YouTube Lesson: https://youtu.be/S8uivHvfdmU
What is your favorite day of the week? Monday? The idiom "thank God it's Friday" seems to indicate that "making it" to Friday is good. The weekend - along with our rest or break from work and all that it represents to us individually - is about to begin.
Don't you think that our Heavenly Father also enjoys the weekend? Think of it like this; He worked for six days, and rested on the seventh. We are an image of God - it says so right in the Bible - and so it stands to reason that some of the things we enjoy and look forward to are similar to what He looks forward to and enjoys.
BUT
This is where Isiah 55:8-9 tell us how His ways are not our ways, etc., etc.
When we were saved, let's call that Monday. Genesis 1 details God's account of creation. What is interesting about Scripture is that it can teach us many things in the same text. In this study we are going to consider how each of the days of Creation teach us about our Re-Creation. Or really, God's plan to "make us something new," which He says in the Bible several times: Isaiah 43:19, Revelation 21:5, Isaiah 65:17, Ephesians 2:15. Remember that thing in church where your Pastor said, "when God repeats Himself it's important?" The fact that God started off in Genesis 1 with what we might call 'the plan' should tell us something.
Kick off Video:
The Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUV7mWDI34
Our path to Re-Creation
How do we respond to an immoral world?
Before we can even begin talking about that, we need to figure out how we respond to an immoral self.
Jesus has a plan for this.
We become a new person
We learn to acknowledge God - Jehovah Jesus
We learn to learn from His Word
Then we must practice what the Word teaches
Being led by the values of our Father
Evidence of His Character alive and at work within us,
as demonstrated by “our character” or His Character IN us
Grow our faith or letting His faith grows in us
Resting in Peace with God
Before being saved, we are in a state of chaos
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
We are messed up and in a state of chaos. We come to the end of ourselves, and that is where we realize that Jesus is real, we can’t do it on our own, and we reach out flailing for something - anything that can save us. This is where we know how desperate our situation really is.
Our Re-Creation
We become a new person
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Many have received Jesus, prayed the sinner’s prayer, been baptized.
Then we find ourselves asking, “What does it mean to be ‘born again?’”
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
We learn to acknowledge God - Jehovah Jesus
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
There is a gap created by God. Jesus was made to cover this Gap.
Water, when used symbolically represents people. For example:
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter acknowledges God when he says, “Lord (or Jesus), save me.”
Jesus covers the gap:
Immediately
Reaching out His hand to Peter (to us)
Taking hold of him (us)
Why does Jesus say, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Jesus looks at us and says the same thing.
But His Love is beyond our understanding, because He IS love.
He looks at us with eyes of a hopeful parent that wants to see us succeed
He has given us everything we need!
29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
If Jesus tells you to do something:
It will be clear: “come”
It will be for you: Jesus said [to Peter], “Come.” Not for everyone else in the boat.
It will give you the authority. Why? Because:
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
So what is the gap we are concerned with here:
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
The gap between us and:
Our Lord Jesus
Our Heavenly Father
Who we were, and who we are becoming
This life, and the next life with our Heavenly Father
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
How do we get there?
Praise and Worship - This reminds us who God is, and humbles us
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Reading the Word of God
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Prayer & Prayer in Tongues
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Being discipled and fellowship with other believers
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
This Week
Whether you do this with your spouse, family, or by yourself, find time to:
Pray and thank God for being your God, your Salvation, and for caring enough to have a plan for you.
You can ask God to direct you to Scripture, but if you aren't dialed into that pick and read some Bible.
Listen to - AND sing along with some Praise and Worship Songs. Or, if you are musical, play something for your Heavenly Father. He LOVES to hear you in praise - we are all great singers to Him!
Spend time in fellowship with other believers.
Day 1 is all about coming to the end or ourselves, and receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Day 2 is ALL about acknowledging who He is, the gap, and reaching out to Him.
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