A Man Must Have An Intimate Knowledge Of God
Genesis 2: 18-20
18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
Adam, the first man, walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam instruction. You see, Adam knew God in a way we can only vividly imagine. What does a woman want in a man? She wants a man who makes wise decisions. Where does wisdom come from but from God. Only a man who able to seek counsel of God for insight can lead his family wisely.
A man can only know his God if he is a man of prayer. His prayer life affects the security of his loved ones. A praying man is a powerful man. A man who touches the heart of God is desirable to a woman. What makes this man desirable? A man in a relationship with God exhibits sensitivity to his woman. She will feel the sense of protection under his prayerful care. Become an extraordinary man who righteous women seek and God smiles upon.
The following is short lesson concerning instruction:
The Imagination of Man
Gen 8:20-21
God's Covenant with Creation
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done."
I am no one special. I am not an eloquent writer, I am not polished. I am just an ordinary man. If by chance that this lesson is interesting to you, it is not because of me. I know that all my abilities come from God - they are on loan to me. I am surprised how he takes someone like me and allows me to teach His word. I am not worthy. Many times I deserve to fail, but He still gives me his strength to continue.
The lesson today is on the imagination of man. From our reading, God said the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.
Synonyms for imagination are: The mind of man and the thoughts of man. So the mind of man's heart is evil. When does the imagination of man's heart become evil? God tell us that man's mind and thoughts are evil from youth. This evil is wickedness, immorality and iniquity.
So as my good preacher friend used to say, no one comes out of the delivery room at the hospital knowing how to behave. No one comes here righteous or full of goodness. No one comes out the delivery room with instruction on how to live life upright in God's eyes. So if you don't have a quality, and you are seeking a quality, it requires effort and transformation. Let's turn to Psalm 119:1-8.
Psalm 119
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
The transformation from iniquity to being set apart in God's favor requires instruction. In verses 1-3 David, a man after God's own heart, is passing on to future generations this instruction. David is proclaiming, in order to be set apart from iniquity we must follow the God's law and walk in His ways. We must seek God with our whole heart.
In verses 4-6 David makes known that God has commanded man to keep his laws for living diligently. The benefit of keeping the commandment is that we will not be ashamed when we look into God's word and His commandments.
In verses 7-8 David tells God that he will phrase God with a decent heart when he learns God's righteous judgments. David is referring to instruction. We must have instruction to break away from iniquity. David closes with a plea to God not to forsake him. He is saying, God please don't leave me.
God has not left man. He sent his Son Jesus
as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of man's sin.
The invitation is to put away the past, receive instruction and start anew walking
with God. Start by giving God phrase,
asking for his strength, His instruction and striving to be pleasing in God's
eye. Hear His call, hear His invitation. Like the prodigal's father, God is waiting for you.
With love and respect the lesson is yours. Contributors: Unknown Author; Indiucky