Good morning, everyone.
Will you please pray with me as we come to God's Word?
Lord God, as we've just sung, my prayer is you would show each one of us how holy you
are, how set apart, set apart from creation and set apart in your goodness.
That you alone are good.
Help us to see your goodness as we look at your Word now.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Well, I was sitting in the dentist's waiting room and an ad came on the TV.
There's this bright light followed by the swirling stars and then this gloomy earth with a volcano
erupting and a brutish man walking around and then a child blowing out a birthday cake and
a rocket launching to the moon and then out of the mouth of a man came one word, wow.
And he's standing in Audi looking at the specials.
Wow.
Stephen J. Gould, he's an evolutionary biologist, he says this,
We are here simply because one odd group of fish had a peculiar anatomy that just happened to be able to
transform itself into legs for terrestrial creatures.
Now, he goes on and explains the story a bit more.
We yearn for a higher answer, but none exists.
This explanation, though superficially troubling, if not terrifying, is ultimately liberating.
We have to construct, therefore, any meaning ourselves.
Okay, that's one story.
I can't stop you.
If you want to construct your meaning buying specials, I can't stop you doing that.
Or will you let Genesis speak directly into those yearnings Stephen is talking about that we've all got?
Now, I think as Christians, some of us, we've reacted against our modern,
story, explanation of everything.
And there's been huge debate over seven literal day creation or not.
And that's been a very important debate,
especially for apologetics to show that belief in Scripture is rational.
These chapters, they prompt so many questions.
I found that in our Bible study group.
They were just prompting question after question for us.
But we don't always get the answers we're searching for.
And so I want to ask you this morning, before we dive in,
like any part of Scripture, we've got probably more than these two options,
but let me boil them down to these two.
We can sit in judgment over the text and force our questions onto it.
Or we can sit under the text and let God give us the better questions we should be asking
and the ones he's giving us answers to.
Now, that's true of all of Scripture.
So what posture are you coming to Genesis with?
I want to give you a multiple choice question of a scenario.
And if you're not sure, don't choose B, okay?
You can't do that this time.
All right.
You see, walking down the street, a man just in severe poverty.
He looks miserable.
He smells miserable.
And he's begging.
Now, what do you do?
Here's your options.
Now, there's probably way more than these options, but here's a few.
A, do you feel disgust at him?
Because obviously he did something in his past life to deserve that karma.
Do you feel disgust?
B, do you tell him to meditate how illusionary his suffering is to reach nirvana, remove all desire?
C, do you feel pity towards him and give part of your 2.5% of your income according to the five pillars of Islam?
Do you, D, feel nothing towards him?
It's not your problem.
Let him construct his own meaning in life.
It's not your problem.
Or, if you would find it fulfilling, you could help him.
E, do you tell him or tell his family, go appease your ancestors, the spirits of your ancestors, so that you get better blessing?
F, do you see his value as royalty in the image of God, though he smells?
Do you see yourself like him, bankrupt spiritually?
I just wanted to give a taste.
The questions that Genesis answers dramatically affect how we live our life.
They answer the big questions of life.
Who made everything?
Who made the universe?
Who governs it at all?
Who am I?
Who are people?
What's the goal?
What's the point?
How should we relate?
What went wrong?
Why is there such a thing as poverty and misery?
Here's the big questions that Genesis gives us.
These ones answer the yearnings of our heart.
And these questions, if we listen to Genesis, they create the yearnings we should be having as well.
So, as Sam said, we're going to be covering a large section.
The reason being is that we covered these chapters last year, and so I'm guessing there's a fair chunk of people who heard those.
So, go back for a refresher, or if you weren't here for those, they're online if you want to slow down and go through these chapters in more detail.
So, we're just going to be helicopter flyover today.
So, let's get into these big questions of life.
Who?
Genesis 1, before anything was, God was.
God's not part of his creation.
Creation isn't the extension of God.
He is above it, but always involved in it.
He's before it, and therefore has authority over it.
He created everything out of nothing.
Ex nihilo.
Sean, you can tell me later if I pronounce that right.
No return trip to Bunnings.
Because he forgot something.
Like, no blueprint.
No angel engineer to get counsel from or project manage.
It's all out of his self-sufficiency.
It's out of his wisdom.
It's his power.
It's his goodness.
The heavens and the earth.
Everything in them.
Everything in between.
Now, we all know when you go to a country that's not yours, when you go to a house that isn't yours, we all know this.
Their house, their rules, right?
