God's Mission for Man

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God has had a plan for man from the very beginning. It is a plan for good. It is in this world that He created for us.

The Creation - this world, is the place of Man’s habitation, it is the place God made for us.

God’s work begins in Genesis 1:1–31 with “The Creation” and His interaction continues in Genesis 2:1-25

The Creation - Genesis 1:1–25

A. God Created

In Genesis 1:1–2. Here we see God created and the Holy Spirit moved

This was the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They all had a part in creation.

B. Days of creation

In Genesis 1: 3–25

First day—vv. 3–5. Light. The earth was dark, God created light.

Second day—vv. 6–10. Firmament. The clouds and space.

Third day—vv. 11–13. The plant life of the earth.

Fourth day—vv. 14–19. Lights. The sun, moon, stars, the nine planets, and the stars are without number. Each star has a name (Ps. 147:4).

Fifth day—vv. 20–23. Fish and animals. Note He made birds to fly in the air, fish to live in the water, animals to live on the land.

Note that God created by speaking “and God said” and it came to pass.

Also note that everything God spoke into existence was “good”

The Creature - Genesis 1:26-27

A. Man in God’s Image

—v. 26a “Let us [God, Jesus, Holy Spirit] make man in our image, after our likeness.” Man was made in the image of God.

B. Dominion

—v. 26b “And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all creeping things that creepeth upon the earth.” Man was created higher than animals. Because man was created in the image of God, he can have fellowship with God.

C. Design

—v. 27 God created man and woman. Marriage was established before any government, schools, or churches. God created man and woman for each other. (see God’s plan for marriage in Eph. 5:22–29.)

III. The Command (The Mission) - Genesis 1:28–31

The Command - the mission God gave to man, his creation

A. God’s Plan

—vv. 28–30.

1. Reproduce

If possible husband and wife should have children. The number of children is a personal matter between the couple. No parents should have more children then they can support financially. Note: Those who do not care for their children are worse than heathens. (1 Tim. 5:8).

2. Rule

—vv. 29–30. Man would rule or control the earth.

B. God was Pleased

—v. 31. God saw His good works and was satisfied. He was pleased with His work. God created all we see, and all we can’t see, in six days (Col. 1:16–17).1

1 Croft M. Pentz, Expository Outlines from the Pentateuch, Dollar Sermon Library Series, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1976), 7–8.

The Garden

All of the earth was created for man as in Genesis 2:4-6 where it says “there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground”.

But God wanted a special place for Adam and Eve and created a garden for them in Genesis 2:8.

Genesis 2:8 KJV 1900

8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Having created Adam, God now presents an affectionate gift; something very personal for him; something that would bring Adam great happiness; something that would always remind Adam of their relationship.

God didn’t create a beautiful palace for Adam, God didn’t create gorgeous apparel for him.

God gave Adam a garden to “dress it”. This was a place where Adam walked with God. This was a place for Adam to work and eat and rest and have pleasure and fulfillment in his life.

It was in a garden, God’s first earthly gift to man, that:

God first spoke to man, Gen. 2:16.

Man first spoke to God, Gen. 3:10.

Where God first questioned man, Gen. 3:9.

Where Adam and Eve first came together, the first love affair, Gen. 2:21–23.

Where man first sinned, Gen. 3:6.

Where Christ, the “last Adam,” dedicated Himself to redeem man,

Matthew 26:39 KJV 1900

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

9:27 AM

The Subversion of Man’s Mission

The introduction of the “Serpent”, the devil, comes in Genesis 3:1-24

This is where we recognize the first independent act of man against God’s will. Sin entered in.

When we think of the work of the devil, we often think only in terms of sin, where sin is defined as:

Sin: Evildoing against humanity, society, others, or oneself, and against God’s holy, righteous, and utterly good nature.

One clear message in the Old Testament was that Israel, God’s chosen people, were to set the ideal, the standard for human behavior.

The most frequent biblical words for sin (Heb ḥāṭā’; Gk hamartēma) meant originally “to miss the mark, fail in duty” which is stated in a verse we may all know, Rom 3:23.

