The Work of the Spirit of God on the Earth at Creation
Genesis 1:1,2
Feb 2, 2025
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig
I. Introduction (2Timothy 3:16)
A. We are studying The First Book in your Bible – the Book of Genesis
B. It means, “The Beginning”
C. It starts at the very beginning of time – beginning of everything around us, except God
D. Written by Moses, about 3,500 years ago, but the Author, was Almighty God
E. 2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
F. It tells us about things only He knows
G. What you learn from this Book of Genesis WILL help you, your home, your marriage, your sanity, your heart, your worship, your prayer life, your trust in God, and your understanding of the will of God – IF YOU WILL BELIEVE IT AND LIVE IT!
1. Because Genesis provides context and answers for why things are the way they are…
2. And it shows us how to get things back right, with God’s help!
3. Remember Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
4. It is going to be a great Book to study
5. Open your Bible to the first page of Scripture
6. Get a notebook and let’s begin!
II. I Believe It (Psalm 119:160)
A. Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
B. I Believe what the Bible says
C. From the very first verse, to the last!
D. Genesis says, This entire universe was supernaturally created by an omniscient, omnipotent God
E. So, I believe it
F. And even though it cannot be ever fully understood, it can and must be believed for the Gospel to make sense! Because all of the Gospel depends upon a trustworthy Creator (not an accident) who became our Saviour, because, one day we will all face Him as our Judge!
III. Message
A. The Starting Condition of Our Universe (Genesis 1:1,2)
1. Genesis 1:1,2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
2. In the first moments of space and time and matter, the earth was not yet a suitable place for mankind or any other living thing that God would make. It was “without form and void” because it was covered with darkness (no light) and water (no land).
3. Without form – formless, no form at all
a. Like a lump of clay with no shape, nothing special, bland
b. Don't be offended that God starts off this way...
c. Jesus also had no form or comeliness or beauty in his life... Yet! Isaiah 53:2
d. so the earth was the bare minimum, 0, starting at square 1
e. It was only water... H2O, and it was frozen solid
4. Void
a. It was Empty, except for the water
b. Not a bad thing because, it was ready to be filled with life
5. It was absolutely and completely DARK
a. Absolute darkness
b. No light, anywhere – no stars, no Sun, no Moon
c. Not s sign of sin – just no light yet
6. God is describing a massive 8000-mile-wide ball of frozen water, spinning in the absolute dankness of the vastness of empty space
7. This was the starting condition of the heaven and the earth
a. It did not BECOME dark, void and without form (I do not believe in a gap here)
b. It was created that way - empty, and with nothing else there
c. It was simply the beginning of everything, not its completion
d. So many people have a huge problem with this
1) They believe God would not start with such a thing – something else must have happened
2) But that is exactly what God wrote! God created an empty universe, and a spinning ball of frozen water.
3) And that is okay!
e. The truth is, there was more creating to come! Obviously!
f. God will now mould and fill this empty universe and this empty planet with light, and life and everything good!
B. The Spirit of God is Present at Creation (Genesis 1:2)
1. Genesis 1:2 …And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
2. There was SOMEONE ELSE at work in creation!
3. The “Spirit of God” was working along with “the Lord God” in verse 1,2
a. So, it was not just “God” that created everything
b. But the Trinity of God created everything! As I will show you in a few moments
4. First of all, let’s look at His Work
a. He is working on everything that is created, giving it life, and breath, and beauty
b. The Holy Spirit was at work like a strong wind
1) The Spirit moved like wind (not like a bird) over the waters of the earth!
2) The Bible here says the Spirit of God moved (was in motion) like breath, like a strong wind over solid frozen water
3) He was the wind even before there was air!
c. He was like a whirlwind racing over the surface of the earth (2Kings 2:11)
1) He pulled Elijah up to heaven in 2Kings 2:11
2) 2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
d. Thankfully it wasn’t once off - He is always at work – even though you don’t easily sense Him
1) 1Kings 19:11,12 And he [GOD] said [TO ELIJAH], Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
2) Elijah was looking for a loud noise, a powerful push, or a painful stab, and was missing the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit
5. What is He like?
a. He is the breath of God (Genesis 2:7)
1) Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2) That was the Holy Spirit – He Created the living soul in a lifeless Adam
b. He is spiritual, not physical – invisible, but still real and present (John 3:6-8) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
c. He is gentle, yet all powerful – a still, small, voice – not booming and terrifying
d. He is same Spirit was at work on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
e. He is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
C. The Trinity in the Old Testament (more about this next week)
1. The Plurality of God
a. God speaks of Himself as an ‘US’
1) Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
2) Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
3) You can’t say that about yourself!
4) When a queen uses the royal ‘we’ they are just copying God – not a real thing
b. God is one God, but Three Persons as one indivisible God
c. Not three different and separate parts
d. And NOT three different ways that He manifests Himself – modalism
e. He is Three, and yet He is One!
f. 1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
2. The Holy Spirit is a Person, not just a Power
a. Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed [UPSET, ANGERED] his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
b. It is impossible to vex, anger, upset a force like gravity, electricity, or even the wind
c. You can only emotionally affect a PESRON!
d. Watch this… Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
e. Only a PERSON can SPEAK and SAY things!
f. So, the Holy Spirit is a HE
g. But I will say this: the Holy Spirit is called ‘itself’ 2 times in Scripture (only twice):
1) In Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2) And in Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
3) Describing the work of the Spirit of God instead of the Person
h. But the rest of the time in the Bible (approx 50 times), He is referred to as an HE
1) John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I [JESUS] have said unto you.
2) Did you notice the Trinity… The Father, the Holy Ghost, and JESUS?
