Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to Growing in Grace with Pastor Victor Morrison. This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas. We are praying that God will bless you as you listen to this message.
Speaker: If you would like additional information on worship times and ministries at FBC Columbus, You can find out more at our website. FBC Columbus TX. dot org. And now... Take your copy of God's Timeless Word as Pastor Victor gives today's message.
Speaker: Welcome to Growing in Grace. Hey, have you ever read through Genesis chapter 2? We're gonna walk down the aisle. at a wedding. And it's going to be exciting.
Speaker: Have you ever walked down a wedding aisle before? ah Perhaps you have. Maybe you haven't. I remember when our ring bearer was told, it's your time to take the rings down there.
Speaker: Give them to Victor's father. He's the best man. When he was told that. He said I'm not. And his mother said, No, you have to take the ring cushion down there.
Speaker: He said, I'm not. So then she said, if. You will take the ring cushion. Give it to his dad. then I will give you a piece of bubble gum.
Speaker: Then the little boy who was four years of age said, I go. So he ran down the aisle. He got to my dad right in front of him and he... Frisbee.
Speaker: The ring cushion. to my dad and my dad jumped in the air and caught it and so all was well And so Jodi and her dad begin to come down the aisle.
Speaker: And the little boy was going back up the aisle. going to the front doors of the church, and someone said, Where is the little boy going? So that was the $6 million dollars question at the reception.
Speaker: To which we said, He was going for the bubblegum. that his mom had promised him. But anyway. I don't have any bubble gum to promise you if you'll walk down this aisle with me, but I want to show you. When God brought...
Speaker: uh adam His bride, Eve. So we're going to look at that, but there's a lot of other things. that we'll look at beforehand. So let's just dig in. to Genesis.
Speaker: Chapter 2. When you enter this chapter, you begin to see at the very beginning. There's a priority here. And the priority. is day seven.
Speaker: Whenever God was creating in the heavens and the earth, on day seven, he did something very unusual. It was unexpected. He rested. This final day.
Speaker: was so different. from the other six days of creation. You wouldn't believe it. Kenneth A. Matthews summarizes the differences in his commentary on Genesis 1 -11 with the following list.
Speaker: There was no creation formula. Before... God always said, And God said, And God said, There was no need for that this time. because he rested.
Speaker: Also, there was a usual closing refrain. And it was missing And there was evening and there was morning. That was not said. This was the only day. to be blessed.
Speaker: and made holy by the Lord. It stood outside of the paired days of creation. Nothing like it. had been done thus far in creation.
Speaker: This was the only day. repeated three times. On the seventh day. On the seventh day. On the seventh day. Three times. The seventh day stands apart.
Speaker: as a crowning day to the six days of creation. You see, God's rest was not due to fatigue. but rather a deep pleasure and satisfaction over the fruit.
Speaker: of his labor. This will later become more significant as rest in Christ will be restored through redemption. and consummated At Christ's return.
Speaker: Wow. Isn't that so wonderful to think about? That God knew. We needed rest. So he just modeled it. even though he wasn't tired personally. But when you go into verses 5 and 6,
Speaker: It's almost like you enter into a gateway. into a beautiful garden. And here's what it says about it in verses five and six. When no bush of the field was yet in the land,
Speaker: 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. in a mist.
Speaker: was going up from the land. and was watering. the whole face. of the gram. So I was thinking about how there was this water canopy. over the face of the earth. It protected it.
Speaker: It was almost like the earth was a greenhouse. so that there were no harmful rays from the sun. And so everything was protected. But in a few moments, you're going to see that God...
Speaker: He needed someone to take care. of the Garden of Eden. Verse 7 describes how God formed man. Listen to this verse Five and six.
Speaker: 6, verse 7. Then the Lord God formed the man of dust. from the ground. and breathed into his nostrils. the breath of life.
Speaker: And the man... became a living creature. Something very significant is happening here. Because thus far... Everything God created, he would speak it.
Speaker: He would just say the word. and it would happen. But this time... There's something different. From the dust. of the ground. God formed. Like a potter.
