Hosting the presence (part 2)
- 2. What happens to a person when God rests upon them?
- 3. What is their responsibility in protecting the Presence of God?
- 4. Introduction • Picture the scene: man had just been created. The LORD God Himself had just FORMED MAN from the dust of the GROUND, and had breathed His very own breath into the nostrils of man (Genesis 2:7). Man stood there upon earth for the very first time. The LORD God PLANTED a GARDEN in the EAST of EDEN and PLACED the MAN there who He formed (v. 8). Man stood there in the midst of all the lush green of the forest and the radiant reds, oranges, yellows, blues, purples, whites and all the other colors of the flowers and bushes that displayed their wild beauty (v. 9). The GARDEN of EDEN was a UTOPIA; it possessed all that mankind needed. Note that GOD’S glorious GOODNESS is seen in His DESIGN of the GARDEN.
- 5. Introduction • The general LOCATION of the GARDEN is given (Genesis 2:10-14). REAL LANDS are mentioned: Havilah, Ethiopia, and Assyria. REAL RIVERS are also given: Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel or the Tigris, and the Euphrates. Apparently, the GARDEN was someplace close to where the Tigris and Euphrates join; that is southern Iraq. The TREES (v. 9), the RIVER (v. 10), and the precious GOLD and GEMS (vv. 11-12) in the GARDEN will also be in the NEW EARTH in its eternal state. The NEW EARTH will be endowed with all these elements (Revelation 21:10-11,21; 22:1-2), thus indicating the GARDEN will be restored in the NEW EARTH. The features of the Garden clearly show that God cares deeply for man- his welfare, provision, security, joy, and happiness. The GARDEN shows that GOD DESIGNED the IDEAL ECONOMY for man.
- 6. Introduction • When GOD wanted to reveal HIS KINGDOM, He PLANTED a GARDEN. When GOD wanted to extend HIS KINGDOM, He PLACED the MAN who He formed in HIS IMAGE and after HIS LIKENESS in the GARDEN (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7-8,15). Note the word “PLACE” (‘sum) means to “PUT, set, SET UP, order, PURPOSE, charge, CONVEY, appoint”. This means MAN was NOT CREATED in the GARDEN; he was TRANSPORTED to the GARDEN. Also note the KINGDOM MANDATE is “Be fruitful, multiple, replenish the earth, subdue it, and have dominion” (Genesis 1:28). This means MAN was PLANTED in the GARDEN as a SEED; or better yet, he was TRANSPLANTED into the GARDEN as a SEEDLING.
- 7. Introduction • The GARDEN itself demonstrated the KINGDOM of GOD on EARTH. It was an OUTPOST of the DOMINION, GLORY, and POWER of GOD and HIS KINGDOM. An OUTPOST is a GOVERNMENTAL and MILITARY FUNCTION. It is a FRONTIER SETTLEMENT or MILITARY BASE established by TREATY or agreement from the RULING GOVERNMENT to EXTEND its RULE, CUSTOM, CULTURE, and PROTECTION (from enemy surprise) in said territory. Every OUTPOST has a RULING AGENT or COMMANDER or AMBASSADOR whose POWER is DELEGATED AUTHORITY to REPRESENT their GOVERNMENT or KINGDOM (Genesis 1:28; Matthew 8:8-9; Ephesians 1:19). MAN was DESIGNED to RULE like GOD over the earth (Psalm 8:1-9).
- 8. Introduction • Bearing the IMAGE (selem- resemblance, figure) of GOD and the LIKENESS (demut- manner, similitude, fashion) of GOD, MAN was DESIGNED to be GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE on the EARTH. As a matter of fact, he HOUSED the ESSENCE of GOD, the PRESENCE of GOD, within him- “God breathed into His nostrils…” (Genesis 2:7). He was to REPRESENT or RE- PRESENT GOD in PERSONALITY and FUNCTION on earth to the rest of creation. So, the LORD God “TOOK” (laqah- take away, fetch, draw, carry away) the MAN and “PLACED” (yanah- deposit, put, lay up, settle down) him “IN” or “INTO” the GARDEN (v. 15). Note the word “PLACE” (‘sum- put, set, set up, order, purpose, charge, convey, appoint) in verse 8 is different from the word “PLACE” (yanah- deposit, put, lay up, settle down) in verse 15.
