Dr. Myles Munroe said in his sermon during Bishop T.D Jakes’ 2006 organized program, For MEN Only that, Eden is not a geographical area where archeologists and scientists can find. According to him and his 3 years of research, Eden is actually a spot; a moment, where the presence of the LORD dwells. He added that going according to the Hebrew meaning of Eden, Eden is the spot for the moment where the presence of God touches earth.

This statement really fascinated me, and I asked myself, “If Eden is a spot for the moment where the presence of God touches earth, then why was it called the Garden of Eden, and not just Eden?” I got my answer immediately from within me. The answer took me to the scripture in Psalm 23:2 which reads, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters.” Does this sound familiar to you in comparison to how the Garden of Eden was described in the Bible? Let me show you something more: “Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food… A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.” [Genesis 2:8-10]. Woow….

Dr. Myles Munroe went on further to explain that just as fishes NEED the sea (water bodies), and the plants NEED the soil (ground) in other to survive, Men also NEED  the presence of God to survive.

This illustration makes sense because, fishes find all their needs in and on water. Outside water, they will die no matter the amount of fresh air that blows its breezes on them, or the amount of sunshine that kisses them; they will die because that is not their abode. And since that is not their abode, their needs for survival cannot be found there, hence their death. The same applies to plants: Most plant need the soil to survive. Even those that grow in swampy areas still have some amount of soil beneath it giving it its minerals for their survival.

Man, should you go outside of Eden, you wouldn’t find peace, you wouldn’t find fulfillment, you can’t survive; you will malfunction. It will be like putting a plug in water instead of a socket, or putting a fish in the soil instead of in water, or putting a bird in the sea instead of the sky.

You are spirit, man. You are not body. You are IN a body. Feeding the body and neglecting the spirit is like feeding a dog and letting the occupant of the house (the family) go hungry.

The fish in the sea lacks nothing. It has all its needs met in the sea, and it is able to live with fulfillment while in the sea or water body. You don’t go to a cage/ “prison” to find a dolphin to entertain you. To get a dolphin to entertain you, you have to go to its abode. The dolphin, being in its abode gives it joy, and that joy is able to spread abroad even to humans (tourists). Likewise, the presence of the LORD has all that man needs for fulfillment and survival.

Let’s look at this scenario: While Adam was in the garden, I assume he ate, because the Bible says that the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and GOOD FOR FOOD. Adding Psalm 23:1-2, it says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures (provisions). He leads me beside still waters (peace).” We can see from these scriptures that Adam didn’t have any want in the Garden; everything was provided in abundance to take care of him and even another person _ Eve.

Adam even met his ‘spouse’ in the Garden of Eden (the spot for the moment where the presence of God touches earth.) The presence of God (Eden) was fully packed with every good thing.

“If this is the case, why is man not dwelling in the presence of God (Eden) but seem to be full of lack (since the presence of God is full of abundance), and lose of character?” you may ask.

The answer to this question is man’s disobedience and evil curiosity or desires.

James 1:14 _ “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”

Genesis 3:6 _ “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”

The fish in the sea isn’t curious about anything. All that it knows is that “the LORD put me here to function, and that is where I have to be. All my worth, value, and even beauty comes from me dwelling in my abode.”

A fish on land cannot be as beautiful and valuable as a fish in water. Why? Because its beauty and purpose comes from its environment/abode.

Dr. Myles Munroe added that what Satan intended for Adam and Eve aside getting their authority was to get them out of abundance, into lack; thus, out of the Garden of Eden into hardship. Looking back, we can say that that moment of pleasure for Eve wasn’t worth it; that bite of the fruit wasn’t worth it as compared to the abundance they were already enjoying in the Garden. 

Come on and let’s reason this together: God has put you in a spot of abundance (open heavens) and He said everything you see around you is yours to take and eat, BUT don’t touch the tree in the middle of the garden. How stubborn could you be? Even if the devil tempted you, according to the Bible from James 1:14, he was able to tempt you because you already had the desire for it. The devil always tempt at your point of weakness. Even if we should put this scenario in a layman’s tone, and into our world today, what Eve and Adam should have done was to tell God that the snake came around to tell them this or that, and also that they have a desire to eat the fruit of that tree so God should help them in this moment of weakness, since they don’t want to disobey Him. This would have made sense and saved the whole world of great trouble. But No! Like Eve, some of us like to taste sin, then when we realize the awkwardness of it, we try to advise others not to taste it.

No! That is not how it goes. If Adam and Eve knew how much they would lose from their curiosity, I am sure they would have said, “To hell with this nagging feeling of curiosity.” Like a robber, the devil wouldn’t come to rob you (entice you) to sin if you had nothing in you.

