Genesis 3
1 Now the serpent was amore subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
When man sinned the door to the tree of life was closed and was guarded by angels with flaming swords but the Lord Jesus opened the door again. The fight is not between flesh and blood but between darkness and light. You’ll see that God’s heart goes out to man and so when man cries because he is oppressed by sin, God listens. Here we see how the devil knows where to attack. Satan knows our weaknesses and what’s inside and that’s why he went to Eve. The Bible says the woman is the weaker vessel. Eve said something that God never said. God said,”You must not eat,” but Eve said, “You must not touch.” There was something where Eve was not satisfied. You may not add on or take away from God’s word. Satan will always attack where we are weak. Satan knows where the weak door is.
The devil knew he could use the snake because it had characteristics he could use and Satan knows what characteristics in us he can use. In verse 6 it said that Eve wanted to be wise. It was not a good wisdom, it was evil and crafty. People and children think they are wise and clever but it is poison. Sometimes you are not wise enough to discern. We parents are proud. You think your child uses the Bible so well but it is subtle. They have an answer for everything. Often it’s the mother because she has a soft spot for the child. The word from the Bible they speak does not bring life. A child that argues with the parents is often inspired by evil. If a child honours the parents on the word it is often a child that honours the Lord. Some children make the first comment and it is evil and they say it differently to God’s word. That is not God’s wisdom. In your mind you translate what they have said into racism. Be wide awake and see if this comes from God.
It is not only children but also between husband and wife. The wife can be very subtle. She says, “Father we should love our children.” but you allow the child to do evil. A storm causes havoc but not a drop and that is what a wife can be like. It is just a drop but it causes wrong. The mother says,”The child is a teenager. Don’t be so strict.” You say that in your heart. The mother cries crocodile tears and the devil knows what to do. The devil will always tempt where there is weakness. But in those difficult situations, hold on to God’s word. That will save you.
If Eve had held onto God’s word and said what God had said the devil would have had no power over her. The devil will try everything in his power. You say you cannot any more. David says,”Many a time I was afflicted from my youth but I cannot leave God.”
The devil tried to plunge mankind into sin. He uses subtle and blatant things. He will come with drugs. He won’t tell you it’ll kill you. He’ll say it opens your mind but then you are addicted. The devil knows what happens after sin. He knows the sadness and despair that comes into your heart. He hounds you with it and you despair and you become depressed. We don’t feel it in the beginning but afterwards it will haunt you.
A child sins and at school their work goes down. That is what the devil wants – to destroy you. If you eat that sin you die. Today we say it is white and then its black and then there’s grey and we love that. That’s why angels guard the garden and you can’t go in. A person reacts and you translate it into your own words and it is something that person never meant. We can go on and on.
If Eve had not argued with the devil, it would have been better. I can only overcome by God’s grace. We need God’s word. We need the grace of God to overcome the craftiness of Satan. They had the enemy of Goliath. We cannot stand against the Goliath in our strength. What did David do? He needed his stones which was the grace of God. We heard these weeks about being humble and repentance. It is how you go about it and when the grace reaches you. Human craftiness can never stand against the Goliath. So when we come against Goliath, we need God’s grace but you go home and add your bit to God’s word. How did David have the strength to overcome a giant? Keep your heart clean. I can only stand against the giant if I have the grace of God, keep my path straight and keep my path pure. The devil knows if there is something wrong and then he plays with you like a cat with a mouse.
A person that has missed the grace of God starts to find fault. But if you eat of that fruit, you will fall into that sin. A person that doesn’t pray takes his cellphone and he is drawn to the pictures and sexual connotations of what is written. You know when you are alone, Satan gets you. If you are idle, Satan gets you. You sit at the mission, what do you do for God? What I do keeps me from evil.
Eve and Adam suffered for their sin. She experienced pain that God never intended and Adam sweated. It’s a sorry state when God sends you away. And it was because your heart was deceived. God said,”You have to go.” and he closed the gate. Adam and Eve had to leave paradise and a walk with God.
Repent from what is wrong. That is all God expects. God knew that one day man would have access to the tree of life again. We can experience that paradise on earth that Adam and Eve experienced in the beginning. The bible says he who overcomes can partake of the tree of life. If you want life in abundance come to the Lord. Can Christ do that work in my life?