You come into my house.
Do you put your feet on my coffee table?
You watch me.
It's my house.
Do I do it?
If I do it, go for it.
My house, my rules.
Your house, your rules.
We get that.
He's the only creator.
His house, his rules.
All things owe their being to him.
Him alone.
He alone deserves our trust to provide and protect.
He alone deserves our obedience, our allegiance.
His house, his rules.
That's the who.
What about how?
How did God create?
Now, some see violence and darkness and death as essential to our origin story.
And I'm going to put the atheistic evolution in that camp.
Because death is just natural.
The chaos and the violence is part of the process.
So, too, in Moses' day.
So, just listen to a bit of the Babylonian creation beliefs of his day.
The Enuma Elish.
A god named Apsu, sweet water, and his wife Tiamat, salt water.
It's kind of nice so far.
Husband and wife.
Bore children and grandchildren.
But they became so noisy that Apsu decided to murder his sons and grandsons to have silence again.
I don't know how many of you can relate to that.
But one of his sons murdered him first.
Then one of the sons, Marduk, the greatest of all the gods, started fighting his mother, Tiamat.
Tiamat created dragons and beasts.
And Marduk killed her with an arrow, stood on her body, split her skull.
Kids are it.
Sorry.
Sorry for any kids in the room.
Cut her arteries.
He took her body, divided it into two parts.
One part became the sky.
The other became the earth.
And then Marduk created mankind to do all the menial work on the earth to serve the gods.
God said, Mm-hmm.
Okay.
God said, Let there be light.
And there was light.
God said, Let there be, and it was so.
Great.
the true God he is personal he's totally sovereign there's no rivals
he's rational it's got purpose he's speaking
verse 2 might seem strange at first but it's the key
I think to unlocking this chapter the earth was without form and void empty
and darkness was over the face of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters here we see the kind of God that he is he doesn't accept darkness as necessary evil he
doesn't call it good he only calls the light good
he is the kind of God who is above evil he's above the darkness and he brings order out of the chaos
he brings light out of the darkness life into the emptiness and how does he do it he does it by his
word his all-powerful word
the other thing we see here is by his word he forms and he fills which matches verse 2 it's
formless and empty he first forms in day 1 2 3 and then he fills in day 4 5 6
so day 1 2 3 he forms the conditions for life he creates the order
day and night atmosphere and sea land and ocean
life requires separation distinct in its proper place
after the forming is complete we've got day 4 5 6 he fills the emptiness with life
life we've got the sun noon stars filling the heavens we've got conscious life in the atmosphere and oceans day 5 and then day 6 we've got land animals and mankind is the pinnacle
he creates order out of chaos
he forms the conditions for life and then fills it with such diversity
diversity
like you know what a gum tree is we all know what a gum tree is or we should do
there's like 900 species of gum tree
isn't that
someone can correct me later if that's wrong but
google tells me that at least
isn't it it's incredible this world isn't it
the feeling God does
so people are creatures
Genesis says but
much much more
God created man in his own image
in the image of God he created him male and female he created them
not just animals
we shouldn't expect just animal behavior from one another
not slaves to serve the gods because
they don't want to do
the menial tasks
this is a profound
statement about
human
dignity
and value
and purpose
royalty
where royalty
is what this verse is saying
you've never met
an ordinary person
we're made to relate
to God
communicate with him in a way
animals just can't
we're made to represent him
we're image
we're meant to image him
we're meant to
show his character
as we go about life
and rule the world
under him
as a theologian said
Colin Buchanan
birds were made for flying
flip flat
flippity flat
fish were made to swim
splish splash
splishity splash
you and me were made by God to love
and treasure him
we're made in his image
to know him
so creation tells us
he is absolutely sovereign
over heaven and earth
his house
it's his rules
creation tells us the kind of God he is
he is a redeeming God
