Embracing God's Blessings: Life, Provision, and Protection

Devotional

Day 1: Procreation as a Divine Blessing

God’s command to be fruitful and multiply is a blessing that extends to all humanity. This ability to create life is a reflection of God's grace and a universal reminder of His creation blessing. Even in a sin-fallen world, the privilege of procreation remains a testament to God's enduring grace. The command to multiply is not just a biological function but a divine mandate that carries spiritual significance. It is a call to participate in God's creative work and to steward the gift of life responsibly.

In a world where the value of life is often diminished, this blessing reminds us of the sacredness of bringing new life into the world. It is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to nurture, protect, and guide the next generation. As we reflect on this blessing, let us remember that every child is a gift from God, and the ability to have children is a universal blessing that reflects God's grace. [01:10:46]

Genesis 1:28 (ESV): "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

Reflection: How can you view the act of procreation and raising children as a divine blessing and responsibility in your life today?

Day 2: Provision for Life

God’s provision extends beyond plants to include animals for food. This shift in the post-flood world signifies God's comprehensive care for human needs. The fear and dread placed in animals serve as a means of their survival, ensuring a balanced ecosystem. This provision underscores God's wisdom and grace in sustaining human life. The inclusion of animals in the human diet represents a significant change from the pre-flood world, highlighting God's adaptability in meeting human needs.

This divine provision is a reminder of God's ongoing care and sustenance for humanity. It reflects His understanding of our needs and His willingness to provide for them in diverse ways. As we enjoy the food provided by God, let us remember to be grateful and to steward these resources wisely, recognizing them as gifts from a loving Creator. [01:19:38]

Genesis 9:3-4 (ESV): "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."

Reflection: How can you show gratitude for God's provision in your daily meals and ensure you are stewarding these resources wisely?

Day 3: Protection of Life

The divine mandate for a reckoning for the shedding of innocent blood highlights the sanctity of human life. This is not about personal vengeance but societal justice. The death penalty for murderers serves as a deterrent and a means to protect innocent lives, reflecting God's deep concern for the value of human life. This mandate underscores the importance of justice and the protection of the innocent, emphasizing that every person is made in the image of God.

In a world where violence and disregard for life are prevalent, this divine command calls us to uphold the value of life and seek justice for the innocent. It challenges us to reflect on how we can contribute to a society that respects and protects life, ensuring that justice is served and the vulnerable are safeguarded. [01:26:15]

Genesis 9:5-6 (ESV): "And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 'Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you advocate for the protection of innocent lives in your community today?

Day 4: Respect for Life in a Fallen World

The alarming statistics on murder and abortion reveal a diminished respect for life, even among Christians. As God's people, we must allow His Word to reshape our views on life. We are called to respect life, make life, and protect life, reflecting God's heart for humanity. This call to respect life challenges us to examine our attitudes and actions towards the sanctity of life, urging us to align them with God's perspective.

In a fallen world, it is easy to become desensitized to the value of life. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to be counter-cultural, upholding the sanctity of life in all its forms. This involves not only opposing practices that devalue life but also actively promoting and supporting life-affirming actions and policies. [01:06:46]

Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live."

Reflection: How can you actively promote a culture of life in your daily interactions and decisions?

Day 5: Active Engagement in Protecting Life

Christians are called to actively engage in protecting life through preaching, voting, and partnering with life-affirming organizations. This includes addressing difficult topics like abortion from the pulpit and supporting policies and organizations that protect life. Our actions should reflect our commitment to the sanctity of life as image-bearers of God. This active engagement is a practical outworking of our faith, demonstrating our commitment to God's values.

Engaging in the protection of life requires courage and conviction. It involves speaking out against injustices, supporting those who are vulnerable, and making choices that reflect our commitment to the sanctity of life. As we engage in these actions, we bear witness to God's love and justice, making a tangible difference in our communities. [01:38:20]

Proverbs 31:8-9 (ESV): "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to support and protect life in your community?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we revisited the book of Genesis, specifically chapters 8 and 9, to explore the blessings God bestowed upon humanity in the post-flood world. The title of the message is "Respect Life and Multiply." After the flood, Noah and his family stepped into a renewed creation, but unlike Adam and Eve, they entered as sinners. Despite this, God blessed them and all of humanity with three significant blessings: the procreation of life, the provision for life, and the protection of life.

