In the Beginning...God Pt. 2

Wednesday 01/18/17

Message – In the Beginning…God Pt. 2

Series: N/A

Podcast: Download (119.0MB)

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Click HERE for Video

Genesis 1:6-23

Day 2 – 1:6-8

God said “Let there be a firmament” in the middle of the waters.

The word “middle” can have the implication of something being surrounded on all sides – like in this case a complete sphere causing a complete division of the waters below from the waters above.

Now Firmament is a tricky word and there is a fair amount of disagreement concerning it.

It can mean – “an expanse”
It can mean – “a solid, hammered out crystaline-metal”

God calls it “heaven” in verse 8, which isn’t very helpful to our understanding since the word heaven can be either singular or plural and is used in scripture to mean any number of things. However, in 1:15 the firmament is said to be “in” or “of” the heavens. (see below on Day Four)

Ezekiel 1:22-26 describes God’s mobile throne carried by the four living creatures…

One translation says “The shape of an expanse, with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal, was spread out over the heads of the living creatures.”

So, if this is just open air which would be transparent…I’m not sure how it would have a gleam.

However if it isn’t the open air then we need more help understanding 1:20 (See below on Day 5)

Rev 4:6 – describes God’s throne in heaven.

“Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back.”

Josephus, a reliable historian who was a contemporary of the Apostles translated firmament like this…

“After this, on the second day, He placed the heavens over the whole world, and separated it from the other parts; and determined that it should stand by itself. He also placed a crystalline firmament around it…”

Now, it is interesting to note that this is the ONLY day where God did NOT say “it is good”.

Good = well-pleasing, fruitful, morally correct, proper, convenient.

Day Three – Genesis 1:9-13

From this time forward ALL that God makes is “Immediately young but Functionally mature” on the DAY He makes them!

Pangea –

All the waters were gathered into ONE place, letting the dry land appear.
Terra Firma was called “earth”
The gathering of the waters were called seas

God spoke to the dry land

“bring forth grass, herbs and fruit trees
Let them be fully mature…all of them having ALREADY in themselves – seeds which cause reproduction after it’s own genome

Day Four – Genesis 1:14-19

God said, “Let there be….Luminaries”

Technically this is the right term, for it includes both produced and reflected light.

So God creates all Stars (even our Sun), planets, moons, solar systems and galaxies on this day. (IYFM)

“in the firmament” is just one word – Raqiya the words “in the” were added. All this means is that the stars would be visible through the firmament. From man’s perspective they were appear as if they were IN the firmament.

God states His purposes in doing this…

To make a distinction between day and night
To give mankind signs
To mark seasons, days and years – time
For lights

Actually according to the text, the first reason God gave for the stars themselves was for signs…THEN for seasons. I taught you about this a few times in the past, but a quick reference to that information I taught at Christmas time in 2012 and I will link it here – Act I: The Forerunner.

Verse 17 – God set “Nathan” firmament of heaven to give light “ore” shine forth upon the earth.

This can mean many things. If this firmament was the atmosphere – it clear and therefore allows light to travel to the surface (unlike any other planet with an atmosphere). If it means a crystal stretched out – it could imply to magnify. If it was the type of material we’ve discussed it could reveal color and sound as well.

Attention is drawn to the Sun and Moon.

Sun to have authority during the day
Moon to have authority during the night.

Day Five – Genesis 1:20-23

God said, “Let the waters bring forth …” This is VERY much like day 3

God spoke to the water

“bring forth ABUNDANTLY moving and swarming animals that fly
In = upon over, against… open = the face of

God then created abundantly great

tanniyn serpents, dragons & sea monsters
every LIVING thing which creeps, wiggles or glides
all IYFM able to reproduce AFTER THEIR GENOME (no evolution)

God conferred a blessing upon them telling them to reproduce and multiply so as the FILL UP their domains waters for sea dwelling creatures and the earth for birds and insects (this includes Pterodactyls).

…Blessings!

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!