he brings order out of chaos
he is above
the darkness
and brings light
he's above the emptiness
and brings life
he's a redeeming God
it's his house
it's his rules
he's a God who
rules by his word
his word is life giving
and all powerful
and we know he is personal in nature
because he's made us
persons
in his image
at the heart of the universe
isn't this nebulous force
there's a beating heart
he's personal
okay
I'm going to
abruptly
hand over to James there
to read from Genesis 2
if you want to follow along
1 to 18
thus the heavens
and the earth
were finished
and all the host of them
and on the seventh day
God finished his work
that he had done
and he rested
on the seventh day
from all his work
that he had done
so God blessed
the seventh day
and made it holy
because on it
God rested
from all his work
that he had done
in creation
these are the generations
of the heavens
and the earth
when they were created
in the day of the Lord
that God made the earth
and the heavens
when no bush of the field
was yet in the land
and no small plant
of the field
had yet sprung up
for the Lord God
had not caused it
to rain on the land
and there was no man
to work the ground
and a mist
was going up
from the land
and was watering
the whole face
of the ground
then the Lord God
formed the man
of the dust
from the ground
and breathed
into his nostrils
the breath of life
and the man
became a living creature
and the Lord God
planted a garden
in Eden
in the east
and there he put
the man
whom he had formed
and out of the ground
the Lord God
made to spring up
every tree
that is pleasant
to the sight
and good for food
the tree of life
was in the midst
of the garden
and the tree
of the knowledge
of good and evil
a river flowed
out of Eden
to water the garden
and there it divided
and became four rivers
the name of the first
is the Pishon
it is the one
that flowed
around the whole land
of Havala
where there is gold
and the gold
of that land
is good
delium and onyx stone
are there
the name of the second river
is the Gihon
it is the one
that flowed
around the whole land
of Cush
and the name
of the third river
is the Tigris
which follows east
of Assyria
and the fourth river
is the Euphrates
the Lord God
took the man
and put him
in the garden
of Eden
to work it
and keep it
and the Lord God
commanded the man
saying
you may surely eat
of every tree
of the garden
but of the tree
of the knowledge
of good and evil
you shall not eat
for in the day
that you eat of it
you shall surely die
then the Lord God
said
it is not good
that the man
should be alone
I will make him
a helper
fit for him
single God
non-smoker
seeks attractive
creation
with good sense
of humour
now don't get me
in trouble
well I suppose
you can get me
in trouble
I'm quoting someone
but I'm using the quote
it was Michael Reeves
who said that
I just liked it
because it kind of
captured like
why did God
create
was he lonely
like why
what would motivate
God to create
if he's content
in himself
he wasn't lonely
and he didn't
need it
for his identity
as creator
to be realised
so it's not
this weird sense
in which he needs
us for him
to be
himself
creator
he is self-sufficient
he freely
chose to create
as Sam's
already introduced
this morning
it's like
his life
his love
overflowed
it's not that
he was empty
but he
overflowed
so why
why did God
create
the seventh
day
introduces a
huge theme
in scripture
the theme
of rest
rest
now
don't confuse
this
with the
mosaic
law
where
Israel
were to rest
on the
seventh day
don't confuse
it with that
this is God
resting
God rested
on the seventh
day
now chapter
one
I've already
seen
he is hardly
a God
who needs
to catch
his breath
he spoke
and it was so
the emphasis
on the seventh
day is
it is
finished
the heavens
and the earth
were finished
the seventh
day
God finished
his work
creation
is done
then he
rests
it's like
a builder
of a house
what does he
do when he
puts down
his tools
the house
is done
what does
he do
he moves
in
he enjoys
it
with his
family
I think
it's like
the goal
of rest
here
in his
home
with his
people
so I think
chapter one
is a panoramic
view
where
God alone
is ruling
over heaven
and earth
he is above
it all
he is
transcendent
his house
his rule
and then chapter
two
zooms
right in
on one
particular
place
part of
the earth
called
Eden
and it
shows
God dwelling
in it
with his
people
he is
present
so what's
the best
part of
God's
home
of this
rest
do you
think
as you
are hearing
the descriptions
as you
