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1:30That are to come upon planet Earth. And the environmental changes are really something that comes about because of a condition of man's heart. You know, there's a connection that I want to bring before you, a biblical connection, or there's a connection that the Bible makes between the condition of your heart and the world that you live in. We often hear that we are a product of our environment, correct? That we all, well, in the large scale, we're an evolutionary product of our environment, that there's our environment, and then our environment produces something. And even as we grow up, you hear, sociologically speaking, we are products of our environment, and so much so that if there's something wrong with me or thee, it's society's fault because that was the environment that created us or shaped us. But you know, the Bible tells us something different, or gives us certainly a very different perspective. It actually tells us the opposite. The environment is a product of people, not people, a product of their environment. And I want to show that to you tonight. The world is a product, the world in which We live in is the product of the human heart. Or let me say this: it is an environment that is fitting for the condition of the human heart. God changes, shapes, puts humanity in an environment that is fitting for the condition of his heart. I just want to start in Genesis and look at this: this connection between the condition of man's heart and how it impacts the environment in which God gives him to live in. And then I'm going to look at that on a macro level, on a large-scale level. It's a clear principle in Scripture. But then I want to look at it more on a personal level. The Bible has much to say about how the condition of our hearts and the people that we are really shapes the environment around us. So that's what I want to do tonight. Just you and I really are not so much a product of our environment as much as our environments are a product of the condition of our hearts. And I want to bring that out tonight. But just think on a large scale. If you go back to Genesis 1, Genesis 1.

4:30Genesis 1 and 2 tell us about God's design for the universe and the purpose for the universe. The universe itself was created for man. Man was God's chief creation. And the world that we see and all it contains was the environment for God's chief created, creative work, and that was man, male and female. Man. This was his image-bearer. Everything else was created to support this monumental task of God, the invisible God, producing his image-bearer. Genesis 1, verse 26, God says, Let us make man in our image according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and over the cattle, and over the earth, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God created man in his own image. In the image of God, he created him, male and female. He created them. And God said, God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply. Multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea. And so he creates man, and he puts man, innocent man, man without sin. He puts his creation in this Eden paradise. And that's what we read in Genesis 1 and how God made everything, and it was good, and it was teeming, and it was life, and it was pristine, and it was beautiful.

6:34And for innocent man, Eden paradise was fitting. In fact, Genesis 2:16, God tells Adam, the Lord commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may freely eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it, you will surely die. So he created this Eden paradise. He puts his image-bearers in that paradise. And it's like he says, Look, go do whatever you want. Just don't sin. Don't eat from this tree. But you, go, take your wife, explore creation, delight in creation. This creation that is before you will produce for you everything you need. It will gladly produce all your needs. So that you can spend your days enjoying the creation that I have made, so that you can spend the days enjoying, walking in unison with your God and with each other. That was the environment that they lived in.

7:46And it was fitting for innocent man and for God's purposes there. But then something happens. You know, innocent man becomes fallen man. Genesis 3:17. Then to Adam, God said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat from it, cursed is the ground because of you. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you, and you will eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your brow.

8:37You will eat bread till you return to the ground, because from it you are taken, for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Notice there's an environmental change to his environment directly related to the condition of Adam's heart, thorns and thistles. Are now going to show up. The world itself environmentally changed because of the corruption that was in the heart of man. You see, God gave man an environment fitting for the condition of his heart.

9:24For fallen man, a cursed ground was fitting. Because there is evil in his heart, he was going to go his own way and do his own thing. It was fitting for man to spend more time just getting by. Instead of spending his days exploring and enjoying creation in his innocence and enjoying fellowship with his creator, he must pull weeds. His life is going to have to spend much more time just getting by. You see how for fallen man, the cursed ground is fitting. God put him and gave him an environment that was suited to the condition of his heart. Well, this pattern continues. As you go through Scripture, you come to Genesis chapter 6, and what happens? There's a flood.

10:27Do you remember that in Genesis? Chapter 6, verse 5, it says, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. So there were still thorns and thistles, but now man has increased in wickedness to such a great degree. Up until this time, you're reading of people living 900 years. And then God says, you know what? His time is going to be 120 years in verse 3.