Speaker: formed the man Then he... Breathe. into his nostrils, the breath of life. And the man... became a living creature. So how wonderful is that?
Speaker: And it may not be apparent. On the surface. But there's also something interesting about the word. We know that In Genesis 127, that God made the man and the female in his image.
Speaker: It's interesting that the word Elohim is in the plural. Yet all verbs... are in the singular. It's like, God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, they were there.
Speaker: even at creation. And yet they worked. as one. And that's why all the verbs were singular. And yet the word for God. was plural. The text now says that he formed man by careful intentional design.
Speaker: And yet he made him. from the dust of the earth. He also never breathed into any of his creation. Except... For man. This means that man... is immortal.
Speaker: And man, is responsible. Then we go into the garden. Verses 8 through 14. The Lord planted a garden in a place to the east.
Speaker: called Eden. He made this perfect environment for man to dwell in. He caused every tree. That was pleasant. and good for food. to spring up. out of the ground And there were two trees. that were unique.
Speaker: in the middle of the garden. One was called the Tree of Life. The other... the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God also provided a river. that flowed out of Eden.
Speaker: to water the garden. It eventually branched out into four rivers, the Pishon, the Gihon, the Tigris and the Euphrates. But the Lord gave Adam... and occupation.
Speaker: He was to be the primary gardener. and guardian. of the luscious Garden of Eden. That was going to be his. career. His profession. his job.
Speaker: His job description? was simple. God said, work it. and keep it. The Bible always honors... Diligent work. and clearly speaks against. Laziness.
Speaker: Later in the chapter, Adam would be given an additional task. of assigning names. to each species among the animals in verses 19 and 20.
Speaker: Much like he did generations later for Noah, it's interesting. that the Lord brought the animals to the man. to see what he would call him. Wouldn't that be something?
Speaker: For God to just bring all those animals to Adam, what are you going to call this one? What are you going to call this one? you know That would have been so amazing and so fun. to witness.
Speaker: But it says in verse 15, the Lord God took the man. and put him in the Garden of Eden. to work it. And you keep it. In verses 19 and 20, He says, now out of the ground.
Speaker: The Lord God had... formed every beast of the field. every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called, every living creature.
Speaker: That was its name. The man gave names to all livestock. and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam. There was not found a helper. Fit.
Speaker: For him. we'll talk more about that in just a moment But the first thing I wanted you to know is that God says quite clearly, And the Lord God commanded the man saying, you may surely eat.
Speaker: of every tree of the garden. of every tree of the garden. so I don't know how many trees. would have been in the Garden of Eden. I've never really... seen a number. I've never seen any estimate. on what what people thought. on the number of trees that were in that garden.
Speaker: But get this. God said, Just knock yourself out, Adam. You can eat. as much as you want. from any of these trees. And so he totally gave him. Permission.
Speaker: to eat from any of the trees. And so that was really cool. And when he would be able to eat. From the tree of life, wow. He wasn't going to die. And so it's just amazing that after the fall.
Speaker: Adam would no longer be able to eat. from the tree of life. But... Before the fall. He can. And so it's just amazing. The permission. Isn't it? Really striking.
Speaker: that out of all of those trees, There was only one tree. that God said, I don't want you to eat from that tree. Let me read about that in verse 17. He did give One prohibition.
Speaker: Have you ever thought about How much is okay? It's like God has no no ah commandment forbidding this, forbidding that. It's like so.
Speaker: broad And yet. The prohibitions. They're very narrow. When you really get to it, there's not a lot. And so that's why in verse 17, He says,
Speaker: Yes, 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.
Speaker: For in the day that you eat of it, You. shall surely Die. So God's really clear, right? It's so clear. He's telling him. Look, I don't want you.
Speaker: to eat from that one tree. And it's interesting that he didn't make man a puppet. or let's say a mechanical robot. God did not make him that way. He gave him this.
Speaker: Opportunity. to listen to what he said. and to do what he said. God made him a moral man. who should choose to do God's will. Because God said so.
Speaker: Unfortunately, we will see. ah later. In Genesis chapter 3. That even though Adam was warned. He foolishly disregarded. The... commandment. that the Lord had given.