imagine it
in your
mind's
eye
is it
the place
itself
is it
the garden
gold
is
everywhere
I don't
know how
much
gold
you
own
it's
just
overflowing
with
abundance
riches
the food
is pleasant
to the sight
and good
for food
some in
this room
eat to
live
others
live to
eat
is it
the food
is it
the place
itself
is it
the health
and beauty
and dignity
of Adam
and Eve's
body
mentally
and physically
in order
the capacity
to never
die
they've got
access to
the tree
of life
is it
is that
the best
part
imagine
that
Sam's
already
mentioned
this again
is it
the fruitful
work
it's
I know
work is
a hard
slog
but here
it's
there's
purpose
there's
we've got
a significant
role to play
to have
dominion
over God's
place
imagine
every ounce
of effort
you put
into your
work
bears fruit
and not
frustrated
like that
would be
incredible
incredibly
satisfying
is that
the best
thing
is the
best thing
the community
the chapter
ends
just for the
sake of
time
I made
the reading
a bit
shorter
but the
chapter
ends
with
man
and
wife
coming
into
marriage
covenant
love
is
family
the high
point
is that
the best
thing
about
Eden
about
God's
home
well
something
running
through
all this
chapter
which shows
us what
the best
thing is
now that's
all good
it's all
good
God wants
to bless
what is
good
but the
best thing
we see
is that
he's present
he's there
he's like a
good father
very present
and active
in his house
let me just
fly through
pointing out
things
it's the
Lord
who's
causing it
to rain
and yield
the crop
it's just
it's not
this
I think we
need to
remember this
in our
day and age
especially
not living
on a
farm
it's the
Lord who
provides
that
it's the
Lord who
forms the
man's
body
it's a
very up
close
personal
picture
it's like
mouth to
mouth
resuscitation
he breathes
into his
nostril
sharing
something
of
God's
life
his breath
it's the
Lord doing
that
it's the
Lord who
plants
Eden
it's implied
that
he's the
source
that Eden
is the
source
of these
great
rivers
if these
great
rivers
in Moses
day
were known
for creating
abundance
in life
imagine
Eden
the source
of it
all
he's the
source
of life
of the
rivers
he gives
mankind
his purpose
to work
and keep
it
this is a
high calling
as we've
seen
he's in the
image of
God
he's royalty
having
dominion
it's the
Lord
speaking
imagine
that
he's
speaking
to us
he's
giving
permissions
go
eat
you may
surely
eat
go
and he's
giving
boundaries
don't
eat
there
he's
speaking
to
us
he's
not
some
distant
God
he's
there
and then
when we
come to
Eve
it's the
Lord
who
fathers
Eve
he
creates
Eve
and
I think
it's
like
we're
picturing
God
with
Eve
in his
arm
walking
down
the
aisle
bringing
her
to
Adam
I
think
the
high
point
of
marriage
here
is
that
man
and
woman
family
community
displays
what God
is like
he is
covenant
love
in nature
which is
why
the name
in this
chapter
is
Lord
God
the
covenant
name
of God
chapter
one
was just
God
he rules
here
it's
Lord
God
so
together
in
community
as we
relate
to one
another
that's
how we
image
him
best
all
this
I think
shows
he's
present
he's
present
in it
all
he
is the
best
thing
about
this
place
him
dwelling
in his
house
with his
people
that's
rest
Tim
Keller
I think
draws
out
the
implication
for us
today
he says
the
fulfillment
we've been
looking for
in work
in
building
skyscrapers
in having
wonderful
spouses
in having
lots of
children
and making
money
the blessing
we've been
looking for
is actually
in the face
of God
his
presence
is what
made
Eden
heaven
on earth
the
Lord's
goal
of
creation
is
rest
not
just
a
home
a
playground
for
us
but a
home
for
him
to
live
with
us
and
we
with
him
and
she
gave
some
to
her
husband
who
was
with
her
and
he
ate
then the
eyes of
both
were opened
and they knew
that they were
naked
and they
sewed fig leaves
together and made
themselves loincloths
and they heard
the sound of the
Lord God
walking in the
garden in the
cool of the
day and the
man and his
wife hid
themselves from
the presence of
the Lord God
among the
trees of the
garden
but the
Lord God
called to the
man and
said to him
where are
you
well
we aren't
home
we're in
exile
God
is
righteous
he only
blesses
what is
good
our
daily
reality
we
receive a
lot of
good
gifts
I was
a bit
staggered
walking in
the
walls
and shops
the other
day
I don't
know
it's just
people
enjoying
donuts
and coffee
and exchanging
money
and I
don't
know
I was
staggered
by it
for some
reason
we get
so many
good
gifts
but
for all
we have
where we
live now
is constant
daily
toil
is a word
repeated
