Bishop Paul A. Hardin – Senior Pastor & Teacher
A Teaching Series Entitled
“THE DIVINE CONNECTION:
Knowing Who You Are In Christ” – Part One
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Learning Targets
The Believer Will Be Able To –
1. Understand the Biblical origins of humanity.
2. Describe and explain God’s original intent for humanity’s role in the earth.
3. Understand the Divinely planned relationship between God and humanity.
4. Begin to apply this knowledge by walking in Dominion.
Foundational Scriptures
Genesis 2:7
Genesis 1:28
Introduction: These are exciting times to be a human being on planet earth! More than at any other time, during seasons of great difficulty and crisis Man’s ability to experience the power of right relationship with God is heightened. Paul the Apostle tells us in II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The strength of God is most evident when we are at our most vulnerable! Now, more than ever, we must experience a DIVINE CONNECTION – a proper hook-up with God – that, coupled with intimate knowledge about just who we are (what our identity is) in Christ, our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer, will make us unstoppable!
During the next few lessons, we will begin a journey of investigating and exploring just who our God is, who we are in Him, and what His plan is for our lives so that we can walk in Dominion! There are few things more exciting. Living a life of victory cannot be separated from living a life that is infused with the very Word of God. Regular Bible study is as fundamental to the Believer as regular workouts are to the body builder. II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (Corny but true: Seven days without the Word makes “one weak”.)
I challenge you to set aside time during these next few weeks to really tune into what God will begin saying and sharing with you – for the beginning of this study marks a shift into greater identity, destiny, power and fulfillment for all of those who are diligent in their pursuit. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
The Biblical Origins of Humanity
Genesis 1:26, 27 –
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
There are many names for God in the Bible. Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord, God Almighty. The name used in any given case typically refers to the Divine function being performed in and around the verse at hand. For instance, God refers to Himself as Jehovah Jireh in instances when He is demonstrating His ability to “provide” in spite of apparent lack. But in these particular verses, God refers to Himself as 'elohiym (pronounced el-o-heem' ), which is the same name used in Genesis 1:1, where God describes Himself as a creative force. Therefore, when Elohim made Man in His own image and after His likeness, Elohim placed into Man the ability to step out onto nothing and see something – the ability to virtually create something out of nothing based on a) a creative thought and b) a creative vocal utterance. THAT’S WHY I SAY THERE IS POWER IN YOUR MOUTH! Be careful what you say!! Your words have power because you were created in Elohim’s image!
Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
formed: Hebrew word “Yatsar” (pronounced yaw-tsar' ) which means to “frame, preordain, plan divine purpose of a situation, to be predetermined.” In other words, you are not here by some accident. Your life, your existence, the circumstances you face were PREMEDITATED in the mind of God!
breath: Hebrew word “Nashamah” (pronounced nesh-aw-maw'), which means “spirit.” In other words, God distinguished us among creation as the only spirit beings. All things spiritual find their existential origin in God Himself. Although our bodies are made from earth, our spirit being, which is the essence of who we are, emanates from God Himself. THAT’S A DIVINE CONNECTION.
God’s Original Intent for Humanity’s Role in the Earth
Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
fruitful: Parah (pronounced paw-raw' ), which among other obvious things means “increase”. God is a God of addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division. Everything God touches has seeds of increases built into its DNA.
multiply: Rabah (pronounced raw-baw' ), which means be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
replenish: Male (pronounced ma-la’), which means to be filled, to be armed, to be satisfied, to be accomplished, to be complete.
subdue: Kabash (pronounced kaw-bash'), which means bring into subjection, dominate, or keep under.
dominion: Radah (pronounced raw-daw'), which means to rule, to take, or to prevail.
Other Roles (for personal study and reflection):
Genesis 2:19 (power to impute identity – to command surroundings)
Genesis 2:18 (horizontal relationships – marriage, etc.)
Note: Man’s identity tied to his work (Genesis 2:15); woman’s identity tied to her facilitation/incubation (Genesis 2:18)
God’s Plan for His Relationship with Humanity
God desires intimacy and fellowship with His creation. Genesis 3:8a, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”
God desires for humanity to be a reflection of Himself in the earth realm. Just as He is the King of kings and the LORD of Lords, we are the little kings and the little lords in the earth. This is why He made us in His likeness and after His own image. (More on this point next lesson.)
Walking in Dominion
1) Knowing is living! Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me:” Know that there is an enemy who seeks to interject himself between you and your God.
2) Don’t give the enemy and audience. Don’t give ear to the devil’s temptations – have a ready answer for his temptations. Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
3) Get your priorities straight. James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
4) Preserve your intimate time with God to:
a) RENEW your strength. (Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.”)
b) RECEIVE updated instructions. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”)
c) REST in His peace despite your circumstances. (Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.”)
d) REINFORFCE your faith (Jude 1:20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…”)
Next Steps
1. Reflect on today’s lesson.
2. Make your daily devotional time the most important part of your day.
3. Read 1 Peter 2:1-25 in preparation for next week’s lesson.
Post a Comment