January 12, 2010

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 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. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:1-6

How did you do with temptation yesterday? Are you using what you are learning? Is what you are learning helpful?

To date we have seen how temptation unfolded for Adam and Eve. First, the Tempter got them to doubt, then he got them to delay, and then he used deceit. Those three elements are a part of every temptation. It is not particularly original but it has been effective for centuries. But the reason it works is more a function of the the fourth aspect of temptation - DESIRE.

The desireable "bait" that hooked them in was the promise that they "would be like God". How did the Tempter know that would be an alluring line? Because it is the one he fell for. It was his desire to rebel against God and usurp Him was the desire that led to the original sin. That desire to be in charge, to have control, to escape accountability is a fatal flaw in the human character. Unless you can subdue that desire you will never be able to resist temptation.

Sadly, the bottom line of temptation is - we sin because we want to. James confirms this truth, "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15

Doubt breaks down your resistence to sin.

Delay makes sin look more enticing.

Deceit helps you rationalize your sin.

But temptation is not sin UNTIL WE ACT ON IT and we act on it because we have SINFUL desires.

That explains the primary difference between the first Adam who did yield to temptation and the Second Adam who did not. Jesus was determined not to sin. He never gave in to doubt but clung to the truths He knew about God and His character. He didn't delay and give temptation a second thought. He resisted it quickly and decisively. Nor, did He allow Himself to be deceived about sin. But, the defining difference between the first Adam and the Second was desire.

Adam and Eve sinned because they had a desire to replace God. Jesus WAS God but surrendered that right. He didn't misuse His authority but surrendered it to resist sin. His desire to obey God was greater than His desire to elevate Himself.

Doubt, delay, deceit and desire. That is the profile of a temptation. It has never been a mystery. We have had the example of Adam and Eve for millenia. So, with such a clear understanding of the Evil One's strategy how do we continue to fall?

The answer is most disturbing - WE WANT TO.

Until that desire changes, temptation will continue struggle.

Sure sounds like you need a change in your desires. Who can do that?

Maybe, Jesus - and you!

January 11, 2010

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 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. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:1-6

Since temptation is something we deal with on a daily basis, I thought I would spend a few days dealing with it.

Thus far we have established that temptation involves doubt. The Tempter caused Eve to question the character and authority of God. And the second step was delay. Eve stood and gave the Serpent a second thought rather than dismissing him and fleeing.

That brings us to the third step of temptation - deceit. If the Tempter would just tell outright lies, it would be easy to resist temptation. You would hear it and say, "That's ridiculous!" and laugh it off!

But the Evil One is far more cunning than that. Temptation always involves a version of the truth or the truth applied to a wrong conclusion. After he gets you to doubt and after you give it a second thought, then your mind becomes fertile ground for seeds of deceit. When you doubt the truth you will believe the lie.

Our situation is now more complicated than Adam and Eve's. Remember how I said that sin complicates? Here's an example. Because of Adam's sin, you and I now inherit a sinful nature. What that means is that our nature is deceived. What that means is we believe lies easier than we believe truth. So, if Satan could get Adam and Eve to sin when they had a perfect nature, guess what your chances are.

You need to take your cues from the Second Adam, Jesus. When He was tempted He did not delay to respond with the truth. He immediately confronted the deceit with truth - the Truth from God's Word.

The first thing you must do is give your heart to Jesus and receive Him as your Savior. That will connect you with Truth, since He IS the Truth. Also, His Holy Spirit will become active in your life and He is the Spirit of Truth. When you are a Christian you will more readily distinguish truth from lies.

Secondly, saturate your mind with the Scriptures. Hide the truth in your heart and it will transform your mind.

Thirdly, if you are a believer, surrender to the Holy Spirit to fill you and He will take away your old nature and give you the heart and mind of God.

Doubt, delay, and deceit. Its a deadly combo. You had better be prepared to defeat it or, like Adam and Eve, it will damn you.

TRUTH!

January 10, 2010

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 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. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:1-6

Temptation has been around longer than man. It goes way back to the Fall of Lucifer, the original sinner who influenced one-third of the angels into joining his rebellion. As a result, they were all booted from Heaven along with him. In my last post I began an examination of temptation saying that temptation begins with doubt. The Serpent got Eve to doubt the God's Word and His character.

Today, I want to take a look at the second aspect of temptation - delay.

When temptation comes to you, run from it as quickly as you can. Be like Joseph who ran right out of his garment when Potipher's wife tried to seduce him. If only Eve had been so inclined! But instead she stood there listening to the Tempter and looking at the fruit.

I believe it was St. Augustine who said, "I can't stop a bird from landing on my head, but I can keep him from building a nest in my hair." What was he saying? "Don't delay around temptation." If you do, temptation will become sin. You must leave before your resistence wears down.

The longer you think about sinning the more likely you are to do it, so why delay? Delayed obedience is disobedience. Disobedience, of course, is sin.

If you want to defeat sin and resist temptation don't say, "maybe" where God has said, "no!"

Doubt and delay are two powerful aspects of temptation that make it hard to defeat. Learn from Eve's mistake and don't repeat her delay. The moment temptation shows up, you ship out!

January 9, 2010

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 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. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:1-6

Most of my posts during the New Year I have been talking about the destructive nature of sin. Today I want to examine the topic of temptation since temptation is what leads to sin. This historic encounter between the Serpent and Adam is instructive in understanding temptation.

Temptation often begins with doubt. The Tempter asked, "Did God really say?". When Satan wants to trip you up he will begin by underminding the character of God. He knows that if you don't trust God and if you don't believe God it will be difficult for you to resist temptation.

