Genesis 2:7-9 (NIV):
7 Then the Lord God formed
a man[a] from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living
being.
8 Now the Lord God had
planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The
Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were
pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the
tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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Man
was formed from dust but God breathed life into him to make him a living being.
When we neglect the breath of God in our lives we neglect our true selves-we
are treasures in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7)-to get to the treasure we
need to come into that place of intimacy with God hence the reference to breath. This is intimacy and connection.
When we fail to get connected to the breath of God through accepting Him
through the LORD and walking in the Spirit, we stay in the place of our
flesh-in the place of temporary perfection and attention-the place of dust. A
place that provides no answers to our questions because it does not hold the
capacity to respond. This is the power of walking in the breath of God.
The
breath of life entered into man's nostrils-through this access he became a living
being.
It
is through our nostrils we breathe-this shows when God touches the place of
your flesh with His Spirit He brings it to life.
We
can stay in the place of being formed-being constantly in battle with the flesh
because the sinful mind is hostile to God (Romans 8:7) or we can come into that
place of intimacy and submission-of surrendering our flesh to His
Spirit-allowing Him to breath life into our nostrils-into our areas of blockage
and challenges to clear it up and allow the breath of life to move freely to
make you into a living being.
God
planted a garden in the east-the sun rises in the east-this means wherever God
has planted you is your area of nourishment and victory-the sun rises in the
east and the garden of Eden was planted in the east so God has planted you where
He intends to prosper you because He has a hope and a future for you (Jer. 29:11).
And this is why He put Adam where he planted the garden. This also told me God
prepares a place for you before He leads you there-the Word says He leads me
beside still waters (Psalm 23:2). He places you in a place of nourishment and
growth for your purpose-for that breath He has planted in your life to move.
And
this is very important-unless and until you submit to the will of God and allow
His breath to move through you-you will not be able to gain access to your
Eden.
Notice
God placed the man He had formed in Eden-and this means God has to prepare you for
your purpose-you must submit to the potter’s touch (Isaiah 64:8).
And
this is why this place of Eden-your place of purpose-is a place that is not
dependent on man’s supply but God’s provision. This is an environment where God
can move freely because you have allowed Him to move through you.
This
is why God made all kinds of trees grow
out of the ground. The trees only grew because God enabled them to do so-in
your place of purpose-you will depend on God not man because God will be your
sole source of provision-your sole source of sustenance; but this starts from
allowing Him to breath life into your nostrils (your flesh) allowing His Spirit
to move through you because the Spirit always gives life. (John 6:63).
Trees
that were both pleasing to the eye and good for food were enabled to grow out
of the ground. This is important-God made the environment submit to His will.
Hence don’t be worried about where your supply is going to come-God will make
provision and pleasure come alive in your life-these trees were not only
pleasing to the eye but also good for food so this is a place of comfort. God
always takes us to a place of comfort.
The
Word says He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies and anoints
my head with oil-my cup overflows-His
anointing on your life causes an overflow. (Psalm 23:5).
We
must come to that place of recognizing He must become greater and I must become
less. (John 3:30).
But
notice something else-in the middle of this place of provision-there was always
a choice. The tree of life-representative of choosing God-because as the Word
says the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I (Jesus) have come that they may have life
and have it abundantly. (John 10:10). But the choice is yours to make each and every time.
Hence
the fact that the trees were placed in the middle.
The
significance of the middle is that it is in between. God does not like us to be
in between-remember the Word tells us in Revelations 3:16 since you are
lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth. This is what it means to be stuck in
the middle-so you must make a choice.
Are
you for God or against Him? (Romans 8:31). You make a choice in your everyday decisions and
actions because faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26).
In
the middle there will always be the tree of life-Jesus Christ-or the tree of knowledge
of good and evil which is symbolic of the world and its logic. But remember: the
wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight-so you must choose wisely. (1 Corinthians 3:19).
In
this place of provision and intimacy in God, there will always be a choice at
the center which is symbolic of your heart-the more you choose God, the more
you submit to a heart of flesh sensitive to His presence (Ezekiel 36:26), the more you cause
your Eden to shine because it remains under His sustenance; but the more you
step away from Him and choose the world’s wisdom and eat from the tree of
knowledge of good and evil-the less you allow God have access to your
happiness-which is why Adam and Eve where driven out of the garden of Eden once they ate that fruit-they had made their choice- and
which is also why the Word says by their
fruit you shall know them. (Matthew 7:16).
So what fruit are you
eating?
God
Bless!