Gateway Church
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the greatest gift known to man, the Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, our "Twas the Night Before Christmas" series reminds us of the preparations needed to celebrate such a great gift. It’s impossible to read through The Bible without noticing how many times, and how many ways the coming of Jesus in the flesh was predicted. These prophetic announcements first came to Israel, but eventually to the whole world.
Each WKND before Christmas ’22, we invite you to open up God’s Word, given generations before the birth of Jesus in the Hebrew Scriptures. The birth of Jesus wasn’t meant to be a surprise, but a much-anticipated delivery that unveiled God’s master plan for His creation. This WKND, we begin in the beginning, with God’s first hint, a promise to a world that would need rescuing.
If you missed any of the messages, you can watch them at www.gtwy.church/christmas22. There you will find the notes for this week's conversation as well as the previous notes in this series!
Genesis 3:15 NLT
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us..." So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27
WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE
"Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person." Genesis 2:7
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT ON HIM
GOD'S 4 GIFTS TO ADAM:
* GOD'S PRESENCE
* A PLACE TO CALL HOME
* A PURPOSE IN LIFE
* A PARTNER TO SHARE IT WITH
GOD'S 4 GIFTS TO ADAM/ 4 BASIC NEEDS OF AN EMPLOYEE:
* GOD'S PRESENCE * A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH
* A PLACE TO CALL HOME * A CULTURE TO EMBRACE
* A PURPOSE IN LIFE * A PLACE TO GROW
* A PARTNER TO SHARE IT WITH * PEOPLE TO ENJOY
"This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels."
Genesis 3:1 > > Revelation 12:9
"He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Genesis 3:5 > > John 8:44
Romans 5:12 NLT
Romans 5:15 NLT
Genesis 3:15 NLT
God gives clear instructions that must be obeyed.
God warns people not to give in to their desires.
People disobey God’s instructions.
God questions people asking “where/why?”
People are cursed by God.
People are banished from God’s Presence
“Offspring” of the woman highlighted in contrast to an evil “offspring”.
Genesis 4:25-26 NLT
“This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them human.”
Genesis 5:1-2
“Lamech named his son Noah, for he said, “May he bring us relief from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed.” Genesis 5:29
Genesis 4:25-26 > > Genesis 5:1-2,29
Both stories introduced by planting a garden/vineyard.
Both stories include inappropriate use of its produce by main characters.
Both stories refer to nakedness of main characters.
Both stories emphasize need to cover the nakedness.
Both stories conclude with emphasis on different “offsprings”. One is cursed/punished, the other given promise of success.
Genesis 3 / / Genesis 9
Genesis 3:15 NLT
"When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Genesis 3:15 > > Revelation 20:7-10
Colossians 2:14-15 NLT
Romans 5:16-19 NLT
Recommended Reading/Viewing: Exodus 26:31-33 & Matthew 27:51