(Genesis) Genesis 1:6-8
God's creation of the firmament demonstrates His power and creativity in dividing the waters above from the waters below.
In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the firmament as mentioned in the Bible. They explain that the firmament refers to the space or air between the waters above and below. The speaker mentions that there are three heavens mentioned in Scripture: the birds of heaven, the stars of heaven, and the third heaven where God dwells. They also mention that God divided the waters above from the waters below, creating the firmament. The sermon emphasizes the power and control of God over the elements, using examples of heavy rainfall in different locations to illustrate the abundance of water.
Full Transcript
Now, verse 6, And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Now, this firmament is Ruat, it's these air spaces, and God divided the waters from the waters. What does that mean? Well, He divided the waters first perpendicularly.
There's water above us, water beneath us. Out in the Hawaiian Islands, when we were out there last year, did you know that five inches of rain fell in Honolulu in just a very short time? I started to say a few minutes, and I think I'm accurate on that. But they told us that over 200 inches of rain falls in a place where we were.
My friend, there's a whole lot of water if there's 200 inches of it that can get above you like that. Well, that's what God did. God divided the waters above from the waters that are beneath, and God called the firmament heaven.
Now, this is not heaven as you and I think of it. There are three heavens that are mentioned in Scripture. The Lord Jesus spoke of the birds of heaven.
I think that's what you have here. The heaven is mentioned here. And then there's the stars of heaven.
And then there's the third heaven where he dwells. And so the first layer up there, the first deck, is the deck where there are clouds, and where the birds fly also. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Sermon Outline
- The Creation of the Firmament
- The Firmament is Not the Final Heaven
- The Creation of the Firmament is a Miracle
- God's power is demonstrated in the creation of the firmament
- The first heaven is the atmosphere where birds fly
Key Quotes
“There's water above us, water beneath us.” — J. Vernon McGee
“God divided the waters above from the waters that are beneath, and God called the firmament heaven.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We can trust in God's power and creativity in all aspects of life.
- The creation story reminds us of God's sovereignty over the world and its elements.
- The firmament serves as a reminder of God's separation between good and evil, light and darkness.