God wanted man to have his image
The 1st thing God gave man was his image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)”Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, ….27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
To be made in God’s image means that man resembles God and is an exact likeness of Him.
God wanted man to be in his presence.
The 2nd thing God did once he created man, was to place them in His presence.
The meaning of Eden in Hebrew is presence.
In scripture Ede refers to a place of God’s presence.
God gave man his nature and then put Him in His presence.
God wanted man to be in his presence.
God is more concerned about our fellowship with Him, than any thing else.
Man’s Ideal Environment
When God planned what man would be (spirit) and how man would function (by faith), He also determined where man would live (his ideal environment).
Genesis 3:8 (NKJV) “And they heard the [a]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day”
Eden was the place of God’s presence on earth.
Your ideal environment is nothing more and nothing less than the presence of God.
Man’s disobedience towards God separated them from God.
Genesis 3:23 (NLT) “So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden.
Now we have to work hard to get into God’s presence.
Death is the absence of God’s presence in our life’s.
Romans 5:6-10 (NLT) “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
God came to our rescue because He want His family back.
Restoring our relationship with God has been God’s plan for us.
The question arises, now how do we practise the presence of God?
God’s goal is to get us back into his presence.
Everything Jesus did was to get God’s presence back into man’s experience.
Throughout the Bible man’s effort to get God’s presence back into man’s life is evident.
God’s people built altars to prepare a place for the presence.
Noah
Genesis 8:21 (NLT) “And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.”
Abraham
Genesis 12:7 (NLT) “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.[a]” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
Moses
Exodus 33:12-15 (NLT) “One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” 14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” 15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.
David
2 Samuel 24:14 (NLT) “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”
Psalm 51:10-12 (NKJV) “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
Praise is what changes your environment
The blessing of Judah is in his name, which is based on the Hebrew word yadah.
Yadah means “to revere or worship with extended hands, “to make confession”, “to give thanks, thankful thanksgiving”
Judah’s name is literally a word of praise.
Praise what attracts God.
What can we learn from Judah?
The hand of praise will be on the neck of your enemies.
Genesis 49:8 (NLT) “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you.
Praise shall go first.
Judges 20:18 (NLT) “Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah (Praise) is to go first.”
Praise is God’s authority and power.
Psalm 108:8b (NLT) Judah (Praise), my scepter, will produce my kings.
In praise God is known.
Psalm 76:1 (NKJV) “In Judah (Praise) God is known; His name is great in Israel.”
Praise is God’s dwelling place.
Psalm 114:2 (ESV) Judah (Praise) became his sanctuary,
Praise is how you come to know God.
Praise is God’s dwelling place.
Praise is your access, your key into the presence of God.
Praise God
1 Chronicles 29:20 (NLT) “Then David said to the whole assembly, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” And the entire assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and the king.”
Psalm 106:1 (NLT) “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 117:1 (NLT) “Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
Psalm 150:6 (NLT) “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 37:4 (ESV) “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.