Whitehall Baptist Church
December 7th |

      • Isaiah 9:6KJV1900

      • John 1:14KJV1900

      • Luke 2:10KJV1900

  • Joy to the World

      • Galatians 3:13KJV1900

  • Only A Holy God
  • Praise Him! Praise Him!

      • Luke 1:49KJV1900

  • Holy Forever (Christmas)

  • GENESIS 3:15 | ADAM AND EVE’S PERSPECTIVE ON CHRISTMAS

    ILLUSTRATION: I love Christmas
    I love everything about Christmas
    The lights
    The tree
    The gifts
    The get-togethers
    The songs
    I even like the claymations of the guy in the red suit and red hat.
    Many of my favorite memories surround this time of the year.
    I remember my great grandmas jello cut in the shape of Christmas trees
    I can remember sneaking out at 3 AM with my brother to peek and see if their were any gifts under our tree
    I can remember anxiously waiting to open gifts as we sat on the floor in front of the tree, while dad tried to get the camcorder to work so we could record these memories forever on VHS.
    I remember drinking eggnog for the first time when I was with Tressas family
    To me, there is nothing like waking up on Christmas morning, with white covering the ground, Christmas music playing, and you can almost smell chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
    But for others, this time of the year something completely different
    It is nothing but stress!
    It’s a constant rat race with never enough time
    You’re trying to balance all the parties and presents
    And no matter how much you try, nothing ever seems to go according to your plans.
    Your life feels out of control.
    Sometimes in the midst of all the craziness it’s easy to feel like everything is just falling apart.
    Rather than seeing Christmas miracles, all you see is Christmas chaos.
    I think that is right where Adam and Eve found themselves in the verses we are going to look at today.
    EXPLANATION: God had created the whole earth with just his spoken word.
    One key to Bible study when you are reading the Scriptures, is to always take the Bible literally unless it is clear it isn’t intended to be literal.
    So, in 6 literal days, God created the heavens and the earth!
    I do believe in a big bang theory… God spoke and “bang” there it was!
    On that 6th day, God made man in His own Image.
    He breathed into mans nostrils the breath of life.
    Don’t forget there were only two things God breathed into… Man and the Word of God.
    But Genesis 2:19-20 are kind of funny verses.
    Genesis 2:19–20 KJV 1900
    And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
    It’s almost like Adam went through and named all the animals, but he wasn’t interested in any of them being his mate.
    So God put Adam to sleep and takes one of his ribs and creates woman.
    And Adam is the one who named her, v.23
    Genesis 2:23 KJV 1900
    And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
    At the end of chapter 2, we have Adam and Eve, and a sweet relationship with God.
    But everything changes in chapter 3.
    Satan disguised as a serpent came walking over (he had legs)
    He deceived Eve into taking of that fruit of the garden and eating it, and then she gave it to Adam and he ate of it too.
    And they got what Satan told them they would get.
    v.5, He told them if they ate of it their eyes would be opened
    v.7, Their eyes were opened… but they didn’t like what they saw.
    APPLICATION: Sometimes we think we know what we want, but when we get it, we no longer want what we got.
    EXPLANATION: When they heard the voice of God they hid themselves from the presence of God.
    God asked them that question, “Where art thou?”
    After some blame shifting they made it to the bottom and pointed the finger at the serpent.
    That’s where we find ourselves as we come to v.14-15
    God curses the serpent… no longer will he walk on his legs, but forever he will slither on his belly on the dust of the earth.
    But v.15 is where the miracle happens… “Her seed”
    Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900
    And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
    While our world is confused by natural biology and science, we understand that the “seed of man” is required for conception to take place.
    Romans 5:12
    Romans 5:12 KJV 1900
    12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
    It isn’t that we become sinners… we are born with a natural predisposition to sin.
    Because Adam had sinned, every person that would be born thereafter would be a sinner.
    We are all from the lineage of Adam and Eve
    But don’t miss the miracle of v.15
    In a moment when all seemed lost
    It appeared that God’s perfect plan had already been derailed only 3 chapters in.
    With one bite the whole world seemed to tilt off of it’s axis.
    While Adam and Eve believed they had ended God’s plan just after it had begun, we find in v.15 the miracle: that God already had a plan in motion to pay for the failure and sin of the whole world!
    And it was a plan for the first Christmas!
    “Her seed” is a reference to the One Who would come to this earth one day, that wasn’t born of a man.
    He was not contaminated by Adam’s sinfulness.
    He would be born of the Holy Ghost.
    With a mere overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, 4000 years later, a young virgin woman named Mary would conceive.
    She would bring forth a Miracle child named Jesus!
    And that Jesus would live a perfect life and be betrayed, beaten, bruised, and nailed to a cross.
    As it says in v.15, “thou shalt bruise his heel.”
    But three days later, Jesus rose up out of that grave and conquered the grave
    And one day He will take that old serpent the Devil and He will cast Him into the lake of fire for all of eternity, and He will truly bruise his head!
    When all seemed lost to Adam and Eve, God had the greatest gift already planned back before time even began.
    And in v.15 He revealed that beautiful gift, in the seed of a woman… Jesus Christ!
    When Jesus was born on that first Christmas night so long ago, He was fulfilling the plan set in place all the way back in the garden!
    You see, Adam and Eve’s perspective was that they had ruined God’s purpose and plan.
    They had messed up beyond repair…
    But through the promise of the seed of woman… the Christmas gift of Jesus, God showed that He always has a plan!
    ILLUSTRATION: In Genesis 37, we are introduced to a boy named Joseph
    He came from a messed up family
    His dad Jacob had a brother named Esau, and their parents had favorites…
    Their mom loved Jacob more than Esau, and she helped Jacob get Esau’s blessing from his father by deception.
    That led to years on the run from his family, so you would think Jacob would have learned.
    But that wasn’t the case…
    In fact when Jacob had children he chose one of them, Joseph, to be his favorite
    Genesis 37:3-4
    Genesis 37:3–4 KJV 1900
    3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
    What a sad family situation.
    Then in Genesis 37:5, Joseph was given a dream by the Lord.
    In the OT that was often how God would speak to people because they didn’t have the Bible.
    So this dream was a dream from God.
    One day Jacob sends Joseph out to check on his brothers and they tear off his coat and throw him in a pit.
    While he was down in that pit, I wonder if he thought “What about God’s plan?”
    They pull him out and sell him into slavery and he ends up in Egypt in Potiphar’s house.
