me ask you to consider Jesus in each of the truths we will share this morning. When we conclude I will bring it all back together so we can make application of these truths in our lives this coming week.
In the beginning Adam lived in a wonderful paradise which supplied each need and every desire he could possibly imagine. He walked with God, His Father, in this paradise and was given dominion over all the works of God’s hand. The birds, mammals, reptiles, and even the fish loved and obeyed Adam. Food was abundant, the air fresh and clean, the water crystal clear, and refreshing, the climate perfect, and it never rained. Adam could lay down with the lion and the lamb with no fear, no sin, and no pain.
But … Adam was lonely. He had a father, and he had an abundance of pets he knew by name, he was rich, and he had a good life with no needs … what he didn’t have however, was someone like him to share it with.
Let me pause here for a moment. Can you see Jesus in Adam? In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Paul calls Jesus the last Adam. 1 Timothy 2:13 says Adam was formed first, then Eve. Colossians says all things were made by Jesus and all things were made for Jesus.
We can clearly see the unfolding of God’s plan from the very beginning was to bring about not only the creation of mankind but also to create a helpmate for Jesus, comparable to Him, for Him to share His wealth and His life with. I believe God’s eternal intent was to create a Bride, which is the Church, and fashion her for His Son who was lonely. Jesus had a loving Father, and He had servants and angels, and all manner of created things. But Jesus wanted someone like Him with whom He could share His wealth and His life. Jesus, like Isaac, needed His Father to find Him a bride.
I find it intriguing that when Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and fell into sin, Adam decided to partake also insuring he would not be separated from the love of his life. There is no doubt Adam willingly separated himself from his God so he could be with his wife.
Jesus did the same thing. He found a way to accomplish the same thing for His bride, although Jesus did not sin. Yet, Jesus, willingly and purposefully, took upon Himself the sins of His bride … He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteous of God. Jesus made us flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones.
2 Corinthians 5
17 Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new.
18 And all things are of God
…
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it
to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.
30 For we are members of his
body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
You are the Eve of Christ. He was lonely before you. There was no one like Him. You are His social security if you will. One made like Him. Fashioned by God’s own hand as a helper, comparable to Him. You are the Bride of Christ, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. For this reason shall Christ leave His Father’s house and be joined to His Bride, the Church, and they two shall be one in spirit, and live together in a new paradise for ever and ever. The mystery we sometimes cannot understand is that everything is all about Jesus. God’s plan was for the future of His son with His Bride and the family they will be together in paradise on planet earth throughout eternity.
What
do I take away from today’s message that will help me be more like Christ this
week?
1.
We have been re-created in the image of God’s dear Son.
a. To be like Christ …
comparable to Him.
b. To help Him, support
Him, follow Him, obey Him, and respect Him.
c. We are cherished
covenant partners with Jesus in life.
d. We share with Him in
His inheritance as joint heirs of God.
e. We rule and reign with
Him in heavenly places.
f. We have authority and
dominion over all creation.
2.
We have a great future.
a. An affectionate
future.
b. A blessed future.
c. A productive future.
d. A future that is out
of this world! Literally!!!
e. We are engaged to a
King … and not just any King … the King of the Universe whose Daddy is the Creator
of all things.
3.
Jesus longs for a covenant relationship with you.
a. You were created to be
His Bride.
b. You are designed to be
His social security.
c. To talk with Him.
d. To walk with Him like
no other.
e. Listen to His dreams.
f. Share your dreams with
Him.
g. Follow His lead.
h. Support His decisions.
i. He will never leave you or forsake you.
Ok men … it you have ever imagined your mom or wife, or any woman had it is so easy … here is your chance to show how a good wife acts. Lol. Seriously … Life is not easy but doing it right pays really well.
If
you have not said yes to Jesus’ invitation to become His bride, let me
encourage you to say yes to Him today. God will save your soul and Jesus will
become your Lord, your friend, and your eternal security.