Speaker: And because of that, He faced the serious consequences for his actions. Sin does have serious consequences, you know. Because God said, if you do eat.
Speaker: of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He said, in the day that you eat of it. You shall surely. Die. Wow. I mean,
Speaker: Who could look upon a garden? filled with trees. and demand. that he be permitted to eat of the... One tree. that was off limits.
Speaker: You see how rebellious we are? It's like God says. What? I only gave you one commandment. Only gave you one thing to stay away from.
Speaker: And yet... We'll see in the next chapter. That's exactly what happens. Oh my goodness. But thus far... In chapters 1 and 2, Did you notice that everything Was it divine provision from God?
Speaker: Yeah, he took the initiative. He was the root of every blessing. Because over and over again, You read words like this. The Lord God said,
Speaker: The Lord God formed. The Lord God caused. and the Lord God made. All of these things. It's great. But here's something interesting.
Speaker: That happens in verse 18. In verse 18, then the Lord God said, It is not good. that the man should be alone.
Speaker: I will make him a helper. fit. for him. Wow. So. All this time. we kept hearing this recurring drumbeat.
Speaker: And it was good. It was good. It was good. But suddenly, for the first time, In the creation account, In chapter 2, verse 18. We hear these words.
Speaker: It's not good. What was not good? Well, he said it's not good. that the man should be alone. And it's interesting that This was not Adam's complaint.
Speaker: This was God's assessment. There's a difference. So here's what God says I'm going to do. I'm going to make a helper. Fit. For him.
Speaker: I'm going to make a helper fit for him. Listen to what he does. Verse 19. Now out of the ground, the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them.
Speaker: And whatever the man called every living creature, that was. its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens, to every beast of the field.
Speaker: But for Adam... There was not found a helper. Fit. for Him. So the Lord God... caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man. And while he slept,
Speaker: took one of his ribs. enclosed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man He made him to. A woman.
Speaker: and brought her to the man. Then the man said this at last. His bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman.
Speaker: because she was taken out of man. Therefore, a man... shall leave his father. and his mother, and hold fast. to his wife. And they shall become one flesh, and the man and his wife We're both naked.
Speaker: and were not ashamed. You know, ah Matthew Henry, he's a commentator from the past. Matthew, Henry. spoke of God choosing to remove A rib.
Speaker: From Adam's side, why did God choose a rib of all things? Well, Listen to what Matthew Henry wrote. He said, Not made.
Speaker: out of Adam's head to top him. Not out of his feet. to be trampled upon. By him. But out of his side to be equal with him.
Speaker: under his arm. to be protected. By him. and near his heart. to be beloved. to him. Oh, I love that. Isn't that profound?
Speaker: Hey. That's the way. that God made. Man. And God made... woman. And that's why God made the woman. So that... Man and woman could be together.
Speaker: There's no other genders. There's no other confusion that's needed. This is so clear, right? that God made the woman. to be with a man. And so I thought. This is wonderful.
Speaker: Jesus spoke of marriage. When he spoke of marriage, He took the listeners. All the way back. to this passage. In Genesis chapter 2. and stated that their marriage relationship was to be permanent.
Speaker: That's found in Matthew 19. Verses 4 through 6. I love that. that Creation. It's like... We can't get away from the importance.
Speaker: of Genesis. And the fact that God created the heavens and the earth. God created, All the fruit trees. God created all the things that we enjoy from the ground, our vegetables and so forth. God created.
Speaker: the rivers. God created. the rain and the sun. The moon. All of these things God created. All of these animals. He created.
Speaker: Why did he create them? For us. so that we would have a wonderful place to live. To eat. to grow healthy, to work hard.
Speaker: And that's why he wanted Adam to have a job. to work hard, to to know that his life was significant. and gave him direction and meaning. But even having a job,
Speaker: With no one to share. with no one to work for? No one to come home to. it still wasn't enough. He needed woman. And so God graciously gifted Adam.
Speaker: With this wonderful. precious treasure. of a wife named Eve. And so what a wonderful joy that is. I know in my life, my wife and I just celebrated, get this. 41 years.