11:10I know there's an interpretive debate whether that's saying he's going to be 120 years left and then the flood's coming or that man is going to have 120 years. That's going to be his lifespan. But there is no question that the environment so changed pre and post-flood that you start seeing the span of life's man, the span of man's life being 100 years, 120, shorter, and getting shorter. You see, for post-flood, a great, greatly shortened lifespan was fitting. A new environment, post-Noaic flood. Man had. Short. So there's still thorns, there's still thistles, but now he has a lot less time. Do you see what's happening? God is giving an environment for mankind that is fitting for the condition of his heart.

12:21Well, then you come to Babel. What happens there? You remember at this time they're all speaking the same language. They're all one voice, one able to communicate. And then what do they do with this oneness? In Genesis 11:4 says, they said, Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower whose top will reach into heaven. And let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. In defiance to God's command to go and spread out, they congregate. They elevate themselves, a tower into heaven, to make a name for themselves. And so, what does God do?

13:03Confuses their languages. This is a change in man's environment. Now, for post-Babel man, a divided socio-economic, geopolitical humanity is fitting. Since when they come together, They oppose God, so now there's going to be a different environmental aspect to man's world. Still thorns, still thistles, shortened time, but difficulty speaking to one another. Division among the peoples, competition now with each other for territory, for Earth's resources. And you get the table of the nations. And this is the world we live in today: this post-babel world.

14:14And then, as you make your way through Revelation, as we are doing, and we will do the last days, there's another great environmental change that's coming. We see this in the seals and the trumpets and the bowls. They all speak of geophysical changes that impact man's environment. And what's going to happen as the babble, as the people come back together in oneness again, in consolidating their mind and their powers to oppose God, evil intentions will increase.

15:01And what we see in God's judgment in the seals and trumpets and bowls is a corresponding resistance in the environment to cooperate. God still allows evil to run its course, but it's met with a lot more frustration. Nature isn't cooperating with evil man. It's still our Father's world. And God is giving them an environment that is fitting for their hearts, even to the point of turning the sea into blood. The sun, I mean, it's like all they have left is just very little, little strength, little energy in terms of what's been taken from them. And what do they do with what they have? They still oppose God to the very, very end. And the environment in which God gives them in the last days is fitting for that hard-hearted man.

16:25And then following the last days, we come to the millennium. Another time of great environmental change. And it too is a reflection of an environment fitting for the condition of man's heart. What's going to take place? Let me read to you in Isaiah 65, beginning in verse 19. At that time, keep in mind, in this millennia, after the last days, Satan is bound. The saints have returned with Christ and are ruling with him. And there is still, sin is still present, death is still present. And that's clear when you read Isaiah 65, 19. Listen to this. I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. And there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. No longer will there be an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days. For the youth will die at the age of 100. They're still death, but they're living much longer. And one who does not reach the age of 100 will be thought accursed. I mean, today it's the opposite. If you make it to 100, wow, that's a pretty good run. That's a blessed run. Here, it's like this.

18:00Point in history. Verse 21, they will build houses and inhabit them. They will also plant vineyards and eat the fruit. They will not build and another inhabit. They will not plant and another eat. For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of my people. And my chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain or bear children for calamity. For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord and their descendants with them. It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. And then, verse 25, listen to this: the wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox, and the dust will be the serpent's food. They will do no evil or harm in all my holy mountain, says the Lord. So again, there is this time.

18:59This, and by the way, the millennium. I don't know why all the reasons God has for the millennium, but it's clear in Scripture that He has it. But it is a microcosm of the eternal state. It is that transition into the eternal state, and God has purposes for it. And so there is this transition. But the point I'm making, as you study the scriptures that speak about the millennium, again, there is an environmental change. That with the righteous in power, atmospheric conditions, just a reading of Isaiah 65, atmospheric conditions return to a state of fruitfulness. Changes are evident even in the animal relationships. All that.

20:03And then, of course, as we come to that eternal state where Satan is cast into the lake of fire. The great white throne, a judgment, has occurred. And even death itself has been killed. I could use that. A separation to separation, death to death, that has occurred. And then in this eternal state, there is this new heavens, this new earth, this new Jerusalem. And in Revelation 22:3, it says, There will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his bondservants will serve him. They will see him. His face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them, and they will reign forever and ever. So you have no sin, no death, no curse. New heavens, new earth, new Jerusalem, eternal state. And you need an eternity to delight in God, to delight in his new creation. This is what we call heaven.

