Friday, January 31, 2025

GOD CREATED YOUR COMMUNITY Genesis 1:20-31

 GOD CREATED YOUR COMMUNITY

GENESIS 1:20- 31


COMMUNITY IS A BLESSING FROM GOD

Genesis 1:20-2:1

 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning — the fifth day. 


24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 


27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them. 


28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food." And it was so. 

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day. 


THE COMMUNITY

In days five and six God created a community of creatures. In the air.

On land, and in the waters.  


The God we serve planned steps for you and me to live a life of

Worship, filled with His joy. In day one of the creative process, God introduced us to light of the World. First,  He created the

Universe in darkness covered with water than brought it out darkness

To the true everlasting Light. He made a place for us to live in an 

environment suitable for life. God filled the place with water and vegetation for man and all creatures to eat.


On day five of God’s creative process, He filled the place of man with

Animals in the sky, on land, and in the waters. God is a universal provider. He made provisions for all times. for all living creatures.


It is estimated that there are 10,000 species of birds in countries around the world.  It is estimated that there are over 2,000,000 species of animals on land. It is estimated that there are 25,000

Species of fish in waters around the earth. Only a God can speak

In existence the abundance of creatures all over the Earth. Each

Species were given the ability to reproduce themselves. Provisions

for each species is provided for their existence. God knows and provides for the diet of each species.  


BLESSED TO MULTIPLY

God blessed the animals He created and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply.  We would do well to remember that life is a gift 

Of God. It was not learned by education but given the ability to learn.

Animals were given the ability to survive in the environment they were

Placed. 


Animals were placed in a community with others of their kind. Dogs

Don’t produce cats and cats don’t produce birds. Elephants don’t

produce crocodiles and crocodiles don’t produce fish. Only an all

Knowing God could give animals the instinct to reproduce their own

Kind 


Life in each animal is God’s design and varies in their capabilities and

Purpose. The animals were created in harmony and for the joy of man


MAN THE CROWN OF GOD’S CREATION

Day 6 is the crown of God’s creation. Days one through 5 set the stage for the making of man.


Genesis 1:26-2:1

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 


27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 


28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 

God said let us. Who is the us?  The phrase “let us make is one Hebrew Word, asah.  Some theologians believe it is the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  In previous verses God revealed, Light the Luiminous meaning the Son, and the Spirit hovering over the waters.


WE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF GOD

God made man in His own image and likeness.  No other creature or substance was made in the image of God.  The word made in the verse means to appoint. God appointed man as a representative of Himself to take charge of His creation. You and I were made to be in charge of the earth resources. The resources were not made to be

In charge of you.


Man is special and extraordinary in his formation and soul.  The office of man is set higher than any creature on earth. Man was made intellectual and formed after the nature and perfection of God.


God is spirit, therefore  Man was given a spirit to communicate with God. The Fountain of our spirit is God. God is unlimited in His resources, knowledge, wisdom and power. God appointed man to be stewards Of His creation with continuous access to Him.


John 4:24

 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."




27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 


We are to resemble God in speech, thought and, in action with love and compassion. We were designed to use the knowledge and wisdom of God to the benefit of others.


The Hebrew word for the verb created is bara. God is the only subject for this word. Bara means to be fat, be sound, and be healthy. We were made with the abundance of God, with the responsibility to take care of God’s earthly creatures.  We are fat with resources.


God created man and woman equally and according to this verse at the same time. In Adam was the woman to be formed later. God intended for Adam to have companionship thus the idea of community. 


Only God can create something by His spoken word. There is unlimited power in the Word of God. You and I have access to that power. God made you fat with His abundance. 


Genesis 1:28

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 


The blessings of God is the cause of blessings in our lives. No one can bless us in the manner of God. Like the animals, we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply. Unlike the animals, we were given the command to rule over all living creatures.


Who in their right mind would give you control of all the created, and worked hard for without hesitation? God put His trust in man. We should be quick to put our trust in God.


God gave us family and then charged us to make more families. Today, Many men and women choose not to have children or wait until later in their careers. Ignoring God’s commands can complicate 

The childbearing process. A couple who ignore God’s command to 

produce children puts a limit on their blessing. 


Psalms 127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. 

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 

5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.


What would have happened if Adam and Eve had ignored God’s

Command to be fruitful and multiply?


Stewardship over God’s creatures requires a family effort. No man is an island, and families are his helpers. In the creation story, God emphasizes that we need and depend on each other. It was Noah

And his family that build the Ark to survive the flood that destroyed

All mankind and animals except that which entered Ark. God put His

Trust in Noah to restart family and community.


The first thing God did for man was to give him His law challenging

Him to be fearful and obedient. The second thing God did was give

Man a job. The third thing God did for Adam was to put Eve at his side


God made man sovereign over all life in His creation. Man has the knowledge and the wisdom of the creator. Made in the image of God, man has the capability to make right decisions according to the will of God.  Man has the creative ability to devise situations to care for animals In his charge 

    Man has reason to apprehend good and evil

    Man has speech to make certain sensible acts

    Man has the power to act according to the will of God

    Man can choose to be obedient

    Man can choose to love 

    Man has the knowledge of God to live a righteous life.


GOD’S ABUNDANT PROVISIONS

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food." And it was so. 

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day. 


No one can provide for you like the Lord. No one knows your needs,

Wants and desires like the Lord. God is so protective of you that

He has made promises that covers every need you have.


According to Everet R. Storms’ comprehensive study, there are 7,487 promises made by God to man. These promises cover a wide range of topics, including provision, protection, guidance, and redemption. They offer hope and assurance to believers, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and love.


Notice, it is God who proclaims that you are good. You don’t need the validation of anyone to say you are good.  Your goodness does not depend on your work, position or family.  You are good because

God says you are good. It is up to you to believe what God said about

You.  Others think it is their job to point out your faults and judge you

Unworthy.  If God didn’t do it, why listen to others?


This reminds me of a commercial where an Emu packed his bag and left the farm to pursue his dream.   The owner yelled as the Emu

was leaving telling him he would never be in an insurance commercial. The farmer added “you just a flightless bird”


Five years later the farmer was looking at TV and saw the bird in the

Commercial selling insurance. Here is  what I like about the Emu;


           He had a dream

           He had the sense to leave a toxic situation.

           He didn’t listen to the negative evaluation of others

           He was determined to succeed.  


You and I don’t travel alone. We have God on our side.

We can trust the God we serve to provide a way out

God has a vested interest in our success


God made abundant provisions for you, the crown of His creation.

You and I were made to be perfect and lacking nothing.


James 1:2-5

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5


You and I were made to experience trouble. We made strong in the Lord to develop faith in Him.



SUMMARY



COMMUNITY IS A BLESSING FROM GOD


GOD ESTABLISHED DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES


YOUR COMMUNITY WAS DESIGNED BY GOD


YOU WERE BLESSED TO HAVE CHILDREN


YOU ARE THE CROWN OF GOD’S CREATION


YOU ARE GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE


GOD GIFTED YOU WITH ABUNDANT PROVISIONS


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