The Power of Disobedience
Last week we talked about the power of obedience. The Lord uses obedience to do mighty things. There are many examples of this in the Scriptures. We will be looking at a few more instances of this in the Bible in the next several weeks. Disobedience has power too. satan can use our disobedience as we will see in Genesis chapter 3. This chapter is foundational to our faith and the battle between God and the devil. It is the big picture and background of what is happening in the world today. His deception and lies caused the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden. Now he is causing much doubt, deception, and falling away all over the earth. We need to be very aware of his schemes. He still uses the same devices to lead us astray. But always remember that God has a way out and a solution to the devil's attacks.
Genesis 3:1-13
1 The garden of Eden was a very idyllic setting at this time. There was peace with The Lord God and the creatures in the garden. It was tranquil and a place of harmony. All Adam and Eve knew was this garden and a God that created it. This was a simple and innocent existence. Quite a contrast to the world we live in now! Unfortunately, this innocence made them an easy target for the crafty serpent. Did Eve know she was being used to bring about the fall of man? No. How could she? It was a peaceful innocent world she lived in. There was nothing to prepare her and Adam for this line of thinking or reasoning. But, actually, there was! It was obedience to what the Lord God had told them about the tree in the middle of the garden. For God had said, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. A very strong warning! This was spiritual death. Death of the pure relationship with the Lord God and His creation. A lot to lose. Yet the serpent, by causing doubt and lying convinced Eve that this wasn't true. The devil has used these two deceptions ever since and our world is a mess right now. He said to Eve, indeed has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden? Notice how subtle he is. He said any tree, not just the tree in the middle of the garden. He included it with all the other trees that were good to eat. If all the other trees were okay, why not this one. That doesn't make sense!
2,3 Eve repeated what God had told them about the trees of the garden. She knew what God had said. She had not forgotten it. Yet, the serpent was able to cause doubt in her mind. 2nd Corinthians 11:3, John 8:44, 1st Timothy 4:1
4 Now comes the lie. You shall surely not die! Did Eve know it was a spiritual death and not a physical death? We do not know but God's command should have been enough. But it was not. Adam and Eve should have been obedient!
5 For God knows. Now the serpent makes God be the problem. He is the one holding you back from more wisdom and being as God. This is crafty. More doubt.
6 The tree was good for food, it looked good, it made you wise. How could this be wrong to partake of? Did God really say? Just because something looks good or feels good doesn't mean it is good for you. Isn't that what is going on in the world today? Human nature has not changed. It reminds me of a song from the past about committing adultery. The singer said how can anything that feels so good be so wrong? So Eve took the devil's bait and was disobedient and ate the fruit and gave some to Adam who was also disobedient and he ate. Now they would be wise and become like God according to the serpent.
7 Then their eyes were opened. What was the first thing that they saw? That they had more wisdom? That they were now like God? Not quite! They saw that they were naked and were ashamed. They experienced shame. The innocence was gone. The peace with the Lord God and His creation was broken. Through their disobedience, the devil caused the fall and plunged the world into sin. Many, many, multitudes have suffered in so many ways ever since. Disobedience is powerful!
8 Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid from His presence. First shame. Now fear and hiding from God which is impossible. Is this being wiser? Is this being like God?
9 Where are you, Adam? Did God know what Adam and Eve had done? Did the Lord God go sit on His throne and be very angry with His children? No! HE PURSUED THEM! OH HALLELUJAH! This was the beginning of God pursuing mankind in spite of our rebellion and disobedience. He is a good Father. In John 15:16 Jesus said you didn't choose Me, I chose you. We can never thank the Lord enough for choosing us. Now notice that the Lord God speaks to Adam. He holds Adam responsible for the disobedience. Romans 5:12-15.
10 I was afraid and naked and I hid from you. When we sin, we should repent and run towards the Lord God. Proverbs 28:13.
11 The Lord God asks some rhetorical questions. He is making a very dramatic point here. Who has done wrong? Who disobeyed? Adam's sin caused these feelings and actions. God asked Cain a similar question in Genesis 4:9.
12 Adam would not repent. Instead, he played the blame game! It was God's fault for giving him Eve and the woman's fault for giving him the fruit. Things are going downhill fast. They always do when there is disobedience to the Lord God! Blaming God for our problems is not the solution to them. It never will be. The world does this now more than ever. Have you ever heard anyone that says they don't believe in God blame Him for all the problems in the world? All of us are where we are because of the choices we have made. Don't blame the Lord God.
13 Eve does the blame game too. The serpent deceived me and I ate. This is a true statement but it ignores what the Lord God commanded. Next week we will see the Lord Gods' response and His solution to the fall!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
The devil still uses the same tactics to draw us away from the Lord God. If he can't get to you, he will go after your children. This is where it started.
Just because something looks good or is appealing to the senses, doesn't mean it's God's will or good for us. This can apply to ministry too!
Have you sinned and tried to hide from God? Repent and run to Him.