21:40Now, but again, you see this pattern of God-giving man, glorified man, when he puts us into that perfect, eternal, glorified state of union with him, where sin is now impossible, separation from him is impossible. That now we're ready to enjoy. And the environment, now, you don't have an environment that's frustrating, that's opposing. It's fitting, fitting. And that's what heaven is. And God's work in the gospel is transforming mankind. You read it from Genesis to Revelation, drawing out a humanity.

22:30That he is going to give this environment new heavens, new earth. Of course, it has to begin in the heart, a change. Paul's summary of this relationship is: Paul had insight into this as he's looking at the world around him, explaining, understanding very much with the mind saturated in Old Testament theology, recognizing who Christ was. He put it all together, and he says this in Romans 8:16. Looking forward to that day, that eternal state when we will put on the new, when we will be confirmed in holiness, in that eternal state. Romans 8:16, he says, The Spirit Himself testifies with our Spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Creation waits. Isn't that interesting? Creation itself is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation of the Creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. That creation itself has been subjected to frustration and longs to be brought into that state of glory which is consistent with the freedom and glory that is associated with the children of God. And he goes on to say in verse 22: For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

25:03So Paul put it together and understood it. So you get this picture, and really all I'm trying to say in all of this is that there is a connection between the condition of man's heart, mankind's heart, and the environment that God places him in. He gives him an environment that is fitting for the condition of his heart. And as you read through this, that's on a macro level. But when you think about this on a micro level, there is so much the Bible has to say about the environment that is fitting, that we are in, and how the condition of our hearts impacts the environment in which we live in. Obviously, when a person comes to Christ, there is a change, a spiritual change that takes place. And God starts dealing with that person and leading him and sanctifying him, bringing him into the church, bringing him in and putting him or her into an environment that is consistent with a believer and growth. But let me just take a few moments just to show you a few places. I'm not going to probably not be able to get to all the ones I have here, but just let's talk for a moment about the home of the lazy man in Proverbs. Let's just talk about the lazy man. Proverbs has a lot to say about this. Proverbs 24:30 says this: I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense.

27:00And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it. I looked and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then your poverty will come as a robber, and your want like an armed man. God says, you know, you reap what you sow. And this is a sluggard. The environment fitting for a sluggard is one of non-productivity. In fact, the lazy man creates an environment of atrophy, atrophy, poverty, and want. I mean, this is the person who just likes to chill or chill more than he should. Let's put it that way. But here is the environment, the home of the lazy man. Proverbs has a lot to say about how the spiritual condition of this individual impacts the environment around, or how God puts him in that environment, gives him what is due. Because of the condition of his heart, here is the world. You can see it, his thristles, overgrown. You can see it.

28:31Kind of looks like my garden, come to think. But anyway, it's not because I'm lazy in other things, it's just I don't get to that. So that could be an indication, right, of somebody being busy with other things. But anyway, listen to this. He's got a close neighbor. Proverbs 23, 19 says, Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Do not be heavy drinkers of wine or gluttons, gluttonous eaters of meat. For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags. So this environment that's fitting for a sluggard is also fitting similarly for the glutton, for the drunken. Now, contrast with the home of the righteous man described in Proverbs and Psalms and other places. But Psalm 37, 25 says this: I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing. What a contrast to the lazy man. The righteous man lends, he's gracious, his descendants are a blessing. Proverbs 13, 22 says, A good man leads. An inheritance to his children's children.

30:04You see, the righteous man is a man who wants to walk in God's ways and is learning how. And there's an environment that's fitting for him, and God rewards. Now, think about the difference between the worlds by the way one responds to discipline and reproof. Proverbs has a lot to say about that. The worlds, how do you respond to discipline and reproof? It creates two very different worlds. Proverbs 13:18 says, Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline. That's going to be the environment. That's going to be what comes out of poverty and shame will come out, will come to him who neglects discipline. But he who regards reproof will be honored. The one who takes, accepts discipline and accepts reproof.

