The Unique Role of Adam’s Rib in Family Creation -

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes Why did God use one of Adam’s bones? Why not a piece of Adam’s heart, or a piece of his brain? The rib bone is special. It’s the only bone in the human body capable of regenerating itself. Adam’s woman/wife, Adam’s children, Adam’s family, and Adam’s posterity were created from a special place within Adam – Adam’s rib.

FATHER’S DAY
By Pastor Delbert Young

Adam’s Rib

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Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

Scriptures: Ephesians 6:2-3, Genesis 2:22, Luke 11:2, 1 John 3:1, Genesis 2:18-20, Genesis 2:21-22

Welcome to Father’s Day at Life Gate Church. The fifth commandment says. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exo 20:12). Jesus verified this as an eternal truth (Mat 15:4). The Apostle Paul verified this as a New Testament truth.

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU AND THAT YOU MAY ENJOY LONG LIFE ON THE EARTH.”

So, let’s get some things going well in our lives and ensure our length of life. If you’re a father, please stand to your feet and allow us to honor you. Remain standing. Now everyone else, if you had at least one father, please stand to honor them. Be seated.

I want to talk to you today about fathers. I’m titling my talk “Adam’s Rib.”

Genesis 2:22 Then the LORD God made a woman FROM THE RIB HE HAD TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, and HE BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN.

Why did God use one of Adam’s bones – Adam’s rib? Why not a piece of Adam’s heart, or a piece of his brain? The rib bone is special. Bone marrow produces red and white blood and stem cells all necessary for life. The rib is the only bone in the human body capable of regenerating itself and is used for bone graphs on other bones of the body. It’s a special bone. Adam’s woman/wife, Adam’s children, Adam’s family, and Adam’s posterity were created from a special place within Adam.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

One day Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely. God asked Adam, “What is wrong with you?” Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to. God said, “I’m going to give you a companion. It will be a woman. This woman will cook for you and wash your clothes. She will always agree with every decision you make. Also, she will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. Furthermore, she will never nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you disagree. Moreover, she will never have a headache, and will constantly give you love and compassion whenever needed. But Adam, she will cost you.” Adam asked, “What will she cost me?” God said, “An arm, a leg, an eye, and an ear.”

Adam thought a moment and said, “Well, what can I get for a rib?”

Isn’t this the problem today?

Men are not willing to give the special requirements necessary to experience the wife, children, family, and posterity they desire. “How much can I get for this?” Can I tell you, sir, you are getting what you are giving? God took Adam’s rib.

Adam stayed out very late for a few nights. Eve became upset. “You´re running around with other women,” she accused. “Eve, honey, you’re unreasonable,” Adam responded. “You know you´re the only woman on earth.” They quarreled until Adam fell asleep, but he was awakened by Eve poking him in the torso. “What are you doing?” Adam asked. Eve said, “I’m counting your ribs.” Sometimes we men are willing to give other things the special part inside rather than give it to our wives, children, family, and posterity. God took Adam’s rib.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

From a special place within Adam, Adam became a husband, became a father, and came his future generations. Sir, it’s from a special place within you your wife is created, your children are created, your family is created, and your posterity will come forth. From a special place within you comes the necessary material to regenerate life. God took Adam’s rib. From a special place within, you become a good or poor husband, father, or grandfather. Adam’s rib had everything to do with Adam’s wife, his being a husband, and his being a father. Sir, what’s inside you and me has everything to do with our being the husband we become, the father we become, and our posterity comes.

I honestly don’t know how many wedding ceremonies I’ve performed over my thirty-plus years of ministry.

I will stand a few feet away from the happy couple thinking, “You don’t have a clue!” Attempting to tell them would not help. There is only a certain amount premarital counseling and reading books about marriage can do. It’s like being told how to swim or drive. Sooner or later you must get into the water or get behind the wheel and experience it.

Next Sunday, Judy and I will celebrate our forty-ninth wedding anniversary. We didn’t have a clue what we were getting into and it was a good thing. I don’t think she would have married me had she known. Love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener. As challenging (to her) as our forty-nine years have been, both of us are happy with what our marriage regenerated. We have two amazing children who have wonderful spouses. They both enjoy good healthy marriages giving us four remarkable grandsons in our posterity.

Marriage is a challenge even for people who remain in love with one another. Being a father is a challenge. Today, a good father and a healthy marriage are the exception and not the rule. Many young people today do not believe a lifelong marriage is possible. “Marriage is holy because God is holy and marriage comes from God.” Also, being a father is holy because God is holy, and being a good father comes from God. Sir, your wife wants you to serve Jesus. Your children want you to serve Jesus. They want you to be a righteous, holy man and give them a righteous example.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

God has a fixation about being a good father.

Of all the names Jesus could have given us to address God – Elohim, El, El Shaddai, Lord, Jehovah, etc. Jesus said the name God prefers to be called above all others is Father.

Luke 11:2 …WHEN YE PRAY, SAY, OUR FATHER which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

The concept of “father” is God’s idea. God has a fixation with fatherhood. In fact, the entire plan of redemption – Jesus dying on the cross, being buried, and resurrected – was God getting his children and his family back after the fall of man (first Adam / last Adam 1Co 15:45).

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called CHILDREN OF GOD! AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE!

Marriage, a man being a good husband, being a good father, family, and leaving a godly posterity is central and primary to God.

