Genesis 3:1-6
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Man and Woman Sin
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
Let’s learn and not make the same mistake Adam and Eve made.
First, don’t underestimate Satan’s power. He is very crafty. He will try to make you doubt God’s Word. He will try to make you doubt who you are in Christ. Next, don’t be fooled by a distortion of God’s Word. What God actually said (Genesis 2:16-17) is close to Satan’s statement, yet different enough to reverse what God meant. Next, Satan goes further and contradicts God’s Word. Compare 3:4 with 2:17. Then, Satan implies that God is withholding something precious and essential from His people, making Adam and Eve question whether they can depend on God.
At this point, Satan backs away and lets the couples human instinct kick in. There was nothing wrong with Eve’s observation skills (good for food, pleasing to the eye, gain wisdom). It was simply the wrong way … a way forbidden by God … a way that walked away from dependence on God.
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” – 1st John 2:16
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
SIN IS A CHOICE
Genesis 3:2-7
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Man and Woman Sin
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Adam and Eve could never claim that they didn’t know. God’s instructions were clear and they were able to repeat the commandment … an indication of their understanding.
Adam and Eve chose to disobey God.
Sin continues to be a choice. We have God’s instructions. Any claim of ignorance is only an excuse. Like Adam and Eve, we succumb to the enticement, knowing that we are going against what God has said. We want what we want more than we want to be right with God.
Resisting the devil … not yielding to temptation … submitting to the authority of God … is a full time job. Thank God for the second Adam … Jesus Christ … who leaves us a much better example to follow than the first Adam. Where the first Adam failed, Jesus was completely successful. He lived without sin! Hebrews 4:15
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Man and Woman Sin
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Adam and Eve could never claim that they didn’t know. God’s instructions were clear and they were able to repeat the commandment … an indication of their understanding.
Adam and Eve chose to disobey God.
Sin continues to be a choice. We have God’s instructions. Any claim of ignorance is only an excuse. Like Adam and Eve, we succumb to the enticement, knowing that we are going against what God has said. We want what we want more than we want to be right with God.
Resisting the devil … not yielding to temptation … submitting to the authority of God … is a full time job. Thank God for the second Adam … Jesus Christ … who leaves us a much better example to follow than the first Adam. Where the first Adam failed, Jesus was completely successful. He lived without sin! Hebrews 4:15
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
FALSE TEACHERS
Jeremiah 23:16, 21-22
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
16 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:
“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
filling you with futile hopes.
They are making up everything they say.
They do not speak for the Lord! …
21 “I have not sent these prophets,
yet they run around claiming to speak for me.
I have given them no message,
yet they go on prophesying.
22 If they had stood before me and listened to me,
they would have spoken my words,
and they would have turned my people
from their evil ways and deeds.
How can you tell? How can you identify a false teacher? Treasury workers are able to identify the counterfeit by having an intimate knowledge of the real. “…the LORD of Heaven’s Armies…” gives us four qualities of a truth teacher. They:
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
16 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:
“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
filling you with futile hopes.
They are making up everything they say.
They do not speak for the Lord! …
21 “I have not sent these prophets,
yet they run around claiming to speak for me.
I have given them no message,
yet they go on prophesying.
22 If they had stood before me and listened to me,
they would have spoken my words,
and they would have turned my people
from their evil ways and deeds.
How can you tell? How can you identify a false teacher? Treasury workers are able to identify the counterfeit by having an intimate knowledge of the real. “…the LORD of Heaven’s Armies…” gives us four qualities of a truth teacher. They:
- Are sent by God
- Have received their message from God
- Speak God’s Word
- Confront sin
Monday, March 02, 2009
DEMONSTRATING STRONG FAITH
John 11:39-44
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Raising of Lazarus
39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Martha was there, as was Mary and the crowd of mourners. They had followed Jesus and the mourning sisters to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier. When they arrived, for the benefit of the crowd present, Jesus spoke to His Father. He could have simply called Lazarus from the dead. Instead, Jesus demonstrated dependence on God.
“Father, thank you for hearing me.”
In our faith walk, as believers, it is important to demonstrate our faith that others may see and also believe.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Raising of Lazarus
39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Martha was there, as was Mary and the crowd of mourners. They had followed Jesus and the mourning sisters to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier. When they arrived, for the benefit of the crowd present, Jesus spoke to His Father. He could have simply called Lazarus from the dead. Instead, Jesus demonstrated dependence on God.
“Father, thank you for hearing me.”
In our faith walk, as believers, it is important to demonstrate our faith that others may see and also believe.
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