Messages from Pastor Raddatz

OCTOBER 3, 2021, Genesis 2:18-25, Hebrews 2:1-13 and Mark 10:2-16, Mount Olive Houston TX

GOD WANTS ALL PEOPLE TO COME TO HIM, Using all texts

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

God wants all people to come to him, but that is not the way “the World” views it.  In fact, everyone has a view of how the world works.

What is a World view?

A world view refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it. 

It has been said that every adult has a world view.   Whether an individual can articulate it or not, their decisions are made on “how they think the world works”.

Rick Warren, in a 2007 article in Christianity today lists some of the world views:

1. The one with the most toys wins.  
2. I've got to think of me first.  
3. Do what’s comfortable; it’s the worldview that Hugh Hefner founded Playboy magazine on. He willingly acknowledges he is a hedonist.  
4. Whatever works for you.  This worldview says it doesn't matter if it's right or wrong. It doesn't matter if it hurts anybody or not. If it works for you, fine. As that Entertainer, Sly Stone said, "Different strokes for different folks." (smile)
5. God doesn't exist.  This worldview is naturalism or atheism. Naturalists believe that everything in life is a result of random chance. We're all accidents of nature. There is no grand creator or grand design. God either doesn't exist or he doesn't matter.
6. You are your own God. 
7. This worldview, otherwise known as humanism, is very popular in the Western world. It says we are the mastermind of our own fate, the determiner of our destiny. You'll hear this in the new age movement as well: "You're divine. You're a god."

The Bible's answer: Paul says in Rom. 1:25 (NIV): "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped created things rather than the Creator."

Why did God make a “helper” for Adam, Genesis 2:20?

            God is about relationships, John 12:32, “when I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself”

In English, the word help has a broad range of connotations.  Help can refer to a simple, modest act or to something much more significant.  An example of significant help is the assistance and counsel provided by professionals such as doctors or lawyers, etc.  In Hebrew, the word for helper used in Genesis 2:18 and 20, is ezer, and it is always and only used in the Old Testament in the context of vitally important and powerful assistance.  According to R. David Freedman, the word ezer is a combination of two roots, meaning “to rescue, to save”, and” strength”.[2]

Ezer is used only 21 times in the Old Testament.  Twice it is used to refer to Eve, 3 times it is used to refer to nations that provided military assistance to Israel, and the other 16 times it is used in reference to God as a helper.  All of these verses are talking about a vital, powerful and rescuing kind of help; yet when ezer is applied to the first woman, Eve, its meaning has been diminished to fit with traditional and cultural views of women’s roles.

In Exodus 18:4 it says that Moses named one of his sons Eliezer, which in Hebrew means: “God is my helper”.  This verse goes on to explain why Moses named his son Eliezer: not because God had done Moses’ laundry (no disrespect intended), but because God had delivered Moses from Pharaoh’s sword!

Ezer describes aspects of God’s character – he is our strength, our rescuer, our protector and our help!  And ezer was the Holy Spirit’s choice of word to describe the first woman.  Eve was someone who would provide valuable and vital strength and assistance to Adam.   (1st of November 2010; Margaret Mowczko)

Our comfort is in God who became flesh and who is the one who understands our world.

God helps us through Jesus, See Hebrews 2:1-13, John 1:14, Jeremiah 9:23-24

            Hebrews 2:9, “…Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

John, “…the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

Jeremiah, “…but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me,…”

The Good News is that as broken and undependable people can be “God is faithful”.  God left his heavenly throne and put on flesh.  God allowed Jesus to take the punishment that we deserved for our sins, so that we are free of any condemnation.  He who was Spirit chose to enter the world he created, but knew was so sadly broken, so God could make peace with us.

God does not want us to “hinder” anyone from coming to him, Mark 10:14

For of such is the kingdom of God: Children are not only for blessing; they are also examples of how we must enter the kingdom with a childlike faith, not with a childish faith. We must come to God with a faith that trusts God just like a little child trusts his father – and leave all the problems up to daddy.

The emphasis isn’t that children are humble and innocent, because sometimes they aren’t. But the emphasis is on the fact that children will receive and don’t feel they have to earn everything they get. Children are in a place where often all they can do is receive. They don’t refuse gifts out of self-sufficient pride. So we must receive the kingdom of God as a little child – because we surely will by no means enter it by what we do or earn. -David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible

C.S. Lewis said that Christ “wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim”.  C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1943; rprt., San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001), 77.

You are going to serve someone.  Who will you serve?  Will you serve your view of the world where the one who wins has the most toys…, or will you be among people as one who serves?  Service is God’s view of how things work in his world.  

Even if all fail you God will not fail you.  Work with this blessing from 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”   NIV  

May this peace which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting, Amen

Your Fellow Servant, in Christ,

Pastor John Raddatz