Are you blaming the Lord God for your trials and tribulations? Are you blaming Him for the terrible things that are happening in the world today?
Let's all ask the Lord God to give us discernment and wisdom in these days of great deception.
If you are not a follower of Jesus and are trying to make sense of or figure out what is going on in the world today, don't run from Him. Run to Him and accept Him as Savior and Lord today!
Genesis 3:1-13
1 The garden of Eden was a very idyllic setting at this time. There was peace with The Lord God and the creatures in the garden. It was tranquil and a place of harmony. All Adam and Eve knew was this garden and a God that created it. This was a simple and innocent existence. Quite a contrast to the world we live in now! Unfortunately, this innocence made them an easy target for the crafty serpent. Did Eve know she was being used to bring about the fall of man? No. How could she? It was a peaceful innocent world she lived in. There was nothing to prepare her and Adam for this line of thinking or reasoning. But, actually, there was! It was obedience to what the Lord God had told them about the tree in the middle of the garden. For God had said, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. A very strong warning! This was spiritual death. Death of the pure relationship with the Lord God and His creation. A lot to lose. Yet the serpent, by causing doubt and lying convinced Eve that this wasn't true. The devil has used these two deceptions ever since and our world is a mess right now. He said to Eve, indeed has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden? Notice how subtle he is. He said any tree, not just the tree in the middle of the garden. He included it with all the other trees that were good to eat. If all the other trees were okay, why not this one. That doesn't make sense!
2,3 Eve repeated what God had told them about the trees of the garden. She knew what God had said. She had not forgotten it. Yet, the serpent was able to cause doubt in her mind. 2nd Corinthians 11:3, John 8:44, 1st Timothy 4:1
4 Now comes the lie. You shall surely not die! Did Eve know it was a spiritual death and not a physical death? We do not know but God's command should have been enough. But it was not. Adam and Eve should have been obedient!
5 For God knows. Now the serpent makes God be the problem. He is the one holding you back from more wisdom and being as God. This is crafty. More doubt.
6 The tree was good for food, it looked good, it made you wise. How could this be wrong to partake of? Did God really say? Just because something looks good or feels good doesn't mean it is good for you. Isn't that what is going on in the world today? Human nature has not changed. It reminds me of a song from the past about committing adultery. The singer said how can anything that feels so good be so wrong? So Eve took the devil's bait and was disobedient and ate the fruit and gave some to Adam who was also disobedient and he ate. Now they would be wise and become like God according to the serpent.
7 Then their eyes were opened. What was the first thing that they saw? That they had more wisdom? That they were now like God? Not quite! They saw that they were naked and were ashamed. They experienced shame. The innocence was gone. The peace with the Lord God and His creation was broken. Through their disobedience, the devil caused the fall and plunged the world into sin. Many, many, multitudes have suffered in so many ways ever since. Disobedience is powerful!
8 Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid from His presence. First shame. Now fear and hiding from God which is impossible. Is this being wiser? Is this being like God?
9 Where are you, Adam? Did God know what Adam and Eve had done? Did the Lord God go sit on His throne and be very angry with His children? No! HE PURSUED THEM! OH HALLELUJAH! This was the beginning of God pursuing mankind in spite of our rebellion and disobedience. He is a good Father. In John 15:16 Jesus said you didn't choose Me, I chose you. We can never thank the Lord enough for choosing us. Now notice that the Lord God speaks to Adam. He holds Adam responsible for the disobedience. Romans 5:12-15.
10 I was afraid and naked and I hid from you. When we sin, we should repent and run towards the Lord God. Proverbs 28:13.
11 The Lord God asks some rhetorical questions. He is making a very dramatic point here. Who has done wrong? Who disobeyed? Adam's sin caused these feelings and actions. God asked Cain a similar question in Genesis 4:9.
12 Adam would not repent. Instead, he played the blame game! It was God's fault for giving him Eve and the woman's fault for giving him the fruit. Things are going downhill fast. They always do when there is disobedience to the Lord God! Blaming God for our problems is not the solution to them. It never will be. The world does this now more than ever. Have you ever heard anyone that says they don't believe in God blame Him for all the problems in the world? All of us are where we are because of the choices we have made. Don't blame the Lord God.
13 Eve does the blame game too. The serpent deceived me and I ate. This is a true statement but it ignores what the Lord God commanded. Next week we will see the Lord Gods' response and His solution to the fall!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
The devil still uses the same tactics to draw us away from the Lord God. If he can't get to you, he will go after your children. This is where it started.
Just because something looks good or is appealing to the senses, doesn't mean it's God's will or good for us. This can apply to ministry too!
Have you sinned and tried to hide from God? Repent and run to Him.
Are you blaming the Lord God for your trials and tribulations? Are you blaming Him for the terrible things that are happening in the world today?
Let's all ask the Lord God to give us discernment and wisdom in these days of great deception.
If you are not a follower of Jesus and are trying to make sense of or figure out what is going on in the world today, don't run from Him. Run to Him and accept Him as Savior and Lord today!
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