in this
chapter
struggle
life is
struggle
conflict
pain
death
is where
we live
and it's
a loud
daily
reminder
we're not
home
we're in
exile
everywhere
we look
the universe
has been
thrown
back into
chaos
and darkness
instead of
peace with
God
we feel
guilt
and shame
and hide
in fear
of his
judgment
instead of
this state
of innocence
the constant
battle
in our
choices
and our
motives
for good
and evil
there's this
chaos
within us
we look at
family and
social relationships
and they're
fractured
the woman's
glory
in bringing
image bearers
into the
world
is now
filled with
pain
emotional
and physical
between men
and women
even in
marriage
the harmonious
naked
and not
ashamed
and partnership
in worshipping
God in the
garden
does that
characterise
marriages
now
it's the
battle
of the
sexes
the fight
for control
for dominion
shifting
the blame
and mankind's
rule over
creation is
frustrated
like why do
we have a
housing crisis
in Australia
like we're
an abundant
nation
and yet
still
so many
people
are struggling
our work
is frustrated
by the sweat
of your brow
and we
feel that
we're in
exile
more than
ever
and we
get the
loudest
reminder
whenever
you attend
a funeral
whenever you
go to the
grave site
and you
see that
hole
or the
crematorium
you know
what's behind
that curtain
for you
are dust
and to
dust
you shall
return
we're in
exile
we've got
daily
reminder
what went
wrong
why
what went
wrong
I think
the description
here of
Adam and
Eve's sin
is kind of
like a
teenager
sorry
teenagers in
the room
a rebellious
teenager
not every
teenager
okay
who claims
who puts
their flag
in their
room
they claim
territory
my
possession
they want
they've set
up a
sovereign
independent
state
I'm not
paying taxes
it's
it's like
that willfully
forgetting
who their
parents
they owe
their being
to their
parents
willfully
forgetting
all that
their parents
do for them
and have
done for them
just putting
all that
out of
mind
and rebelling
against
their parents
authority
claiming
autonomy
they want
all the
house
and the
comforts
keep
paying
the
bills
I just
don't
want
you
here
in my
room
I think
it's
kind of
like that
when
Adam and
Eve
disobeyed
God
it is
not
just
eating
some
forbidden
chocolate
ice cream
indulgence
here
this is
cosmic
rebellion
this
is
we've
already
covered
God's
house
God's
rule
it's
declaring
autonomy
and
sin
is
rejection
as we've
seen
in chapter
two
the
Lord
wants
to be
present
relating
in his
house
with us
we're
rejecting
that
love
we don't
want you
in our
life
sin
is
rebellion
it's
rejection
and Adam
is the
head of
the family
he's ruined
the whole
family
and we've
inherited
his rebellious
and rejecting
nature
well I think
what we've
read
we can go
one step
further
so sin
is
it's
rebellion
it's
rejection
I think
the dialogue
the focus
here is on
the dialogue
between
Eve
and Adam
who says
he was
with her
and
the serpent
I think
this is the
best case
study
of what
sin is
because you
cannot blame
this on
environment
you can't
blame it
on upbringing
you can't
blame it
on nature
that nature
nurture
argument
irrelevant
this is
the best
case
study
of what
is sin
I think
from verse
one to
verse two
in chapter
three
the name
of God
changes
Lord God
that relational
covenant
name of God
back to just
God
I'm going to
suggest
that Satan
wants
Eve
forget
God's
relational
nature
put that
out of
mind
and then
he invites
her
to
sit in
judgment
over
God's
boundaries
see
God
as
strict
rather
than the
source
of life
rather
than the
best
thing
about
being
home
see
him
as
strict
and
she
adds
to
his
boundary
we
can't
eat
it
and we
can't
touch
it
God
didn't
say
that
she
makes
him
out
to
be
strict
and
then
the
punishment
for sin
is weakened
and put
out of
mind
and
Satan
just
outright
liar
saying
there's
no
punishment
you
won't
be found
out
there's
no such
thing
as
judgment
day
there's
no such
thing
as
hell
just
don't
worry
about
all
that
he
offers
a
different
motive
let
me
read
verse
five
for
God
knows
that
when
you
eat
of
it
your
eyes
will
be
opened
and
you
will
be
like
God
knowing
good
and
evil
in
other
words
God
is
holding
the
best
back
from
you
he's
not
only
strict
he's
withholding
life
from
you
he's
not
good
he's
not
good
God's
boundary
isn't
like a
mum
who
says
don't
play
in the
pool
by
yourself
it's
not
a
good
boundary
like
that
he's
withholding
the
best
from
you
so
at
the
heart
of
this
is
God
isn't
good
his
word
you
shouldn't
trust
it
at
the
root
cause
of
sin
is
how
we
see
God
and
whose
word
we're
