God's Original Plan
God's original intention
Made for His pleasure
Rev 4:11 (NLT) Everything God made was for His pleasure.
Col 1:16 All things were created by Him and for Him.
Is 43:1-7 We were created for His glory. He formed us, we are His!
God wanted a family. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden and His desire is to walk with us too. He enjoyed their company and wants to enjoy friendship with us as well!
Made in the image of His son
Rom 8:28-29 We are predestined to the likeness of His son. Not only are we made in Jesus' likeness but we can also share his inheritance and the intimate relationship he has with the Father.
Enjoy the unity of the Trinity
The love within the Trinity is complete. Nothing is missing. This love and unity was meant to be shared with us! John 17:21
We were made by God
Gen 1 All of creation except man was spoken into being. God's word went forth and creation happened. Yet God knelt down on His knees and formed man out of the dust of the earth - He then breathed life into him. An intimate act! This demonstrates that God intended a close relationship with this part of His creation.
Gen 2:7 "God formed man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The man came alive - a living soul" (The Message).
His life came into us and gave us our life.
We have an adversary
Someone is against us. Our enemy hates the glory of God that is hidden in our hearts. He has tried to trap and destroy God's son (and failed) - we are the target now!
Is 14:7-15
Ez 28:1-9
Satan stood against God - the five "I wills"
- I will ascend to Heaven.
- I will raise my throne above God's.
- I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly.
- I will ascend to the top of the clouds.
- I will make myself like the Most High.
He did not want equality with God; Satan wanted God's place for himself.
Satan was thrown out of Heaven and then went after the next best thing - God's kids!
Dan 5:22
Dan 8:9-11
The fall from God's intention
Gen 3 We were tricked! "Did God really say?"
God gave Adam and Eve permission to eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They could eat of the tree of life - but there is no indication that they did!
Gen 3:6 Adam was there as well! But yet he turns and blames Eve!
Separation from God
This led to separation from God. For the first time in their lives Adam and Eve feel shame - the sense of desolation and separation from God.
They clothe themselves - a basic covering to hide their shame. Yet God comes along and with compassion clothes them properly. (Gen 3:7 and Gen 3:21)
Adam and Eve receive separate identities - Woman is named 'Eve' whereas before this separation they were both known as Adam.
Two acts of love
Driven from the garden
Gen 3:22-24
Having tasted good and evil, our relationship with God, the Father, was broken. We entered into a state of brokenness and sin. However, God in His great mercy could not allow us to remain in this state forever. Adam and Eve were driven from the garden so that they could not eat of the tree of life and live for ever. If they had done so then we would have remained in this separated state for all eternity.
The Cross
The cross puts an end to our fallen state. Our broken heart can be healed and our relationship with the Father restored.
Redemption - to buy back what was once owned - how much it cost Father!
The orphan spirit
Satan, cast from God's presence, became an orphan. His spirit became barren and an emptiness fell upon him.
Our separation from God can lead to the same expression of emptiness and alone-ness, walking our own way without God.
Gen 5:1-3 Although Adam was made in the 'likeness of God', his own children were made in 'his' image as well - so we have taken on the fallen, separated nature of Adam.
Gal 5:1 Not only has an orphan spirit fallen on us but also one of slavery.
Slaves
A slave belongs to another with no rights or freedom of his own. He is owned and is accountable to another.
A slave lives for the law, lives by the law and often makes up the law to feel secure.
Everything he does is for another.
Orphans
An orphan has no identity, no rights, no inheritance.
An oprhan has to suceed on his own, make his own way and make a name for himself.
An orphan strives to gain approval and acceptance.
There are many spiritual orphans in the church.
Thankfully we are not left like this...
Is 9:6 - God is "Eternal Father". It is not in His nature to let go of us!
John 14:18 - not left as orphans!
Jesus knew the goal of his journey was the cross, in order that we might be reconciled again to the Father.
Luke 15 - the parable of the lost son - a picture of our walk away from slavery and orphanness - a homecoming back to the Father.
Eph 2:3-4 we were objects of His wrath but now have been made alive with Christ. The Father's kindness has been expressed to us.
Gal 3:26 - we have become sons of God.
Eph 3:10 - a gift to take to the world.
God promised to become a 'father to the fatherless' (Ps 68:5)
One of God's names is 'Redeemer' = to regain possession of something through a payment.
Redemption has won us the right to be called sons of God (Gal 4:6-7 and Rom 8:15-16).
We can now cry Abba - 'Father' or 'Daddy'.
God is restoring His original intention to the church today so that there are many sons and daughters liberated by the power of the Spirit, who are able to carry His name and love to a hurting, loveless, fatherless generation.
As we abide in Him (John 15), live in love (1 John 4:16) and walk in love (2 John v6) then the emptiness of our hearts will be satisfied and we will become more like Jesus.
SO YOU SHOULD NOT BE LIKE COWERING, FEARFUL SLAVES. YOU SHOULD BEHAVE INSTEAD LIKE GOD'S VERY OWN CHILDREN, ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY - CALLING HIM "FATHER, DEAR FATHER". FOR HIS HOLY SPIRIT TELLS US WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN
Rom 8:15-16 (NLT)
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