- 9. Introduction • This implies that when MAN was CREATED the LORD God has a PURPOSED APPOINTMENT for him; so, He SECURELY DEPOSITED him into the GARDEN to “Be fruitful, multiple, replenish the earth, subdue it, and have dominion” (Genesis 1:28). His IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY was to “WORK” (‘abad- serve, dress, till, execute) and “KEEP” (shamar- guard, protect, watch, observe, preserve) the GARDEN (Genesis 2:15). Commissioned to the OUTPOST of the KINGDOM of GOD, his ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY was to EXTEND the RULE, CUSTOM, CULTURE, and PROTECTION (from enemy surprise) of the KINGDOM of GOD over the earth. This means MAN is the SEED of GOD, the AMBASSADOR of GOD, the SON of GOD, the HOST of GOD.
- 10. From a Garden to a Garden
- 11. What are the key components of a garden?
- 12. Read Genesis 1:28; 3:15; 4:25; 9:9; 12:7; 1 Corinthians 15:38; Galatians 3:16,29; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9
- 13. MAN is a SEED. MAN has SEEDS. So, a SEED contains SEEDS.
- 14. SEEDS are useless until the PLANTED in the PROPER ENVIRONMENT. The ENVIRONMENT activates the LIFE of the SEED.
- 15. Read Song of Solomon 4:12; 5:1; Isaiah 51:3; 58:11; 61:11; Jeremiah 31:12
- 16. MAN is a GARDEN in which SEEDS are PLANTED.
- 17. Read Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8
- 18. The MIND of MAN is GARDEN. The CONDITION of his MIND will determine the GROWTH and LIFE of the SEED.
- 19. Read Luke 13:18-19;17:6 Matthew 13:31-32; 17:20; Mark 4:30-32
- 20. The KINGDOM of GOD is INCREASABLE. FAITH is INCREASABLE.
- 21. How do you improve the conditions of a garden?
- 22. Tilling the soil Proper saturation Fertilization Sustained climate Appropriate seed Seeding Weeding Pruning Harvesting
- 23. Read John 15:1-8
- 24. From a Garden to a Garden
- 26. The analogy of a KERNEL (seed) of WHEAT dying in the ground and producing many SEEDS teaches that DEATH is necessary for a HARVEST. This illustrates that DEATH is the WAY to LIFE.
- 27. Read John 18:1; Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46
- 28. The Garden of Gethsemane “The Olive Press” The place of the crushing The place of surrender
- 30. JESUS prayed in the GARDEN. He surrender in the GARDEN. He was arrested in the GARDEN. He died in the GARDEN. He was buried in the GARDEN. He rose from the dead in the GARDEN. He took back our rightly place in the GARDEN.
- 31. The IDEAL MAN returns to the GARDEN. The TRUE PROTOTYPE takes dominion in the GARDEN.
- 32. From a Garden to a Garden
- 33. What type of seed are you?
- 34. What seeds are planted in your garden?
- 35. What is the condition of your garden?
- 36. How do you dress your garden?
- 37. How do you keep your garden?
- 38. From a Garden to a Garden
- 39. Conclusion • The KINGDOM of GOD is a FERTILE ECONOMY. It always yields 100% return on any investment. QUALITY SEEDS need QUALITY SOIL in order to PRODUCE a FULL HARVEST. The DEGREES of GROWTH for the SEED (30, 60, 100) depends upon the FERTILITY of the SOIL. Note the SEED will GROW but NOT YIELD a FULL HARVEST if the SOIL QUALITY is poor. We need to REPLENISH the SOIL of our MIND so that we will PRODUCE a FULL 100% HARVEST. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ JESUS” (Philippians 2:5, KJV). The KINGDOM of GOD is marked by its SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
- 40. Conclusion • It is an EVER-INCREASING and EVER- EXPANDING KINGDOM; its continual growth will eventually takeover of the earth (Daniel 2:31-45). Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” INCREASE means CONTINUOUS GROWTH and EXPANSION. GOVERNMENT is the RULING AUTHORITY of the KINGDOM. As a BELIEVER and a CITIZEN of the KINGDOM of GOD, we must DIG AROUND ourselves in order to separate from the world. We must be FERTILIZED with the HOLY SPIRIT and the WORD of GOD. We must reflect the EXPANDING NATURE of the KINGDOM (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32). We must PRODUCE a FULL HARVEST from the SEED of the WORD of GOD!