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

As Lawgiver, God sets limits to man’s freedom

Another frequent term (Heb ‛ābar; Gk parabasis) describes sin as transgression, overstepping those set limits.

Similar terms are peṡa‛ (Heb ) (rebellion, transgression); ‛āṡam (Heb ) (trespassing upon God’s kingly prerogative, incurring guilt)

paraptōma (Gk ) (a false step out of the appointed way, trespass on forbidden ground).

In the New Testament this concept is “Iniquity” which often translates ‛āȯn (Heb ) (perverseness, wrongness), for which the nearest NT equivalent is anomia (Gk , lawlessness), paranomia (Gk ) (law-breaking), rejecting divine rule; rāṡa‛ (Heb ), also, means “lawless, unruly.”

1 R. E. O. White, Baker encyclopedia of the Bible, 1988, 2, 1967.

There is another aspect of the devils character and nature that I want to focus on for this message. This is found in the response of Eve to God in Genesis 3:13.

Genesis 3:13 KJV 1900

13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Eve said the serpent “beguiled” her.

The Bible say the serpent was more “subtle” in Genesis 3:1

Genesis 3:1 KJV 1900

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The word used here translated into English as “subtle” is the Hebrew word:

Arum, “Crafty.” The Hebrew word arum can mean “clever” or “crafty.”

Outside Genesis 3:1 it is used only in the wisdom books of Proverbs (eight times) and Job (twice).

The related words aram (“to be clever”) and ormah (“cunning” or “cleverness”), however, do occur outside Wisdom literature.

The word “arum” itself is often used in a positive sense.

In Proverbs it is often translated as “prudent.” People who are arum are portrayed as wise and cautious. They are discerning (Prov 14:8), ignore insults (Prov 12:16), avoid danger (Prov 22:3; 27:12), and act with knowledge (Prov 13:16). aram is seen as a characteristic of wisdom itself (Prov 8:12).1

1 Douglas Mangum, Miles Custis, and Wendy Widder, Genesis 1–11, Lexham Research Commentaries, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ge 3:1–24.

Several times, however, arum is used in a negative sense.

In Job, Eliphaz equates the tongue of the arum with iniquity (Job 15:5).

When speaking about the justice of God, he mentions that God “frustrates the devices of the arum” (Job 5:12).

The word ormah is used in Exod 21:14 to refer to a willful and intentional murder (“to kill him by ormah”). Psalm 83 uses it to describe plans made by the enemies of God (Psa 83:3).

While arum is often seen as a desirable characteristic, its use in Gen 3:1 reflects the word’s negative aspects.

The serpent is arum, like the enemies of God in Psa 83.

The serpent’s craftiness is used to deceive and lead astray.

The serpent’s craftiness is not something that protects or gives discernment. Instead, it is used to deceive and lead astray.1

1 Douglas Mangum, Miles Custis, and Wendy Widder, Genesis 1–11, Lexham Research Commentaries, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ge 3:1–24.

The devil has subverted Man’s mission through deception, using the lust of things and the pride of life to control their lives.

We can see this in the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:5-7

Luke 4:5–7 KJV 1900

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

The devil has taken the bounty of creation that was intended to bless us in our lives and with and has systematically attempted to overthrow or undermine the government of God as he lifts himself.

This is the work of the devil as he deceives the nations through commerce, through a world system that he manipulates.

Revelation 18:1-24 describes “Babylon”, who made the merchants of the earth rich, and in vs 9 “the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her”

Revelation 18:23 (KJV 1900)

23 … For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

People are so deceived that as the judgments of God come, people refuse to repent in

Revelation 9:20 KJV 1900

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

The world system, the leaders of nations will come together to subvert God’s mission for man in Revelation 16:14

Revelation 16:14 KJV 1900

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

If we only think of sin and the devil in terms of some religious teachings that only condemn us because we are “not living up to God’s standard” we will miss the end time strategy of the devil who in 2 Corinthians 11:14 is an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV 1900

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

9:38 AM

Fulfillment of God’s Plan

The Mission is Still the Same

Man is still important to God as it says in Hebrews 2:6-8

Hebrews 2:6–8 KJV 1900

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

This is a quote from Psalm 8. It acknowledges the special position God has given man.