When I look at my life, my successes, and my accomplishments, nothing is more fulfilling than knowing I was an exceptional father. I haven’t done everything exceptionally in life, but when it came to being a father I was exceptional. Having an exceptional wife (rib) is my secret. I want to give you seven things only coming from a special place inside you a man must do to be an exceptional father. We will spend ninety-nine percent of our remaining time on the first two and only a few minutes on the last five.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

Study and Apply the Owner’s Manual.

When you acquire something precious, i.e., a nice automobile, big truck, big screen television, etc. you should study the owner’s manual. Fathering comes with an owner’s manual, and nothing is more precious to a man than his wife and children. The owner’s manual is the Word of God. A father who will follow the instructions in the owner’s manual will be an exceptional father.

Every man will not be a father, and every man does not need to be a father, but the fact is most men will father a child, but how many of those will be exceptional fathers? The number one reason a father is not an exceptional father is he did not study and apply the manual.

Give His Rib.

Let’s get some insight from Adam’s rib.

Genesis 2:18-20 The LORD God said, “IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE. I will make a HELPER SUITABLE for him.” Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no SUITABLE HELPER was found.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

God spoke this in the Garden of Eden in a world none of us have ever experienced – a perfect world, a world without sin. But notice, even in paradise man is lonely if alone. Sir, no matter what paradise you have, you will be lonely without a suitable helper.

God gave man something to do even in paradise. A good father will work. Every able man has something to do and to do it well a father needs “a helper suitable for him.” Men need a lot of help. To experience the best possible life, a man must realize he must have a helper suitable for him. No animal, bird, reptile, garden or occupation will satisfy a man. Unless a helper suitable for him was acquired, Adam would live forever but be forever alone and lonely.

God made the “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” statement. Wouldn’t you think the next sentence would say something like, “So God created woman”? Instead, God paraded all the beasts and birds before Adam. What’s this about? God was training man to be a lover. Adam saw how Mr. and Mrs. Ape and Mr. and Mrs. Wolf mated for life. He saw how Mr. and Mrs. Eagle and Mr. and Mrs. Lovebird mated for life. Even Mr. and Mrs. Termite and Mr. and Mrs. Cockroach mate for life. Adam learned his need of a mate for life. Next, we read of the strange event.

Genesis 2:21-22 SO the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, HE TOOK ONE OF THE MAN’S RIBS and closed up the place with flesh. THEN THE LORD GOD MADE A WOMAN FROM THE RIB he had taken OUT OF THE MAN, and he brought her to the man.

Here is the solution. God took something special out of Adam – a rib and some flesh. Adam will say, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” The point is to be an exceptional father a man needs a woman who is a part of him – the essence of him – who can and will help him, his children, and his family do what he is incapable of doing. The reason God created woman is because man is incapable of doing life alone. The solution was a woman, not another man, not his hunting buddies, golf buddies, drinking buddies, etc.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

God walked Adam’s rib down the aisle as a father walked his daughter. When a man is willing to give his rib and flesh – give from the special place inside – God brings him back someone created specifically for him.

Give Affection.

Why is it so difficult for a father to say to his children, “I love you”? Do you know most men have never said to their children, “I love you”? A father needs to hug his children. I was listening to a preacher talk about this, and he said, “My father never hugged me.” It broke my heart. “Delbert, my children know I love them.” Perhaps they do, but they need to hear you say it, and they need to feel it.

Give Acceptance.

A father should never belittle his wife or his children. Never say you are not smart enough, or not pretty enough, or not good enough. Tell each how proud you are of them. Tell them they gave it their best and that is all you could ask. So many mothers and children feel rejection from the very person they most need acceptance. You, sir, have the power of regeneration.

Give Attention.

Attention means you spend time with your family. It’s during this time you assure you wife and shape and mold your children’s character.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

Give Discipline.

I don’t mean only applying the rod. I mean develop within them a disciplined life. They need to see you disciplined. Help them discipline their lives to be exceptional and not quitters. Discipline them to be exceptions to the rule.

Give Recognition.

When your wife or children do something well you should acknowledge it. No one’s recognition means more than recognition from a husband and father. I loved it when my mom acknowledged me, but there was something very special about my dad acknowledging me.

A little boy was telling his father about his Sunday School lesson. It was when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine. The dad asked what the boy learned from the story. The boy thought and then said, “If you’re having a wedding, make sure Jesus is there.” Jesus, the last Adam, was put into a deep sleep on the cross. His side was opened up. From a special place inside him, came his woman the church – you and me and God’s family and posterity.

Last thought:

A woman, a wife, was God’s first gift to the human race. She came from Adam’s rib. The only thing man brought out of the Garden of Eden was his rib – his woman. Fathers, in our fallen world the only touch of paradise we will ever experience in this life is our woman created from our rib – from a special place within. From it comes your wife, your marriage, your children, your family, and your posterity.

Adam’s Rib Father’s Day sermon video audio notes

At Sunday School, they taught about creation. Little Johnny seemed especially interested when told how Eve was created from one of Adam’s rib bones. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as if in pain, and said, “Johnny, what is the matter?” Little Johnny said, “I have pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.” There’s a lot of truth there. There is pain when God takes something special from inside a man and creates a family and posterity, but it’s the closest thing to paradise you will touch on this side. And, it’s the only thing you will take with you.

I want to pray for every father and for every male who wants to one day be an excellent father.