3) John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
4) John 16:13,14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
3. The Trinity at Work in Creation
a. The Father Willed the Creation – generally referred to as God, and Jehovah
1) He initiated the act of Creation by His own will
2) He Fathered this entire universe – called for it to happen
b. The Word Did the creating - made it all appear
1) “And God Said…” This phrase is repeated on each of the six days of creation
2) Creation is brought about through the Word of God.
3) Christians who read the Old Testament Scriptures in light of the New Testament know the identity of the creating Word of God in Genesis 1. The apostle John declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1–3)
4) John goes on to declare that this same Word “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Word of God in Genesis 1 is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
5) Colossians 1:15-18 [JESUS] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him [JESUS] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
6) That makes Jesus EQUAL with God!
c. And The Spirit of GOD Moulded / Shaped all of Creation as it appeared
1) One more Person in the Trinity at work here…
2) Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3) He was THERE…
4) Agitating, stirring up creation, activating it, energising it at the moment of creation
a) The Spirit of God is mentioned three times in the opening book of the Bible.
b) He is first found here, in the opening chapter, when the earth is without form and empty. You find Him moving over the water that covered the earth.
c) Later, you find the Holy Spirit at work in a world that has been overwhelmed by evil thoughts and violence, and we read that the “Spirit shall not abide in man forever” (Genesis 6:3-5) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive [STRUGGLE AGAINST] with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
d) Finally, the Holy Spirit is recognized by the pharaoh of Egypt as being IN Joseph, when his dreams are interpreted: “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38). Here is an ungodly man, the unbelieving Pharaoh of Egypt, recognising that God’s Holy Spirit was within and empowering the young man named Joseph standing before him!
D. The Trinity in the New Testament
1. Matthew 28:19,20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and [THE NAME] of the Son, and [THE NAME] of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
3. 1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
4. Same pattern…
a. God the Father
b. God the Word – that became flesh
c. God the Holy Ghost
5. They are together one God, not three - Three Persons, and yet one
6. Hard to understand? Yep! Impossible to fully understand
7. But that’s okay!
a. Our finite, tiny brains are trying to grasp an infinite Being that exists outside of time and space, and is NOT like us, but is as far as the heavens are above us!
b. So, just because we cannot understand this reality, does not mean we reject it – it shows God is far above all our thinking and understanding, and we just have to believe it by faith
c. It does not matter if any church council agreed with the concept of the Trinity or disagreed with it – Catholics, Protestants, Councils of Nicea and Constantinople
d. It is a Biblical fact, and I just believe the Bible! Even when it is hard to!
IV.Application
A. What Good is the Holy Spirit to me?
1. He is present with us now
a. He was present at creation. Evidently, He was very important to the work of Creation
b. He is actively present in the world today
c. John 16:7,8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
1) Convicting – making men know they are guilty before God for their own sins
2) Drawing all men to repentance – pulling them to faith in Christ
3) Illuminating people’s understanding about Jesus Christ
4) Transforming – changing us - because He works on and pressures us from the inside
2. He INHABITS every true believer
a. He is the presence of God in you
1) Romans 8:9-11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2) 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
b. Some of you need to be very afraid, because you hear nothing, sense nothing, wrestle with nothing in you even though you claim to be saved (John 14:17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
3. He has emotions
a. He Grieves, and Rejoices; He gets excited and also pulls back!
b. He wants you to sense His emotions and follow them!
c. 1Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
4. The Holy Spirit works salvation in you - you cannot be saved without him working in you and humbling you in convicting you (John 3:6-7) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
5. He connects us with the Father – prayer doesn’t work without Him connecting us with heaven! (Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
6. Let him fill you, instead of being filled with anger, bitterness, lust, depression
a. Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit
b. It means, Let every thought, every emotion, every word, every reaction, every goal you have… be from the still, small, quiet voice of the Holy Spirit in you!
c. Oh how we ALL need the filling of the Holy Spirit of God in us, moulding, shaping, changing, empowering us!
B. Wrong Reactions to the Holy Spirit of God
1. Resisting Him - Arguing, fighting HIM! (Acts 7:51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
2. Quenching Him – ignoring Him, drowning Him out (Rock music, all the noise of life)
a. 1Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
b. Quenching is when we smother His activity in us, extinguishing HIS fire and passion
c. As well as smothering the guilt and shame He brings up in us for sins we are doing
3. Grieving Him
a. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
b. To cause Him to be wounded in His feelings, to cause sorrow, and regret
4. I’m speaking to born again CHRISTIANS!
5. When we grieve, ignore Him, quench His fire in us, and resist him…
6. That’s when we never change for the better
7. And, THAT’S when we end up counterfeiting Him and seeking another spirit (2Corinthians 11:3,4) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
8. And that’s why so many Christians never enjoy eternal life NOW
C. Right Responses
1. Yield to Him like soft clay yields to the hand of a potter – say “Okay God!”
2. Agree with Him when He brings up awareness of sins in you and quickly repent
3. Walk Spiritually minded - Galatians 5:16,17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
4. Be patient with His timing and the ways He works
5. Let him FILL you, instead of being filled with anger, bitterness, lust, depression
6. Expect great things to happen from His efforts in and through you. Look what He did with this universe!
V. Conclusion
A. Every day and night you see God’s awesome handy work on this universe
B. But His best work is internal work, by the Holy Spirit of God
1. On the outside, you look well designed
2. But you need life on the inside – new life, eternal life, forgiveness of every sin
C. You must be born again – on the inside
D. And from that moment on, you need to walk in the same Spirit that saved you, and be filled with Him, instead of with this world to be happy!
E. What the Spirit of God did with this empty, formless universe only shows what He can do with YOUR empty messed up life, if you will let Him do it
F. Would you like to be saved? Converted from sinner to saint? Bow you heart and cry out to the only Person who can save you, Jesus Christ, and just ask to be forgiven!