CHILDREN OF GOD/A Spiritual Primer

My friend, Kay, and I began a Spiritual Primer years ago out of concern for our children and the children of our church. What a wonderful opportunity to use the spiritual gifts God gives as an investment in additional gifts God gives – our earthly families and our heavenly families! Praise be to God for the perfect wisdom and strength he freely offers as He meets us and listens to us whenever we call His name and for the support of friends who are all part of his perfect plan!  For the comprehensive checklist, see CONVERGE.

Let’s begin with an overview of the Bible, God’s Breath, the Word of God…

The first book of the Bible is Genesis which means “Beginning” in Greek: the beginning of night and day, man and woman, sin and redemption. Genesis tells of creation, the fall of man, the flood and the start of the nations.  It tells of the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.  Genesis is the first book of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible also called the Books of the Law most likely written by Moses.  And Genesis is about God creating a world whose sovereign choice of the nation of Israel ultimately blesses the world and whose watchful care determines the complete destiny of all.

• THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis…
• THE BIBLE TIMELINE: God…Creation…Adam & Eve…Cain & Abel…Noah…Abraham, Sarah & Isaac…Jacob & Rachel…Joseph…  (Genesis)…

God created the world and people as an expression of love.  God is our Creator, distinct from creation, in control of the world and eternal.  As His creation, we are valuable in His eyes.  He cares for and protects us, and we can communicate with Him.  God exists as a Trinity: Father, Son (Colossians 1:16), and Spirit (Job 33:4, Psalm 104:30).  We are made in His image, a reflection of His glory and character.  And his rest on the seventh day is an example for us to rest as well.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1, NIV

God told Adam, the first man, not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, but Adam still had a choice.  After God created Eve for Adam, she was tempted by Satan, a rebellious angel cast out of heaven, to disregard what God had commanded.  She shared the forbidden fruit with Adam and they both received God’s punishment.  When we are tempted, we should pray to resist. (James 1:12)  We don’t have to understand to obey!  There is blessing for resistance but if we fail, we should confess and seek forgiveness.  God has a perfect moral nature that includes judgment and punishment for sin, but also forgiveness and restoration as He prepares a new earth, an eternal paradise.

“So God said to (Satan), “Because you have done this…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

Tithing is a spiritual discipline which puts God first in our lives through the sharing of our talents, our time and our possessions.  Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd.  Both gave God an offering, but God evaluates our motives as well as our offerings.  Abel’s offering was accepted.  Cain’s offering was not as he had a sin issue.  Cain’s jealousy was motivation for the first murder when he murdered his brother, Abel.  Their parents, Adam and Eve, sinned against God while Cain sinned against God and man.  God punished him to correct and restore fellowship.

“By faith, Abel brought a better offering than Cain did.  By faith, he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings.  And by faith, Abel still speaks even though he is dead.”  Hebrews 11:4

Noah was a righteous, blameless man who walked with God.  He had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.  The rest of the Earth was corrupt and violent.  God decided to destroy everyone except Noah’s family and two of every animal.  In faith, Noah obeyed God building an ark and entering into it.  God made a covenant with (or gave a promise to) Noah that obedience would result in deliverance.  We can trust God for deliverance in judgment that is to come.

“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”  Genesis 6:22

As the flood receded, the ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat.  Noah sent a dove out which returned with an olive leaf.  The next time he sent the dove out, it did not return and he knew it was safe to leave the ark.  Noah built an altar which pleased the Lord and the Lord promised to never destroy all living creatures again.  Obedience is a long term commitment and God is faithful to those who obey.

“Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.”  Genesis 8:21

God blessed Noah and his family telling them to be fruitful and fill the earth.  God committed to a covenant that he would never again destroy all life by flood.  The rainbow is a sign of that covenant and a reminder that God is faithful to His Word.

“ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”  Genesis 9:13

With one world language, men planned to build a tower to heaven to make a name for themselves.  God confused the languages and scattered men all over the world.  Do not let “towers” providing identity or self-worth replace God.

They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…”  Genesis 11:4

The Lord told Abram to leave his country and his people.  He promised to bless Abram with a great nation and give him the land of Canaan.  He also promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. Abram obeyed and took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him.  Abram built an altar to the Lord in Canaan for worship and prayer and as a reminder of His protection and promises.  In the same way, our regular worship helps us remember to trust and obey Him.  Jesus was born through Abram’s lineage to save us and bless us.

“…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:3

The Lord appeared to Abram again at the age of 99.  God asked for blamelessness/obedience.  The Lord changed Abram’s name to Abraham; the Father of many nations.  He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants and gave them the land of Canaan.  With God’s covenants, the blessings outweigh what we offer.

“I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”  Genesis 17:1