Lighthouse Church Durban
In Pursuit of Man
Mankind was created in the image of God and enjoyed fellowship with God. When mankind broke this fellowship, God pursued them - through many people and many events.
This pursuit culminated in God sending his Son, Jesus, to redeem mankind. And this pursuit continues as we obey Jesus' commission to make disciples of all nations.
Genesis 1:26,27, Genesis 3:9,10, Exodus 16:4, 31, 35, Exodus 13:21-22, Psalm 8:3-5, Hebrews 2:6-7, Psalm 144:3-4, Job 7:17-18, Galatians 4:4-5, Mark 15:34, Psalm 22:1, Matthew 28:19-20
- Broadcast on:
- 21 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- other
Good afternoon to you, Lidar's church. It's my privilege and singular honor to be sharing God's word with you today, and the title of my sermon is "In Best Suit of Men". In biblical language, man is a generic term encompassing both men and women, created in God's image. As we see in Genesis 1.27, I've labored to look across three different translations, just to establish the fact, particularly for the women folks to feel at ease and at home. Knowing even as we look at this topic, it also includes them. So, firstly, I looked at an NLT, which reads this follows. So, God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. ESV, so God created man in his own image. In the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. This sermon explores God's relentless pursuit of humanity. Seeking relationship. One, two fellowship. Today, we explore the remarkable desire of God to build a relationship. And to have fellowship with humanity. From Genesis to Revelation, God has pursued men calling and using different people. And situations along the way to achieve this goal. This sermon, Friends, explores God's relentless pursuit of humanity. Seeking a relationship. One and fellowship. We explore the remarkable desire of God to build a relationship and have fellowship with humanity. From Genesis to Revelation, God has pursued a man calling and using different people and situations to achieve this goal. My first subheading is creation and the fall. God's pursuit began in Genesis. He created Adam and Eve for companionship. After the fall, God's pursuit continued. Seeking a man who would represent him to restore this relationship, which had broken down between God and man. NIV reads Genesis 1, 26 and 27. Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish, in the sea and the beds, in the sky, over the livestock and all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God, He created them, male and female. He created them. But after the creation, men fell. So if we pick it up in Genesis 3, verse 9 and 10. But the Lord got called out to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I had you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." God's question friends, "Where are you?" Symbolizes this pursuit of humanity seeking to restore relationship and fellowship. This friendship, which was broken, got to stop at nothing in wanting to restore it. Despite human failure, God never gave up pursuing a man. He called and used various biblical characters, such as Abraham, who struggled with faith and obedience. Moses, who doubted and disobeyed. David, the warrior, who fell into sin and failure. Peter, we had a few weeks ago how he denied Jesus, not once, but three times. Noah, serving his family from the flood, a symbolic of just God, wanting to pursue a relationship with man. Jacob, we saw Jacob wrestling with God and among other issues, and God ended up renaming him Israel. Joseph, using him to save Israel from famine. We remember from the pages of the Bible, the seven linears and the seven-thirt years. Joshua, the conquering captain, who eventually took Israel into the land of the promise. Samson defeated the Philistines, but we know he also defeated some animals, very strong men. And yet, in all that, the main purpose of all these characters was God, is really pursuing a relationship that had broken between him and man. The judges and prophets, guiding Israel along the way. What can we say about John the Baptist, or John the Baptizer? Some would put it across. We'll prepare the way for Jesus. To see him beginning to preach and laying the foundation, to say he that is coming, even his sandals are man worthy to untie. Despite of all these characters' shortcomings, God continued to pursue man, demonstrating his sovereignty and master plan. The next subheading of France is divine interventions. God used extraordinary events to pursue humanity. The action serving Noah's family, flying and brimstone, destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. We see this, God, so loving, but hates sin. Patching of the Red Sea, freeing Israel, God's spacesuit of man is evident in his guidance and provision for the Israelites in the wilderness. Regardless of their disobedience and lack of faith on so many times, at every ten, they would moan and complain and they wanted to go back to Egypt. We see in Exodus 16 4, then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you." The people are to go out each day and glad enough for that particular day. In Exodus 1631, the manna was like coriander, seed and looked like resin. In 1635 of Exodus, the Israelites ate manna for 40 years until they came to the land that was settled. The ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. God provided bread and meat for his people, but he didn't just provide only. He also guided them along the way. We see Exodus 1821-22, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud and guided them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. This journey symbolizes God's relentless pursuit of humanity, providing for their needs and leading them towards this goal of redemption. We could pause here for a second friends and begin to question, why does God love man so much? What is man that is so love in a manner that we see from what we've already gone through? By the way, I'm halfway already in this symbol. But we want to adjust this here, and if we begin to delve into these questions without looking at the scriptures, that speaks to the same. So, the question would be, what is man that you are mindful of