going
to
believe
whose
word
do
we
believe
the
Lord
who
is
the
source
of
life
and
wants
to
dwell
in
peace
and
abundance
with
us
in
his
home
his
word
or
Satan's
word
he's
holding
the
best
back
from
you
can
do
a
better
job
running
your
life
you
can
bless
yourself
at the
root cause
of sin
is
belief
whose
word
are we
believing
which
means
someone's
lying
someone's
lying
so
sin is
rebellion
against
our
creator
his
house
his
rules
sin
is
rejection
of
his
love
sin
is
not
believing
God's
word
sin
is
not
believing
that
God
is
good
that
he's
strict
he's
holding
back
and
so
our
daily
struggle
is
a
constant
reminder
that
we're
in
exile
we
need
to be
brought
back
home
we
need
things
restored
if
the
best
thing
about
home
about
paradise
is
that
the
Lord
is
there
our
greatest
problem
with
sin
is
that
we're
afraid
of
his
we're
rightly
afraid
of
his
judgment
we
need
him
to
solve
that
problem
we
need
reconciliation
with
him
we
need
him
to
redeem
the
whole
world
including
our
bodies
we
need
to be
brought
back
home
so
God's
word
at
creation
seventh
day
it
is
finished
creation
is
finished
but
from
the
fall
from
this
moment
on
God's
work
of
redemption
began
creation
is
finished
but the
rest
of
scripture
is
God
working
to
redeem
us
and
redeem
his
world
our
only hope
is that
the
creator
who is
above
the
chaos
and
darkness
at the
beginning
is still
above
the
chaos
and the
sin
and the
evil
and death
he's above
it
and he
can
rescue
us
creation
was all
God's
work
and I
think we
seek
redemption
is all
God's
work
we get
two
glimpses
of hope
in
Genesis
three
and it's
all
God's
doing
the
first
glimpse
we get
even
when he's
handing
down
the
judgments
we get
a
promise
in
verse
15
that
a
descendant
of
Eve
a
human
being
is
going
to
crush
Satan's
serpent's
head
now
it's just
a little
promise
we're like
what does
that mean
and we need
the rest
of the
Bible
to hear
what that
means
but from
this
point
on
we're
looking
for
a
descendant
of
Eve
who's
going
to
crush
Satan
and his
lies
about
God
for good
so we
get that
promise
the other
glimpse of
hope
is in
verse
21
Adam
and Eve
tried to
cover
themselves
with
fig leaves
God
would have
none
of that
stop
hiding
your
moral
religious
effort
they're
like
fig
leaves
they
are not
a good
enough
cover
but
amazingly
verse 21
the Lord
God
made
for
Adam
and Eve
and for
his wife
garments
of skins
and clothed
them
animal skins
this required
death
we need
clothing
to stand
unashamed
before God
but we
don't make
it
he gives
it
and it's
going to
require
death
so God's
house
God's
rules
his purpose
for creation
saying it
is finished
is for him
to move
into his
house
to dwell
with us
to be
present
in his
home
with us
in abundance
but we're
in exile
the good
news
of the rest
of the
Bible
is that
God's
working
to bring
us
home
creation
it is
finished
when we
come to
Abraham
and the
people of
Israel
the high
point of
their story
is the
building of
the temple
the emphasis
when Solomon
finishes the
temple
is it is
finished
it is gold
everywhere
they're in the
place
God is with
them
but they go
into exile
sin is too
deep a problem
we need a
greater redemption
and so the plan
no one was
expecting is the
creator himself
becomes an
offspring of Eve
and we hear
those words
again on the
cross
it is
finished
it is
finished
reconciliation
even
adoption
Jesus said
before he went
to the cross
in my father's
house are
many rooms
if I go
and prepare
a place
for you
I will
come again
and will
take you
to myself
that where
I am
you may be
also
that's why
he went
to the cross
to finish
to bring us
home
to finish
that work
and so we're
leaning forward
now as
Christians
waiting for
that final
word
that final
promise
I'm going
to make
all things
new
and again
we hear
those words
it is done
it is
finished
I'm
the alpha
and the
omega
the beginning
and the
end
it's God's
work to
redeem us
he's above
the chaos
and the
darkness
it is
finished
all good
news
will you pray
with me
let's pray
oh father
we've
we've covered
so much
ground
and so
I pray
that
you would
help
each one
of us
to see
you
as you
truly
are
help us
to see
you as
Lord of
all
help us
to love
the fact
that you
are a
relational
God
who wants
to dwell
with us
Lord help
us to see
ourselves
in light
of you
to
recognize
our
rebellion
and our
rejection
of you
and help
us to see
that you're
a God
who
comes
and finds
us
and to
bring us
home
Lord I
pray that
you would
just
enlarge our
vision of
who you
are
in each
of our
hearts
in Jesus
name I
pray
Amen
you
I
want to