    He is blessed and ends up being over everything in the house.
    But then day after day Potiphar’s wife comes and tempts him to lie with her.
    One day she grabs him by the coat and he flees out of the house.
    When she lies about him, he is thrown into prison.
    While down in the prison, I wonder if he thought, “What about God’s plan?”
    One day Pharaoh gets angry at his baker and his butler and throws them into prison
    It’s kind of funny because Genesis 40:6-7
    Genesis 40:6–7 KJV 1900
    6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
    But they weren’t sad because they were in prison, they were sad because they had dreams and didn’t know what they meant.
    When they tell them to Joseph, Joseph is able to interpret them to each of them… Butler is restored, the Baker is hung
    Joseph tells the Butler, “when they restore you, don’t forget about me.”
    Joseph is forgotten and two more years pass by.
    While down in that prison forgotten, I wonder if he thought, “What about God’s plan?”
    One day Pharaoh has a dream and the Butler is reminded of Joseph and Joseph is raised to second in command of Egypt.
    A famine comes and Joseph is in charge of the dispersion of all goods that have been stored up in Egypt.
    He looks out and he see 10 men coming to him… and right away he recognizes who they are… it’s his brothers.
    20 years have passed, but he knows them right away.
    They walk up and they bow down before him
    And Genesis 42:9 is one one of the most beautiful verses in the Scriptures
    Genesis 42:9 KJV 1900
    9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
    It took over 20 years, but in the end Joseph could clearly see,
    GOD ALWAYS HAD A PLAN!
    ILLUSTRATION: We don’t know very much about the man in Acts named Stephen.
    In fact there are only 2 chapters in the NT that really tell us anything about the life of Stephen.
    In Acts 6:5 we learn
    Acts 6:5 KJV 1900
    5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
    Then in verse 8 it says a similar thing Acts 6:8
    Acts 6:8 KJV 1900
    8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
    At the end of chapter 6, Stephen is brought before a counsel of elders and scribes and is falsely accused.
    And we have in chapter 7 is one of the most powerful and convicting messages you will find in the NT.
    For 53 verses he begins with Abraham, makes his way to Joseph, and to Moses.
    Ultimately landing with his finger pointed in their face, proclaiming that they had murdered the true Just One, Jesus.
    The people in fury and anger rush upon him and bite him and ultimately stone him death.
    Stephen beholds Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father before his death.
    While it’s a powerful example of sacrifice and boldness for the Lord, the question could be brought, why?
    I mean Stephen could have done so much more for the Lord
    He didn’t even have 2 whole chapters about him… the only message we have recorded that he preached was powerful, but that was it.
    But the truth is, that wasn’t the last message that he preached.
    Sometime the most powerful message is preached in death, even more than in life.
    You see standing there beholding Stephen’s death was a young man named Saul.
    Acts 7:58
    Acts 7:58 KJV 1900
    58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
    Acts 8:1
    Acts 8:1 KJV 1900
    1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
    But this same man Saul, would eventually become Paul and give his life for God, and write the majority of the books in the NT.
    In Acts 22, Paul has been arrested, beaten nearly to death, and was given an audience with a chief captain and a multitude of people.
    As he is sharing his story he mentions a moment that clearly had a deep impact on his life.
    Acts 22:20
    Acts 22:20 KJV 1900
    20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
    While it would be easy to question why Stephen’s ministry was so short, there is no question that God used his life to make a profound impact on another man, who’s life would be used to change the world!
    GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!
    APPLICATION: It seems impossible that we are already at the Christmas season.
    And maybe you are here today and when you reflect back on the year or even look forward at the conclusion of this year and the one to come, maybe you feel like you are at the place of Adam and Eve in the garden…
    It feels like God’s plan is off the rails in your life.
    So much of you wants to be happy and feel the “joy of the season” but how could you with where things are in your life.
    Friend, can I encourage you this morning, God has a Plan!
    And even in the deepest and darkest situations, God is still working!
    ILLUSTRATION: In 1863, the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had hit rock bottom.
    Two years prior, his wife had died tragically in a fire.
    He was a widower raising children alone.
    Then, right before Christmas, he received word that his oldest son, Charles, who was fighting in the Civil War for the Union, had been severely wounded in battle.
    Longfellow sat down on Christmas day, filled with brokenness and sorrow.
    The church bells were ringing, but he felt no joy.
    He picked up his pen and wrote:
    "And in despair I bowed my head; 'There is no peace on earth,' I said; 'For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'"
    That must have been exactly how Adam and Eve felt outside the garden.
    There is no peace… Hate is strong… The Serpent has won.
    How could God do something good out of something so devastatingly bad?
    But Longfellow kept writing and the bells kept ringing.
    And the Spirit of God moved in his heart to remember that God is not dead… God had not lost… the story was not finished!
    He finished the poem with this stanza:
    "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.'"
    Because even when things seem the darkest… God is still working.
    GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!
    CONCLUSION
    APPLICATION: Friend, I hope your Christmas is full of joy.
    I hope it is full of your favorite Christmas music and Christmas light for you to take in.
    But if you reach those moments that aren’t all happiness and smiles, reflect back on the truth that God isn’t done working.
    And maybe this year the greatest gift you will receive is the presence of Christ in the moments of uncertainty and questions.
    Friend, if you are here today and you don’t know Christ as your Savior, can I tell you God has a plan.
    His plan was to send His Son to die on the cross and pay for your sins.
    Because Romans 6:23
    Romans 6:23 KJV 1900
    For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
    Jesus Christ died for you so that you can have the hope of eternal life.
    Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900
    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
    Romans 10:13 KJV 1900
    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
    If you don’t know Christ as Savior, God’s plan for you is to be saved from your sins.
    If you do know Christ as your Savior, God is not dead nor does He sleep!
    One day in God’s timing, the wrong shall fail, and the right will prevail.
    So just keep trusting God!
    Learn from this first perspective of Christmas, the perspective of Adam and Eve, and realize… God always has a plan!
    And God has a plan for your life… you can trust Him with it!

