FIRST SERMON

Text: Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Intro: This is the first sermon ever preached to lost sinners. The preacher was God and it was to a congregation of TWO.
His text on that occasion shall be ours today. His points shall be the ones we shall ponder. His solution is the one we shall present.

I Eliminate the negative
A. He did NOT ask, “ Where are you in relation to society?” They were the sum total of society at that time! In this context there are still no others. There is none but YOU and GOD!

B. Nor was He concerned with the ‘harmony’ between Adam and Eve. (Were they getting along with each other? Adam’s desire for ‘harmony, (pleasing Eve) was what got him into this mess!)
God help anyone who would go against God to please ANY other human being.

C. He was not asking for His own enlightenment; He knew the answer.
The purpose of this message in NOT to gather data for God, but to cause US to see where we are in relation to Him.

II What led to the predicament?
A. Listening to the devil’s subtlety
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
1. He is STILL deceiving
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
2. He is STILL a liar, though sometimes a sanctimonious one.
Jno 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

B. Letting lust take root and bear fruit
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

C. They DID NOT ASK COUNSEL FROM GOD BEFORE SETTING THEIR COURSE! Have you?
1. Sinner, Have you asked God as to the wisdom of putting off salvation?
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

Lu 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:

II Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation
2. Backslider, Have you discussed your present spiritual condition with God?
I Jno. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. You who have been putting off surrendering your life, have you talked it over with Him? Is He pleased?
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
4. Church Member, did you seek the will of God before you let something come between you and service to Him?
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Pro 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

III Where ARE You?.
A. You are totally exposed to God’s all-seeing eye
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Jno 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
All your fig-leaf excuses are to no avail! You cannot refuse to answer when God calls.
Job 14:15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

B. Your relationship with God will affect your whole family.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Jno 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

C. Your relationship with God will affect YOUR daily life in the world.
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

D. Your relationship with God will affect the way you face death!
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(The last time I talked to Mr. Thompson, we didn’t know his casket was waiting for him in the back room of the funeral home! Yours and mine may well be waiting for us now!

E. God cares about where you are and whatever your relationship with Him, He has the answer. Let Him provide it for you.
Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Mat 6:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?