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BUILDING
THE PERFECT DAD Introduction:
Do you remember the old T. V. show “Father Knows Best?” It
featured Robert Young as the “Perfect Dad.” We all know that that’s (Isa. 55:8-9) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." In this
passage God is dealing with the first man, Adam. At this point Adam
was in the perfect environment. God in his great wisdom and because He
knows best created Adam with some needs. God has created you and me
with the same needs as well. Except for the arrival of Eve, creation had
been completed. Note verse 8 - God created a wonderful garden called
I. THE NEED FOR LABOR – (V.15) The word "put" in the original language is used in conjunction with God's rest or safety. It is also used in reference to the '"dedication' of something in the presence of the Lord." "Man was 'put' into the garden where he could rest and be 'safe,' and man was 'put' into the garden 'in God's presence' where he could have fellowship with God. This reminds me of some very important truths. · God loved Adam. · God placed Adam in a place where he would be safe. · God placed Adam in His own presence. I can't help but think, that as Christians although we are no longer in the perfect Garden of Eden, God loves us, God keeps us safe, God, through the Holy Spirit, has placed us in His own presence. Man Was Created: A. To Be Conscientiousness And Constructive God did not create man to just sit around. God created man to be useful and productive. God placed man in the garden B. To Care and Cultivate God has intended that, when physically possible, people should work. The Scriptures remind us of the importance of work II. A NEED FOR Adam was no robot. He was given certain freedoms. A. Liberated In His Choice (v.16) According to Vs. 16, he was able to choose what he wanted to eat. B. Liberated In His Capability (v.19) Adam was a very intelligent man. He had the freedom and ability to name all the animals. God has given us a great deal of liberty or freedom. We have the freedom to choose everyday.
III. A NEED FOR LIMITATIONS (V.17) A. Because Man Needs Boundaries. We are most secure when we have boundaries. With freedom comes responsibility. With responsibility comes limitation. There are things that God says "no" to. Because Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they eventually died physically. The moment they ate of the fruit they died spiritually. Separation occurred between them and God. (Ezek 18:4) "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die." B. Because God’s Love Is Boundless One big problem that we have with God is that we fail to realize how much he cares! We don't realize that when he puts limits on our liberty, that He is doing it because "Father knows best!"
IV. A NEED FOR LOVE (V.18-22) Father knows best concerning man. He knows that it is not good for man to be alone. (single men are to be the exception not the rule). God decided to give man a partner, a "help meet" He provided someone to share the joys and sorrows of life. I think of God giving man a woman who is an extension of him. She is distinctly and wonderfully different, and yet uniquely part of himself. Read vv.19-22 A. Natural Attraction (v.23) Men and women are naturally attracted and impressed with each other. B. Noticeable Adhesion (v.24) Man was to leave his Father and Mother and cleave to his wife. The two were to be "one flesh" with one life. This was and is a life that is to be lived together, complimenting and supporting each other. God has met our need for love in the marriage relationship. Father knows best!
V. A NEED FOR LIFE And because father knows best, He met another one of our needs, the need for forgiveness and eternal life. Like Adam and Eve we have failed God. Like Adam and Eve without Jesus are spiritually dead. God, being just, needs a payment for our sins. Someone has to pay! A. God’s Great Provision That's
why God provided His Son, who died in our place for our sins. (2 Cor 5:21)
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him." Jesus has paid
for our sins B. God’s Gracious Plan God gives us a choice. We can believe on Christ, trust Him as our way of forgiveness, or we can pay for our sins some other way, such as trying to be good, or going to church, or trying to keep the 10 commandments, or giving money. The only problem is, all other ways do not bring forgiveness, and a person ends up paying for sin in hell for all eternity! Our Heavenly Father has met your need for eternal life because He knows best. Have you accepted His way through Christ? Conclusion: Let’s review and compare what God did for Adam to what He has done for us!
YOUR NEED FOR LABOR Adam was “placed in the garden.” You are “placed in Christ.” God did not place you "in Christ" to be idle. He placed you "in Christ" to serve. Ephesians 2:10, Luke 9:23, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 4:10-11
YOUR
NEED FOR In
Christ we have a newfound freedom over sin and death. (Rom 6:14) "For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but
under grace." According to (Gal 5:13) "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty
for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
YOUR NEED FOR LIMITATIONS Because God is holy, He expects us to live holy lives as His children. He hates certain things, and because we are His "kids" we should hate the same things. Galatians 5:19-21
THE NEED FOR LOVE Our need for love is met in Christ. The church is the “bride of Christ”. There is no doubt that He loves and cares for us. And He loves us on a higher level than all those things that are mentioned concerning the husband/wife relationship mentioned in Genesis 2. God said it was not good for man to be alone. The Lord Jesus says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Your spouse is to be a best friend. Our Lord is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Mates are attracted to each other. Our Lord was attracted to us, dying for us before we were even born again. We are attracted to Christ by the Holy Spirit, if we have been truly born again. And finally, there is the "one flesh" relationship. The moment you trusted Christ, you became part of His "body". Father knows best! He has met our needs!
THE NEED FOR LIFE Not only has Christ met our need for eternal life, but he has met our need for a fulfilled life now.
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