Speaker: of marriage. And I wouldn't say that every day has always been just. wonderful with no challenges and no struggles, no hard times.
Speaker: No, we've had our share of hard times. But you know what? My wife and I. Go through the hard times together. We go through it together. And so that's what marriage is for.
Speaker: so that you can kind of encourage one another and stand together. through all of life's tests and storms and so forth. I'll never forget. whenever I proposed to my wife, how it was a special time for me.
Speaker: But I didn't know her answer. Until. She gave me the answer. But I remember writing in a song. called, Will You Be My Valentine? Because it was in February when I... ask her. I had taken her out for Valentine's and we were going to have dinner.
Speaker: And so we went to a French restaurant and we ate. And then we went back to my duplex where I was a student. at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. And I wrote her song. So I sang the song to her.
Speaker: And in the song, I ask her. Will you be my wife? And whenever the song was finished, I said will you be my wife? And she said, yes. And oh. my The joy that just overflowed in my heart. I was so excited when she said yes.
Speaker: And ah I'll never forget my pastor. I was trying to tell him. that I was trying to make it a special night. What should I do? And all of these kinds of things. And he said, do you have the ring yet?
Speaker: And I said, no, I don't have a ring yet. And he said. Let me get my wife. to go downtown Dallas. And ah you go up there to the trade center. And she'll help you find the right ring for Jody. and ah you'll be all set.
Speaker: And then he said, But there's always been one thing that's bothered me. And I said, what's that, Steve? And he said, well, He said, you told me. that you and Jody chose.
Speaker: never to kiss. And I said, yes, that's correct. We never we never kissed. The whole time. I said because... We wanted our relationship.
Speaker: to be built. upon christ to be built upon conversations, to be built upon scripture. and service and friendship. and all of those kind of things. We didn't want...
Speaker: our relationship. to be built upon ah romance and upon ah feelings. and all of those kind of things. And so I said, that's why we chose. not to um not to kiss.
Speaker: So he said, well, I've got an idea for you. I said, oh, sure. What is it? And keep in mind, I'm a youth pastor and this is my pastor. So my pastor says to me, well, he said,
Speaker: If I were you, If she says. Yes. When you ask, will she marry me? And she says, yes. He said, I would take that ring And he said, you know that little thing that hangs down in the back of your throat?
Speaker: And I said, Yeah, I know what you're talking about. I don't know, your tonsils, like that little thing? And he said, yeah. He said, I would put that ring on that little thing that hangs down And I would say, if you want it, come and get it, baby.
Speaker: I said, that is the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life. I'm not going to do that. And I did not do that. So those of you that are listening, please listen again because I'm not that crazy. But anyway, it was just a fun thing. He was joking, of course.
Speaker: but ah But it was special that night. because she did say yes. And before she said yes, just because it's a little rare, I know. But I ah had... As a youth pastor,
Speaker: ah Jody and I would walk around. the seminary together ah trying to memorize. one verse every week. And so that's what I would share with her, my verse. She would share with me her verse. And we would just talk about how the week was going because she was a seminary student and I was a seminary student.
Speaker: So we would walk around there. And so I thought, we do that every single day. And I thought one of the things I want to do before. I proposed to Jody. I want to make sure.
Speaker: that her parents. are in agreement with this. I don't want to get... crossways with her parents before we even get started. But her mom lived in Columbus, Texas, and her dad lived in Weimer, Texas, and I was in Fort Worth.
Speaker: So I thought, how can I be gone? when we're used to walking together every day and sort of like every evening. So this idea came to me. So the next time I was with Jody, I said, hey. um Right before Valentine's Day, I said maybe a day or two before.
Speaker: I'm going to need to have a very challenging conversation with a mom and a dad concerning their daughter. And I can't go in detail with it because it's confidential.
Speaker: And so Jodi was so respectful. She said, oh, I completely understand. And she said. I'll be praying for you. that everything will go well. And I said, that's really why I was bringing it up. If you will just pray for me as I go and meet with this unnamed. ah father and mother about the unnamed daughter.
Speaker: then I would really appreciate that. So little did she know. The father and the mother. That was her dad. Her mom. And the girl? That was her.
