Philippians 1:29

Paul is in prison.
Timothy continues to serve with him.
Philippian believers are on the road to struggle and persecution.
And Paul is encouraging them to stand firm in Christ amidst their opposition.
How encourging...

'For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him...'

'granted' - charizomai (gk) - to give permission, to authorize, allow

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, it's only because God has allowed your eyes and ears and heart and mind to be opened to the Truth.
Yes, He wants all of His creation to know Him.
No, they won't all want to know Him.
Through your willingness to seek Him no matter how broken hearted, bitter or angry towards Him you might be, He knows you and me and every person on earth and opens us up to understanding His Word according to His time and plan.

In the same way that He gives us permission to believe and trust in Jesus...He allows us to suffer.
He allows us to believe in Jesus for eternal love and life. And allows us to suffer like Him on earth.

He doesn't just allow it really, He authorizes it, He permits it.
He's pretty much saying that if you're willing to follow the Messiah, the Savior of the world Jesus...then you and I must be willing to suffer in some way as well, some of us in more extreme ways than others...some even to death.

Paul was confident that God would continue to work in their lives through good and bad (1:6) and because they knew God would never stop working in them (2:13) they should continue working out their own salvation (2:12) living a life worthy of Christ (1:27), living, acting, thinking and speaking with His attitude (2:5).

What other gifts do we need?
He's given us the greatest gifts a believer could ask for:
1) to believe in Jesus
2) to live like Him (includes suffering)

We're allowed to be like Christ.

LWBC: Figs & Furs 2

The Garden of Eden, a sort of Heaven on earth, was the place that YHVH (God) had set apart for Himself and His favorite creation, man and woman.

Isaiah called this place the 'garden of the Lord' where joy and gladness and thanksgiving and singing are found. Pretty much he's saying it's freakin awesome place to be (Isaiah 51:3).This is the place on earth God created to dwell (live). He created man in this Garden to live with Him in perfection and joy...

This Garden is a type of Holy Temple created in nature. The Garden itself is like the Holy of Holies (where the Ark is kept remember?) and Eden, which is in Mesopotamia, is like the Holy Place (candles, incense, bread...).

You see, most ancient Mesopotamian cultures had creation stories of their own. Some, like the Sumerian 'island of Dilmun', have their own versions of paradise on earth similar to the Garden. However, in the Sumerian version the god Enki has to figure out how to teach the people and animals they just made how to function: eat, sleep, work, talk, think...(An imperfect creator is not a god I want to follow)

My point is - the original audience reading the words of Genesis almost 4000 years ago would have seen the Garden as Heaven on earth. In the same way you know that Yellowstone National Park is a real place out West, the Hebrews reading this story would have pictured the Garden of Eden out East of them. We should too.

I can picture God walking through His Garden with His people, barefoot. A mighty river feeding the land. Fruit trees and vegetables and wildlife flourishing. Trees of Life and Knowledge growing in the center. Life is good, healthy, growing abundantly and stinkin' awesome! God is enjoying His time with His creation.

Take a moment and read Genesis 1-2.

Now go to the end of the Bible and read Revelation 22:1-5.

Isn't it awesome how the beautiful Temple in Heaven described in Revelation, the final home for all of those who have faith and believe in Jesus, is similar to the Garden. The river of life, the trees and the abundance of fruit and crops and health for all in perfection, 'No longer will there be any curse (sin).' His people will be with Him just like in the Garden and this time forever!

Alright - so we still haven't made our way to Adam and Eve and Figs and Furs...but we will! I just want you to understand how incredible the environment is that Adam and Eve are in when we get to their horrible decision to screw it all up.

You should walk away from here today realizing that the Garden wasn't just a Garden...it was a Holy Place showing us that from the very beginning of creation God has eternity planned out and that eternity is with those He loves dearly.