What Are We Thinking About?
In His Presence: 1 Chronicles 16:8
Why did God put a limitation on the tree in the Garden of Eden? Why do we have limitations at all? In order to enjoy freedom, there must be sufficient restriction so that we can maximize what freedom is. A baseball player isn’t free to play baseball if there are no foul lines. A football player is not free to play football if there are no sidelines. God placed the restriction in the Garden of Eden to give us the ability to choose. In that way, freedom is better understood.
Another reason why God put a restriction in the Garden of Eden was to remind man that he is a created being. Restrictions make it clear who is in charge. God wanted it to be clear that there is a major difference between created man and the Creator God. God is transcendent. He is infinite and omniscient. We are not.
Satan used the presence of these restrictions to trick Eve into focusing on the negative. The apostle Paul said: “I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Satan led her thinking away from the goodness of God to focus on the restrictions of God. In doing that, Eve lost sight of the freedom God had given her.
One Minute Please
Adam and Eve lived in a home they didn’t build and ate food they didn’t have to grow. They lived in a perfect environment that had only one restriction. Does your mind focus only on the restrictions in your life?
Source: Sermon Notes, July 6, 2003.
Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com
and
Listen to Dr. Tony Evans Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.
.jpg)
In this powerful teaching series by Dr. Tony Evans, he takes a look at the information God has given in His Word about death and the afterlife. You will learn about heaven and hell through Tony's fresh and insightful teaching of God's Word. Though the Bible does not tell us everything there is to know about the afterlife, there is plenty of information to give us a glimpse into eternity.
We have been given the responsibility of helping the world understand the source of our hope. Are you capable of opening your Bible and sharing with your neighbor or your co-worker or your classmate what God says about life after death?
Whether for yourself or to prepare you to talk about the afterlife with loved ones or friends, this powerful 6-part sermon series, along with the accompanying personal or group study guide, is yours for a gift of any amount to help us continue to take God's Word to a world in need through radio, television and the internet. Request yours today.
Share with your friends