Let Us Encourage What God Said Was “Very Good”
When God began His creation work in Genesis chapter 1 He said, “Let there be light” and then “God saw that the light was good” in Genesis 1:3-4. Seven times in Genesis chapter 1 God saw what He created was “good”. In chapter 2 the scriptures we are given more details about His creation work. God had said everything was good until He created man then said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.” (Genesis 2:18, HCSB)
Everything thus far in Genesis that has been scrutinized by God has been given a positive assessment. Every situation has come through as either good or very good. For the first time we encounter something that is not good: man’s lack of a corresponding companion. (Victor P. Hamilton)
God is so good to provide what we need. Matthew Henry points out, “It is God only who perfectly knows our wants, and is perfectly able to supply them all, Philippians 4:19. In him alone our help is, and from him are all our helpers.” God knew what we needed we marriage and families.
The very first institution God created for society was the marriage of a man and a woman, establishing the family. All of society and human life depends upon it. Nations cannot survive without marriages and families. Marriage was created before the church and the church can’t survive without strong marriages.
Marriage is so important, so holy, and so blessed that God calls the church the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9). The apostle Paul says husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved his bride and gave himself for her.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of His body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33, HCSB)
No wonder Satan’s first attack came upon us was on the first family. He wanted to destroy their relationship with God and with one another. He is still at it today. Satan loves pornography, hookups, adultery, perversions and divorce because these things destroy families, hurt children, tear at the very fabric of society, and ruins our witness. Satan loves our pain, heartache, and loneliness. God loves our harmony, joy, and intimacy so he gave us marriage and families.
Let’s encourage love, marriage and families. Let’s be careful that what we say lifts up married life, having children, the many blessings of marriage. After all, when God finished creating man and woman and all they needed He said “it was very good” (Genesis, 1:31, HCSB).
Pastor Pat
Everything thus far in Genesis that has been scrutinized by God has been given a positive assessment. Every situation has come through as either good or very good. For the first time we encounter something that is not good: man’s lack of a corresponding companion. (Victor P. Hamilton)
God is so good to provide what we need. Matthew Henry points out, “It is God only who perfectly knows our wants, and is perfectly able to supply them all, Philippians 4:19. In him alone our help is, and from him are all our helpers.” God knew what we needed we marriage and families.
The very first institution God created for society was the marriage of a man and a woman, establishing the family. All of society and human life depends upon it. Nations cannot survive without marriages and families. Marriage was created before the church and the church can’t survive without strong marriages.
Marriage is so important, so holy, and so blessed that God calls the church the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9). The apostle Paul says husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved his bride and gave himself for her.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of His body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33, HCSB)
No wonder Satan’s first attack came upon us was on the first family. He wanted to destroy their relationship with God and with one another. He is still at it today. Satan loves pornography, hookups, adultery, perversions and divorce because these things destroy families, hurt children, tear at the very fabric of society, and ruins our witness. Satan loves our pain, heartache, and loneliness. God loves our harmony, joy, and intimacy so he gave us marriage and families.
Let’s encourage love, marriage and families. Let’s be careful that what we say lifts up married life, having children, the many blessings of marriage. After all, when God finished creating man and woman and all they needed He said “it was very good” (Genesis, 1:31, HCSB).
Pastor Pat
Godly Masculinity
In my last article I wrote about how good it is to celebrate and enjoy the fact that God made men and women different. Not only did He make us to be different He created us to have different purposes and roles in life. As the Lord says in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.". Women have ever since pointed that men need help: and we do! I greatly appreciate how Janice decorates our house, plants flowers in the yard, gives me instructions on the best shirts and ties that match, and helps me in countless other ways. I definitely need her help.
The Bible tells us men that our role is to be the leaders in the family and He gives us an incredible mission:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (HCSB, Ephesians 5:25 -27)
Christ loved the church so much that He served us day and night and sacrificed His life on the cross for us. I need all the help I can get to try to fulfil that assignment! That is “Godly Masculinity”. We want to help you to fulfill this mission in your life.
Pastor A.J. is helping young men under 40 to grow in their faith every other Monday night in what they call “Macho Man Mondays”, (love the name!) where they discuss questions about the Bible and spiritual matters. You are invited to contact Pastor A.J. if you want to participate.
There is an Ironman Conference focusing on Biblical Manhood on Saturday August 16th at Peace Haven Baptist Church at 2200 Booger Swamp Rd., Yadkinville, NC 27055. (What a great name for a road!) We are told:
You will be challenged, encouraged and equipped to become the man God created you to be. Through powerful teaching, dynamic worship and real conversations with other men who are striving to follow Christ, you will gain the tools and courage to lead in your home, workplace and community.
Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This is your opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded brothers in Christ, sharpen your faith and step into a life of purpose and impact.
The cost of $25 includes a steak dinner. I would love to get a group to go together so contact me in person by phone or text and let me know if you are interested. We must register by August 4th to get the steak dinner.
Men need fellowship with other men whom they respect where they can feel comfortable to encourage one another, sharpen one another, and grow stronger in faith and courage. We want you to have that opportunity.
Pastor Pat
The Bible tells us men that our role is to be the leaders in the family and He gives us an incredible mission:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (HCSB, Ephesians 5:25 -27)
Christ loved the church so much that He served us day and night and sacrificed His life on the cross for us. I need all the help I can get to try to fulfil that assignment! That is “Godly Masculinity”. We want to help you to fulfill this mission in your life.
Pastor A.J. is helping young men under 40 to grow in their faith every other Monday night in what they call “Macho Man Mondays”, (love the name!) where they discuss questions about the Bible and spiritual matters. You are invited to contact Pastor A.J. if you want to participate.
There is an Ironman Conference focusing on Biblical Manhood on Saturday August 16th at Peace Haven Baptist Church at 2200 Booger Swamp Rd., Yadkinville, NC 27055. (What a great name for a road!) We are told:
You will be challenged, encouraged and equipped to become the man God created you to be. Through powerful teaching, dynamic worship and real conversations with other men who are striving to follow Christ, you will gain the tools and courage to lead in your home, workplace and community.
Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This is your opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded brothers in Christ, sharpen your faith and step into a life of purpose and impact.
The cost of $25 includes a steak dinner. I would love to get a group to go together so contact me in person by phone or text and let me know if you are interested. We must register by August 4th to get the steak dinner.
Men need fellowship with other men whom they respect where they can feel comfortable to encourage one another, sharpen one another, and grow stronger in faith and courage. We want you to have that opportunity.
Pastor Pat
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