1. Man Is God’s Highest Creation

We still have dominion over the earth that was given to us by God

2. Man Is God’s Fallen Creation

But, through sin, that dominion was given over to the devil

3. Man Is God’s Redeemed Creation

But Jesus Christ has set us free from the curse of sin and death and raised us together with Him

1 John Lewis Mayshack, 175 Sermon Outlines, Sermon Outline Series, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979), 17.

We Are Called to Be Messengers

Ezekiel 3:5–19

A. The Mission

In Ezekiel 3:5–9, he was sent to the children of Israel

1. The People

—vv. 5–6. Ezekiel was sent to God’s people (Israel), his own people, who once followed God, but had rebelled.

These people spoke his language and new their own history but they refused to listen.

2. Practice

—v. 7. Israel refused to listen to God. Throughout the Old Testament, God blessed Israel, but they quickly forgot Him. Man has not changed since then. Notice the future of those who forget God—Psalm 9:17. The house of Israel was impudent and hardhearted.

a. Impudent—the Israelites were disrespectful.

b. Hardhearted—the people were stubborn.

3. Power

—vv. 8–9. God strengthened Ezekiel, giving him the needed power to warn those who forgot God.

Like Ezekiel, all Christians have a mission—John 15:16

John 15:16 KJV 1900

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Our mission is to reach the world with the gospel—Mark 16:15.

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

This is a difficult task, but God is helping us to accomplish it.

B. The Might

—vv. 10–14

1. Words—v. 10. God promised to give Ezekiel the words to warn Israel of its sin. God will also help us as we witness.

2. Work—v. 11. Ezekiel was told to go and speak to the people, whether they listened or not. There are many who reject God’s message. However, we must be faithful in giving the message, no matter if it is accepted or rejected.

3. Wonder—vv. 12–14. Ezekiel had a vision. Before working for God our spiritual eyes must be open. We, too, must have a vision.

a. A vision of God—Isa. 6:1–8

b. A vision of hell—Luke 16:19–31

c. A vision of the lost—Prov. 29:18

Too many Christians are spiritually blind. All about us are men and women who are lost, and need salvation. May we let God open our spiritual eyes.

C. The Message

—vv. 15–21

1. Sharing—v. 15. For seven days Ezekiel “sat with the people.” He knew how they felt. He knew their problems. He went to where the people were.

2. Solemnity—vv. 16–19

a. Watchman—vv. 16–17. God told Ezekiel he was a watchman to warn Israel of coming danger. We also must warn of the coming judgment.

b. Wicked—v. 18. Like Ezekiel, we must warn the wicked (guilty). If we do not warn them, their blood will be upon our hands. We are responsible for the wicked.

c. Warning—v. 19. If we warn the wicked ones, and they refuse to listen, then we are no longer responsible for their souls.

3. Seriousness—vv. 20–21. We must be faithful in witnessing. If a man doesn’t accept Christ, he will be lost and go to hell. 1

1 Croft M. Pentz, Sermon Outlines from the Prophets, Dollar Sermon Library Series, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977), 13–14.

9:49 AM

Invitation and Closing Prayer

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?

Revelation 21:10 talks about the “holy jerusalem” and no one can enter but in as it says in Revelation 21:27

Revelation 21:27 KJV 1900

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

God has shown His love for man in John 3:16

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God asks this one thing of us: “what will you do about Jesus?” in Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?

Do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead?

Have you confessed it with your mouth?

You have the free will to choose and once you have chosen Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, nothing can separate you from Him as in Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 KJV 1900

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

9:54 AM

Under My Feet (3:15)

9:58 AM

The Blessing

Numbers 6:24–26 NLT

24 ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. 25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’