31:10Proverbs 13:20 says, This, he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 10:8, the wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined. You see, the One environment, one world is shaped by one who responds well to discipline and reproof, and the one who neglects discipline and reproof, a whole different world, ruin, harm. Think about the generous. Listen to how listen to the world or the environment that is created, that God makes fitting or the fitting environment for the generous. I mean, for the generous. Listen to Proverbs 3:9. Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce, so that your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. You see that? The generous, the one who is first generous to God, God gives him an environment fitting for him. And listen, I want to avoid the extremes of prosperity gospel. I'm not saying anything that says that God's purpose in salvation is to make you fat, rich, monetarily. But let me say this: the gospel does fill, satisfy, in a way that goes beyond anything that material sustenance can give. But I also don't want to neglect what Scripture is clearly saying here.

33:01The one who honors God with his wealth, and from the first of all, guess what? His barns end up with plenty. Why? Because that's an environment fitting for the generous. If you are generous, God wants you to be generous. There is a connection. Malachi, or Proverbs 22:9 says this, He who is generous will be blessed, for He gives some of His food to the poor. The heart of one who wants to share, guess what? God likes to give.

33:39Malachi 3:10 says, This, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and test me. Now, in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows, then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes. There are environmental effects that God is bringing up on the one who is generous to him. There is a world created.

34:22And it's not that we've got this karma energy or something like that, and we go do this, and we bring this in the room and we create this. No, it's. There's a fitting. There's an environment that is fitting for the heart that God creates. The way of the sinner is hard, frustration. The world isn't going to cooperate long term. Listen to on the spiritual level. I can talk about so many examples. Let's just talk for a moment on the spiritual level. Let's talk about the world that is fitting for an unkind person. Hopefully, this isn't you. But there is a world.

35:15You create, when you come in and you can't help but impact your world around you. Proverbs 17, 13 says this: He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. What kind of a home is fitting for the one who goes around doing evil when people are good to them and he does evil in return to them? The world fitting, the home fitting for such an unkind person is that evil will always be present with him. That's the environment. That is a fitting for such a person.

36:00Listen to the world on the opposite end, the world of the kind and the truthful. Listen to what God has to say about those who pursue righteousness and kindness. Proverbs 3:3 says this: Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. I was wondering why Jesus grew in favor with God and man. There's a statement here, similar concept: Do not let kindness and truth leave you, and you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.

36:56This is what it says in Proverbs 22:11. He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious, the king will be his friend. There's a world that gracious speech, truth, purity fosters, and that God is pleased to place us in. Psalm 145, 17 says this: The Lord is righteous in all his ways. And kind in all his deeds. So you can imagine God is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his deeds. And guess what? If this is the condition of your heart, guess what? This God wants you to run in that lane. Let's give you an opportunity to do that.

37:56Well, I selected some examples. There's many more. And maybe I didn't choose the best examples, but there are many, many more examples of how the condition of our heart affects. And there's a direct link between the condition of our heart and the environment that God places us in. And so, graciousness. Walk in God's righteousness. Walk in God's graciousness and be gracious. It reaps a world fitting for grace. Walk in wickedness and you will reap a world fitting for wickedness, difficulties.

39:04Proverbs 3:33 says, The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. So, what is the spiritual condition of your heart? And don't fail to associate the spiritual condition of your heart and the things that God has brought into your life. And tonight is a night. If you're saying, you know what, I've been walking in a way cursed by God, and I am seeing that all around me, maybe today, let today be the day that you go from cursed to blessed. And you do that by coming to Christ, putting your faith and trust in Him. For there is the humanity that God delights in. And He delights in those who are joined to His Son and who are being transformed into His image. And one day, He is going to put them in that eternal state with Him. Glorified, new heavens, new earth, no curse, no death. And that's the environment that He has to get started with eternity. So let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you. And Father, we just ask you to stir our hearts, stir our minds to a closer walk and love and appreciation for you. And Father, we just see that this is your world and that you have given us a place, you've given us time and space, Father, so that we might... draw close to you, that you might draw close to us, that we might be close, that we might be in union with you, and that as we turn away from our darkness and into your light, Father, whole new vistas open up, whole new ways of life, whole new relationships and ways of living and peace and everything, Father, just what a blessing it is to be called out and to walk in your light. Thank you, Lord. Go with us now and bless the week ahead for your glory in Christ's name. Amen.