      • Genesis 3:14–15KJV1900

      • Genesis 3:14–15NKJV

      • Genesis 2:19–20KJV1900

      • Genesis 2:19–20KJV1900

      • Genesis 2:23KJV1900

      • Genesis 2:23KJV1900

      • Genesis 3:15KJV1900

      • Genesis 3:15KJV1900

      • Romans 5:12KJV1900

      • Romans 5:12KJV1900

      • Genesis 37:3–4KJV1900

      • Genesis 37:3–4KJV1900

      • Genesis 40:6–7KJV1900

      • Genesis 40:6–7NKJV

      • Genesis 42:9KJV1900

      • Genesis 42:9KJV1900

      • Acts 6:5KJV1900

      • Acts 6:5KJV1900

      • Acts 6:8KJV1900

      • Acts 6:8KJV1900

      • Acts 7:58KJV1900

      • Acts 7:58KJV1900

      • Acts 8:1KJV1900

      • Acts 8:1KJV1900

      • Acts 22:20KJV1900

      • Acts 22:20KJV1900

      • Romans 6:23KJV1900

      • Romans 6:23KJV1900

      • Romans 5:8KJV1900

      • Romans 5:8KJV1900

      • Romans 10:9–10KJV1900

      • Romans 10:9–10KJV1900

      • Romans 10:13KJV1900

      • Romans 10:13KJV1900

Whitehall Baptist Church
whitehallbcmt@gmail.com
406.285.1003
http://wbcmt.org
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