First, God blessed humanity with the ability to multiply and fill the earth. This command to be fruitful and multiply is a divine blessing that extends to all people, regardless of their faith. Children are a gift from God, and the ability to have children is a universal blessing that reflects God's grace.

Second, God provided for human life by allowing us to eat both plants and animals. This provision is a significant shift from the pre-flood world, where only plants were given for food. The fear and dread of humans were placed in animals as a means of their survival, ensuring a balance in the ecosystem.

Third, God instituted the protection of life by requiring a reckoning for the shedding of innocent blood. This divine mandate underscores the value of human life, as every person is made in the image of God. The death penalty for murderers is not about personal vengeance but about societal justice and the protection of innocent lives.

In our current world, respect for life has diminished, even among Christians. The alarming statistics on murder and abortion highlight the urgent need for a renewed respect for life. As God's people, we are called to engage in procreating life, enjoy God's provision for life, and actively protect life. This includes preaching the whole counsel of God's Word, voting for life-affirming policies, and partnering with organizations that protect life.

###

Key Takeaways

1. fallen world, the privilege of procreation remains a testament to God's enduring grace. [01:10:46]
2. Provision for Life: God’s provision extends beyond plants to include animals for food. This shift in the post-flood world signifies God's comprehensive care for human needs. The fear and dread placed in animals serve as a means of their survival, ensuring a balanced ecosystem. This provision underscores God's wisdom and grace in sustaining human life.

3. Protection of Life: The divine mandate for a reckoning for the shedding of innocent blood highlights the sanctity of human life. This is not about personal vengeance but societal justice. The death penalty for murderers serves as a deterrent and a means to protect innocent lives, reflecting God's deep concern for the value of human life.

4. Respect for Life in a Fallen World: The alarming statistics on murder and abortion reveal a diminished respect for life, even among Christians. As God's people, we must allow His Word to reshape our views on life. We are called to respect life, make life, and protect life, reflecting God's heart for humanity.

5. Active Engagement in Protecting Life: Christians are called to actively engage in protecting life through preaching, voting, and partnering with life-affirming organizations. This includes addressing difficult topics like abortion from the pulpit and supporting policies and organizations that protect life. Our actions should reflect our commitment to the sanctity of life as image-bearers of God.

### [70:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[59:36] - Introduction to Genesis 8 and 9
[60:42] - The Command to Multiply
[62:12] - Post-Flood World vs. Pre-Flood World
[63:39] - Respect for Life in a Post-Flood World
[64:45] - Christian Perspectives on Abortion
[66:46] - The Need for a Biblical View on Life
[67:38] - Reading Genesis 8:20-9:7
[70:46] - Blessing of Procreation
[71:25] - Noah's Worship and God's Response
[74:02] - God's Grace in the Post-Flood World
[75:21] - The Command to Multiply Reiterated
[78:33] - Blessing of Provision
[79:38] - Dietary Laws and God's Provision
[82:55] - Prohibition Against Eating Blood
[84:45] - Blessing of Protection
[86:15] - Divine Mandate for Justice
[91:10] - Summary of Blessings
[92:39] - Applications for Today
[98:20] - Ways to Protect Life
[100:56] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the three blessings God gave to humanity in the post-flood world according to Genesis 9:1-7?
How does Psalm 127:3-5 describe children and their significance?
What is the prohibition mentioned in Leviticus 17:14 regarding the consumption of blood, and why is it significant?

Interpretation Questions

Why does God command Noah and his descendants to be fruitful and multiply even though He acknowledges the sinfulness of humanity? ([01:02:12])
How does the provision of both plants and animals for food in Genesis 9:3 reflect God's care for human needs? ([01:19:38])
What is the significance of the divine mandate for a reckoning for the shedding of innocent blood in Genesis 9:5-6? How does this reflect God's view on the sanctity of life? ([01:26:15])