him? We see Psalms 8 of 4 and Hebrews 2-6, and then we'll try and see the paradigms of God's attention in those particular verses and other similar verses that would speak the same. Psalms 8-3-5, what is mankind that you are mindful of them? Human beings that you care for them, you have made them a little lower than the angels and ground them with glory and honor. So, we may ask, what is man that you are mindful of him? This question highlights the wonder and awe of God's attention to humanity, despite our insignificance and shortcomings in this universe. Similar verses in Psalms 1-44-3-4, Lord, what are human beings that you care for them? Me and Mottos that you think of them, they are like breath, their days are like fleeting shadow. Job 7-17-18, what is mankind that you make so much of them? That you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment. The paradox of God's attention refers to the idea that God, who is all powerful, the creator of the universe is also intimately involved in the lives of human beings caring for them and paying attention to their needs. Even the smallest of the needs that they may have. This paradox is reflected in the vases that we have read above, which highlight both God's greatness and his attention to humanity. I will now go into the subheading the fullness of time. When the fullness of time had come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoptions, his sons. I remember earlier friends, I spoke of men as a generic term, which is used across, sons is one of the words that we see in the Bible, which comes across. Adopptions and sons, they face both to women and men. We see the other word, the bride. The church is an example, or the church is regarded as the bride of Christ. It involves both women and men folks. He will come to wait with his church. So these words, they do cut across. This verse beautifully illustrates the concepts of one, the fullness of time, which seems to suggest, by the way, friends. God's perfect timing. When all conditions were ripe for the ultimate plan of redemption, it highlights that God's plan of redemption was not a series of random events, but rather a deliberate and timely plan that culminated in the sending of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. The second concept is the ultimate sacrifice. The supreme act of God's love, where he gave his only son to save humanity. It seems to also suggest friends that all of God's previous efforts were like a pause. A moment of an dispersion, until the perfect moment when Jesus could come and die on the cross for humanity, God's timing is perfect. You waited until the perfect moment. This pursuit of men led Jesus to the cross, and friends, the cross of Christ was the final sacrifice. He is the ultimate sacrifice. We see Jesus on the cross that explains that Jesus cried on the cross as we see recorded in Matthew 1534 and Matthew 2746, which reads. The three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Alloy, alloy, Lamasabaktan, which translate my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This way captures the point and moment during the crucifixion of Jesus reflecting his deep anguish and fulfillment of prophets from Psalms 22, verse 1. It expresses Jesus' feelings of abandonment and suppression from God as he bore the sin of humanity on the cross. It illustrates the depth of God's pursuit of humanity as Jesus, the son of God, willingly experienced separation from God to redeem us. It also epitomizes the extravagant love of God, who was willing to go to such great lengths to reconcile us to himself. Mission of the Church is my last subheading. God's pursuit of men did not end with Jesus dying on the cross. It continues until the end of time, as he seeks to rebuild the relationship, rebuild the relationship and have fellowship with humanity. We are part of His pursuit, called to respond to God's love and redemption. Matthew reminds us that our mission is to make disciples of all nations. We are called to share God's relentless love with a world in need and a world which is dying. The making of disciples is a crucial aspect of this pursuit, as it allows God to build a relationship with individuals and use them to reach others. Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28, 19 to 20. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, end of the Son, end of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything of commanded you. And surely, I am with you always to the very end of the edge. The making of disciples is not just about converting individuals, but about transforming life's friends, teaching them to obey God's commands and building a relationship with Him. Through discipleship, God can pursue man, calling them into a deeper relationship with Himself and using them to reach others. Outmately, God's pursuit of man is about redeeming humanity and building a kingdom of followers, who will worship and serve Him. We saw Jesus when He bested on the sin and began to preach, echoed even the ways that were echoed by John the Baptist's repent for the kingdom of God's attempt. It's about the King and His domain, and this pursuance of man would love to happen in a kingdom-principled way. In a world where we often feel insignificant, it's easy to wonder if our lives really matter. Our existence is not a mere coincidence. We are here for a purpose, our lives have a significant value. Let's remember we are loved by God, created in His image, unique and special, and core to make a difference. Can we, one, respond to His pursuit of us? And secondly, join in His pursuit of others by reaching out and helping them follow Jesus. Thank you, and God bless.
Mankind was created in the image of God and enjoyed fellowship with God. When mankind broke this fellowship, God pursued them - through many people and many events.
This pursuit culminated in God sending his Son, Jesus, to redeem mankind. And this pursuit continues as we obey Jesus' commission to make disciples of all nations.
Genesis 1:26,27, Genesis 3:9,10, Exodus 16:4, 31, 35, Exodus 13:21-22, Psalm 8:3-5, Hebrews 2:6-7, Psalm 144:3-4, Job 7:17-18, Galatians 4:4-5, Mark 15:34, Psalm 22:1, Matthew 28:19-20