Speaker: But she didn't know it. And so anyway, all was well, especially. When my father -in -law asked me, He said. Hey, Victor, I know that you both are in seminary.
Speaker: um but I just want to ask you a question. Couldn't you just wait? Until after you finish seminary. He said, I don't want to see you get. too overwhelmed here at the beginning of your marriage.
Speaker: And so I said to him, sir. If you ask me to wait, I'll wait. But I don't, to answer your question. I can't wait. So I started laughing and so did he.
Speaker: So they gave me their permission. And then I said to them, Can I sing y 'all a song out in the car? I don't want to sing it in the restaurant. And so anyway, they said, yeah, sure. So we went out and I sat in my mother -in -law's car.
Speaker: And I sang that song that I sang to Jody. asking her, will you be my valentine? Will you share this life with me? And. ah Boy. They were definitely on board when they heard that song.
Speaker: But anyway. I just wanted you to hear those stories from my heart because... Even after 41 years, My relationship my with my wife.
Speaker: It's so rich. It's so meaningful. It's so joyful. It's so filled with love. And you know what does it all? Christ. If you build your relationship with Jesus as the center,
Speaker: then guess what he does? He puts to death the self -life life. And there's a passage in Galatians 2 .20. that says, I'm crucified with Christ.
Speaker: It's no longer I who live. but Christ who lives in me. and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by faith. in the Son of God who loved me. and delivered himself up for me.
Speaker: So I guarantee you If you will say to Jesus, Okay, Lord. Would you put to death? Selfish living. And help me welcome into my heart. and into my life.
Speaker: the The love of my life, my wife. I guarantee you. God will bless you. God will provide for you. God will give you what you need in your marriage relationship. And so Jody and I, to this day, we still pray. Every night.
Speaker: We pray together. We pray individually, of course, but we also pray together. And ah we just do fun things together. Like just the other night, for our 41st wedding anniversary, I took her out to a seafood restaurant.
Speaker: And we had such a great time just remembering anniversaries from the past and remembering all the different things that had taken place. and so Just know.
Speaker: that when you live for the Lord, The Lord will fill your marriage with joy. He'll give you the strength. for those hard times. You'll face all of those hard, difficult things.
Speaker: together. Rather than letting those things get between you, and sort of firing shots that sometimes wound the other one No, he will help both of you. Stand on the same side of the field.
Speaker: and say, you know what? We are both going to face the opponents and the challenges that are out there. And we're going to do it. By depending. on the Lord. Give me the privilege of praying for you, whether you've been through a difficult marriage, maybe you're ah in a sweet marriage, or maybe you're not even married yet.
Speaker: I would love the opportunity to pray. based on this passage, some of these wonderful things. Would you pray with me? Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity to share from your word.
Speaker: I believe that Genesis chapter 2 is needed. right now. this day and time in 2026. like never before. Help us go back. to the standard of your word.
Speaker: You know how life works. You know how marriage works. And so please bless the marriages of those who are listening. I pray their marriage would be so filled with peace. with communication.
Speaker: with love, with understanding. with sacrifice rather than selfishness and help them just to experience all the goodness of the Lord. I pray for those who are still waiting.
Speaker: that you would guide them. to just the right spouse. All our lives, we have prayed for our girls that you would guide them to the right spouses. And maybe others are at that same place. So pray, Lord, that you would guide those who are waiting.
Speaker: I pray for those who are looking for a job. You gave Adam a job. I believe you can give people a job today as well. And so, Lord, would you provide employment? For those who are looking. help them to find what you've cut them out to be and to do.
Speaker: But also we saw something else in this passage. And that's rest. Help these. that are listening. to find rest, rest in Christ. but also to have time to rest every single day, every single night.
Speaker: Please help their sleep at night. to be truly Restful. and sweet. But thank you once again. for the opportunity. to look at this wonderful passage together.
Speaker: Thank you. for Genesis chapter two. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Listen. You have a blessed day. And I hope that God will guide you through the rest of your life.
Speaker: This is a ministry of First Baptist Church, located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.