Whenever you feel a moment of weakness in you, there are two things you can do to help yourself: FIRST: Take the Bible and just read it out loud to your hearing. Not to the disturbance of others, but to your hearing. Why is this? You should do this because the Word of God is light, and as scripture says, “And the light shineth forth and darkness could NOT comprehend.” the darkness that is trying to engulf you will give way, because light (the Word of God) has come into you now. SECOND: Confess your weakness TO GOD. Like the Eve scenario I gave, tell God about your weakness, and tell the Holy Spirit in you to help you overcome it. That is what He is here for; “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with your forever, even the Spirit of truth, … [John 14:16]”  “For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [1 Corinthians 2:10-11]”

To conclude, what I would like to say is that, the Garden of Eden is still available today. It is the spot for the moment where the presence of God touches earth. You can have the presence of God with that abundance of provisions through 3 things; the Spirit and the water and the blood. [1 John 5:7-8 _ “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood: and these three agree.”

The BLOOD signifies confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior; (Thus, you have been washed with the blood of Jesus, and your sin have been borne on the cross. You are not under sin anymore, but a new creation in God through Christ Jesus).

The WATER signifies the Word of God; thus as you have being saved and have a new spirit in Christ Jesus, you are to continuously wash yourself with the Word of God. “Do not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The SPIRIT is the seal of God’s ownership over you; thus you are not the devil’s anymore: “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” _ [2 Corinthians 1:22] [Romans 8:14 _ “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The Spirit is also your ally to help you walk the walk of righteousness. He is there to comfort you in time of trouble, and counsel you in time of confusion, and be your friend: “[John 14:16 AMP _ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.]” “[John 14:26 _  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. ”

Once you dwell in the presence of God, you are in Eden; and once you are in Eden, know that Eden is NOT a dry place, but a Garden, with abundance of provisions, and all the good things in life. All you have to do is to not eat of any fruit (deed of evil)which the Word of God forbids you to eat. No matter how desirable that fruit (deed of evil) may be, know that it is Satan’s trick to get you out of Eden (Garden of Abundance) into Hardship (pain, sweat, and hard ground).

With this revelation, I have decided that I am going to stay in the presence of God (The Garden of Eden) and enjoy it, without being curious about what is outside. Because from the creation story, I know that there is nothing good outside the Garden of Eden. Not to repeat any mistake twice, I am going to learn from the mistake of Eve, and stay in the presence of God forever.

What will I do henceforth? I am going to read my Bible more to get washed over and over again unto purity; every morning when I wake up by God’s Grace, I am going to sing worship songs or play gospel music to praise my Father, because the Word of God says that God inhabit in the praise of His people. I am also with the help of the Holy Spirit going to be obedient to the commandments of God (thus obedience to His Word); I am going to let the Word of God purge my heart, and transform me through the renewal of my mind, so that my deeds will not be like the ordinary person in the world, but it will be like the extraordinary child of light in God through Christ Jesus [Matthew 5:16]. Also, I will not entertain any desires of sins. In any moment of weakness, I will confess it to God than harbor it or try to fight it with my own strength, for I know that it is written that by strength shall no man prevail: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD Almighty [Zechariah 4:6]. Amen.

From today, I know that the Garden of Eden (the presence of God), like the sea/water bodies for the fishes has all my needs provided, and contains my source of fulfillment in life (thus my Purpose). Nothing outside Eden no matter how glamorous it may be is good for me. It is all the devil’s trick to deceive me out of it.

Note: No matter how much the fish ‘enjoys’ the sunshine or the breeze from earth while on soil (outside its abode), it is surely bound to die. Ask yourself, what am I enjoying outside the presence of God (outside my abode)? Whatever it is, get rid of it. Because if you should stay in it, you will surely die. Is it a relationship outside of God’s will (His Word)? A relationship/friendship that causes you to sin or compromise on your faith? Is it a job which is making you a thief? Is it fame outside of God? Is it fortune outside of God? Search within yourself as you ask yourself, “What am I enjoying while outside the presence of God?”

Ladies, Adam found Eve while he was in the presence of God (the Garden of Eden). If a guy finds you WHILEhe is outside the presence of God that should tell you where you are at the moment (outside the presence of God too). Anything done/formed/made outside God’s will/presence will not stand. It is just a matter of time.

If you slept with the boss before you got the job, it is just a matter of time and you will see its results.

#[Proverbs 14:12] _ “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

This is what God says to your temptations and trials, “What are you, O mighty mountain (temptations, pain, hurts, etc)? Before Zerubbabel (put your name there) you will become level ground (surmountable). Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it! (singing songs of praise for victory)’”_ Zachariah 4:7.  Halleluyahhhhhh!!!

Amen.

#The Garden of Eden is available, and I can have it. [Psalm 91] Amen.

#Adam even found his spouse in the Garden of Eden _ that’s total provision without sweat. [Genesis 2:22-23]

#… a prudent wife is from the LORD. [Proverbs 19:14]

#EDEN HAS ALL I NEEDDDDD….Halleluyahhhhhhhhhh!!!!