Application Questions

Reflect on the command to be fruitful and multiply. How do you view the blessing of procreation in your own life? If you are a parent, how do you see your role in raising children as a reflection of God's grace? ([01:10:46])
Considering God's provision for life, how can you cultivate gratitude for the food and resources you have? Are there specific ways you can be more mindful of God's provision in your daily life? ([01:19:38])
The sermon highlighted the diminished respect for life in today's world, including among Christians. How can you personally contribute to fostering a culture of life within your community? ([01:06:46])
The sermon mentioned the importance of voting for life-affirming policies. How informed are you about the policies and candidates you support? What steps can you take to ensure your vote aligns with your values on the sanctity of life? ([01:38:20])
Partnering with organizations that protect life was emphasized in the sermon. Are there local or national organizations you can support or volunteer with to help protect life? How can you get involved? ([01:38:20])
The sermon discussed the importance of preaching the whole counsel of God's Word, including difficult topics like abortion. How can you support your church leaders in addressing these topics? Are there ways you can help create a supportive environment for such discussions? ([01:35:45])
Reflect on the value of human life as being made in the image of God. How does this understanding impact the way you interact with others, especially those who may be marginalized or vulnerable? ([01:28:07])

Sermon Clips

1. "I hope that as God filled your minds, he transformed you. And I pray that those principles that he poured into your minds will show up in our lives. Our practice as God's people. That's not just my hope and prayer for Philippians, though. That is my hope and prayer for every time I get the opportunity to preach the word of God. That God will reshape our minds. He will pour his principles into them, and that will show up in our practice." [59:36] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Despite our sinfulness, God blessed the post-flood world with some blessings that we are going to explore today. And the blessings we're going to look at today are the following. The blessings we're going to look at, I want you to understand, they extend to every person in the post-flood world. Not just Christians, but unbelievers as well. So these blessings that God has given to his post-flood creation extend to all of humanity. And these blessings are of and for life." [01:02:12] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Respect for life in our post-flood world has diminished. And it's not just diminished among the lost. It is easy to look at the world and go, look at what they're doing. But Christians' respect has diminished for life. Pew Research reports that 45% of Christians say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. It reports that 4% of us don't even know what we think on the matter." [01:04:45] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I pray that if you've allowed the perspective of abortion, the fallen world to shape your view about life, you'll allow God's word this morning to reshape it because God calls us to respect life, to make life, not take life. I pray he opens your eyes to see that through the blessings he's given to us." [01:06:46] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Noah's actions teach us, what the proper response to our God is. Worship. And that's what he did here. Now you think about this Christians, our God is rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, he made us alive together through faith in Jesus Christ. Now what's the proper response? Worship. That's why we've gathered this morning. Worship is the proper response to Jesus. For who he is. Worship is the proper response to Jesus for what he has done." [01:12:24] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "God blesses Noah and his family and every generation that follows with the ability to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. The Psalmist reminds us that children are a gift from the Lord. Those who have them are blessed. Psalmist, Psalm 127. Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward like arrows in the hand of a warrior. So are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." [01:16:14] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God blesses us with plants to eat. He blesses us with creeping things to eat. You're like don't eat the bugs find yourself in a desert and you can't find anything to eat. You'll probably eat the bugs or whatever comes up. God blesses us with birds to eat and God blesses us with meat and animals to eat. This is one of his blessings for a post-flood world. It's hunting season. So go." [01:24:45] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "God's message to this post-flood world is this those who take an innocent life are to have their lives taken and I know some of you are like, are you a death penalty? I'm a God's word guy. I get that some of you may see this as a contradiction of respecting life thinking to yourself. Well, if God wants to protect life, why would he permit the taking of life because taking the life of a murderer is protecting life." [01:26:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Every human being is valuable every human being. Deserves to be treated with dignity and respect every human being every human life should be protected. Every human life is a mirror though. It's a marred mirror because of sin. We are still a mirror of the one who created us. So when a person takes an innocent life that person is murdering one who's created in the image of God and this is such an offense to our God that our God says take their life." [01:28:07] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "As his people created in his image who are being renewed through the gospel. May God transform us through the renewing of our mind this morning and move us to join our God in protecting life from the baby in the womb to every person who is not yet in the tomb. Every one of them are created in the image of God their lives deserve protection as Christians. We should never be party to or silent in the face of the attraction. The atrocity that is happening as God's people." [01:33:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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