Eden the Wellspring
Notes
Transcript
Eden the Wellspring
Eden the Wellspring
Intro
Intro
Underground springs
Gen 1 Creation of the world
Gen 2 Creation of the Garden
The first thing he does is form the man out of the dust and breathe life into him.
Genesis 2:8–14 “8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13 The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14 The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.”
Does the 4 river part matter? - Yes. Provision.
v8
v8
Eden means abundance or luxury
Eden means abundance or luxury
God’s provision
God’s provision
Not only did God create a fully functioning world - He created a sacred (set apart) space that provided for humanity.
God didn’t make a garden that could be survived. He made the garden already thriving!
God Planted - The Garden and placed the Man
God Planted - The Garden and placed the Man
1) He is always the first mover
1) He is always the first mover
He made the space & resources
He placed you in the season you are in.
Some of us have placed ourselves in a bad situation.
The decisions you didn’t make
What do you look like,
When you were born
Where were you born
Who were you born to
Your kids
He has placed you in that situation
Bible makes this claim and then backs it up
2) God gives the directions / we give the response.
2) God gives the directions / we give the response.
Prayer
Do we live knowing that God is our source and the one who has placed us?
Alpha and Omega - He can handle it
v9 - The Middle - our ability to fixate on something
v9 - The Middle - our ability to fixate on something
All sorts of tees!
The phrases “beautiful and delicious” and “in the middle of the garden” are important.
Narrative flow:
Genesis 3:3 “3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ””
Genesis 3:6 “6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”
In the middle were 2 trees!
How many look appealing? - ALL OF THEM!
Whatever place you find yourself planted today. There are at least 2 options in front of you.
What is your middle?
What are you focusing on right now?
Loneliness - In July
Not if - but what.
We all do it - some more than others.
How do we stop?
Start intentionally thinking about other good things.
Memorize scripture and use the thoughts as a trigger for scripture
Jesus Creed
Psalms 23
Don’t fixate - see the good all around you!
v10 - Eden is like the Holy of Holies.
v10 - Eden is like the Holy of Holies.
A river flowed out from the land of Eden
A river flowed out from the land of Eden
Controlled - water is God’s continual provision for his creation
Michigan vs the Desert
Still, we get it…
How the imagery of God's prvision
How the imagery of God's prvision
After sin, the tabernacle is that space and is an imagery of the garden.
Holy of Holies
Inner court
Lampstands - Tree of Life
Outer court
The 12 tribes camped around the tabernacle
After Jesus, you and I are that space.
Our sins are washed away and we are filled with the Holy Spirit to bring life to everyone around us!
Full circle imagery
Eden - Temple - You - New Jerusalem
You are the river for life to flow through.
We can damn the life by focusing on the wrong thing.
vs 11-14 - The 4 Rivers
vs 11-14 - The 4 Rivers
This is a real place.
These were names of places people knew
Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist
Just because humanity didn’t call the force that holds us to the ground gravity doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.…
There is satellite imagery of an ancient river that went through Sadia Rabia.
Abundance on top of abundance
Onyx Stone
Bible - sacred spaces and objects.
Onyx is a hyperlink to paradise.
Decorate the tabernacle, and Solomon’s temple, and wear on the high priest’s garments.
Gold
Gold Rush
Gold and onyx stones are both seen in Revelation
The new earth has gold for asphalt &
Onyx stones are decorations on the walls.
Think about the importance of sharing the gospel
Working for asphalt vs eternity
You can be a wellspring of life
Conclusion
Conclusion
1) God has placed you
1) God has placed you
When you are living, the person you are - he has placed you.
2) God’s provision and abundance are not in short supply.
2) God’s provision and abundance are not in short supply.
What is in short supply is focusing our minds and setting ourselves on the good God provided.
Don’t fixate on the things you don’t have.
Train your mind to see the abundance and provision of God.
3) How will you respond to Him?
3) How will you respond to Him?
Fixate
Be a conduit of life-giving water to everyone and everything?
Deuteronomy 30:19 “19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
