Let’s Get Back to the Garden.
I have been praying for more wisdom on how to teach the benefits of the Word of God in a way that is memorable. I woke up one morning with this idea that was Holy Spirit inspired. It was later confirmed to me that this topic was important so I began preparing.
The increase of trouble that we see in the earth today is a last desperate assault by the enemy of our souls. The Holy Spirit showed me 8 issues we deal with that are attempts by the darkness to overcome gifts given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We must realize the correlation between the sin, or a specific effect of sin, and the gift, or blessing, or attribute we were given by God at the very beginning of creation. This will help us to recognize exactly what the enemy is attempting to steal from us. When we see through his deceptions, we have the ability to fight with the word and wisdom. By seeing the pattern of the coverup, we can remember what truth is behind the veil. I will discuss one at a time.
I begin with the truth. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.'” “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 NIV The issues against this truth: sickness, disease, depression, suicide, low self-esteem, fear. Humans are riddled with fear, bad emotions, depression and suicide- bad thoughts, problems with their bodies – sickness, disease, deformity.
In the Garden of Eden, God made humans in His image and likeness. Our bodies look like Him. He has made us to feel and think like Him. Of course we know children look like their parents physically, but we also have some of their emotional and mental traits. The phrase “he’s a chip off the old block” did not always mean the child looks like his dad. It also referred to behavior. Have you ever heard, “You are just like your mother”? We often share the traits of one or both parents. In the same way, God meant for us to have a body like His and thoughts and emotions like His.
The effects of the curse of sin have wreaked havoc on our bodies, minds and emotions. This year a virus attacked our bodies, stressed our minds and sent fear throughout the world. Even Christians, who have the truth, cowered before the virus and governments. (I am not referring to wearing masks, etc.) Suicide and domestic violence rose as people were kept from their jobs and forced to stay home. Too few of us remember that we are made in the image and likeness of our father. God provided the remedy, a way to return to the Garden: “By His wounds you have been healed.” NIV 1 Peter 2:24 Jesus destroyed the curse of sin on the cross. We can control our thoughts because “We have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV Unless you have chemical or hormonal issues, depression is caused by focusing on fear and negative thoughts. The Word says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV We must remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
This begins the call for Christians to be familiar with and put into practice the truth of the Word of God. You cannot have faith to overcome the world if you don’t know what to believe. You are a child of God. Act like your Father and live power and love.