Where you to study the decline of our American culture you can clearly see this same tactic at work. For the past 150 years or so, the so-called "progressives" or "liberal" thinkers began a systematic attack on the Bible as God's Word. They have attacked its integrity, its authenticity, its authority and the intelligence of those who read it. Now, as we begin the second decade of this new century, the Bible has been widely discredited. The result? Rampant social decay and moral failure.

It is interesting to note that the same system of thought that underminded the Scriptures has also attacked the Constitution of the United States. They are not just anti-God, they are anti-absolute authority. They understood that if they could cast doubt on the absolute authority of the Bible it would be much easier to undermind the authority of the Constitution.

The first attack against God is doubt. Doubt in itself is not a bad thing. Doubt actually has a place in strengthening faith when it causes you to search for proof of why you believe. But the doubt that Satan used against Adam is doubting a direct command of God. If God makes His will clear to us and we doubt it - that is sin!

Are you being tempted to doubt? Are you struggling to obey a clearly stated command of God? If so, learn from Adam and submit to God. Confess your doubt and ask Him to strengthen your faith. The Psalmist promised that if you will "hide God's Word in your heart" you will be able to resist temptation.

Have you been in His Word today? Have you heard His voice?

January 8, 2010

"The Lord saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil. The Lord was very sad that he had made man on the earth. His heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, "I created man on the earth. But I will wipe them out. I will destroy people and animals alike. I will also destroy the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air. I am very sad that I have made man." Genesis 6:5-7

Another problem with sin is illustrated in these verses. Sin degenerates.

Once a person or a group of people are contaminated by sin, unless they aggressively address the problem, repent of the sin and turn from it, their situation will degenerate. Sinful behavior never makes things better but is extremely destructive.

This 6th Chapter of Genesis illustrates how badly the culture had degenerated. People had become so confirmed in their sinfulness that God was grieved that He had ever created them.

That is bad!

The same creatures and creation that He had once pronounced "very good" had now become "very bad". What a shame! Sin had degenerated God's Creation to the point that some divine intervention was going to be necessary.

I have never known anyone who ever sinned their way into a better life. They may have gained power, prestige, position, or possessions as a result of their sinful behavior, but at the expense of their soul.

Sin can't be managed. Sin can't be controlled. Sin can't be tolerated because sin corrupts, destroys and dehumanizes.

No doubt you know someone who has spent a lifetime trapped in sinful behavior. Is that person a better person than they were several years ago when they began living sinfully? Is their character stronger? Are their attitudes more positive? Do they have more spiritual virtues? I'll bet your answers are emphatic, "no's"! That is because sin degenerates.

What began several generations earlier with just two people in a small act of disobedience had now degenerated to the point where God was offended by the rampant wide-spread evil that now infected the human race. God could no longer abide their evil and was about to destroy everything He had made.

God takes sin seriously because He understands the degenerative nature of sin. It was killing Him to see such sinfulness and it would literally kill His Son. He hates sin because He loves people and sin degenerates people's spiritual nature, their character, their judgment, their health, their morality and their happiness.

Sin separates, sin alienates, sin complicates, sin contaminates, and sin degenerates. Deal with sin before it does you in.

January 7, 2010

"So the Lord God drove the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he had been made out of." Genesis 3:23

Sin separates, sin alienates, sin complicates, and sin contaminates. These are a few of the ways that Adam's sin destroyed Paradise.

Another consequence of sin that is fairly obvious is that sin devaluates.

Look how far Adam and Eve fell once they sinned. Observe all that they lost! In trying to elevate their status to become "like God", they seriously devaluated their situation.

Once they had unlimited personal access to God. They walked and talked with Him face to face. Now, they had to hide from Him and flee from Him and lie to Him. What a tragic demotion!

Once they had the rule of Eden. God gave them authority to name the animals and the plants and go where they wanted, when they wanted to do what they wanted. He trusted them and gave them freedom to do anything except eat from one tree. They were honored as the crowning achievement of God's creation second in authority only to Him. Now they were banned from the Garden.

Once they had a heart and mind like God's, pure, loving and sinless. Now they were fearful, suspicious, calculating, self-centered, and - well, sinful.

Can we just state the obious? Apart from God we have no worth or value. We are valuable only because He created us and placed His image within us. Our worth is tied into His unbelievable unconditional love toward us!

The sin nature deceives into believing that we can add value to ourselves apart from God. Humanism says that if we just get the right environment and the right education and the right position and the right possessions we will be more valuable.

You have to look no further than the first few Chapters of Genesis to understand the source of our value and how sin devalues you! The more you sin the more separated, alienated, complicated and contaminated your life becomes - the more devalued your life becomes.

There is only one way to add value to your life - declare spiritual bankruptcy and value God above all else!

January 6, 2010

"The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it." Genesis 3:6

So, what's the big deal about sin? That is a question I am examining as we begin this New Year in Genesis.

Thus far we have seen that sin separates, sin alienates, and sin complicates. Not one of those is a good thing but each one of them is an unfortunate consequence of sin.

In this post we will discover one more problem caused by sin. Sin contaminates.

Adam and Eve had basked in the pure and pristine presence of God, their Creator, in the Paradise He had designed just for them. Their all-wise and almighty Father had anticipated everything they would need and had provided it for them. It was bliss! We can only imagine.

But the Evil One, the originator of sin, the selfish, self-deceived fool Who dared to rebel against God in His very presence, could not be content to corrupt himself but contaminated other angels in Heaven who were cast out with him.

Sinning against God was terrible in itself, but the fact that it contaminated other holy beings shows the corruptive influence of sin. Its malicious nature is demonstrated in the fact that it is not content to merely destroy itself, but is driven to contaminate as many others as possible.

Incidentally, the reason that Adam was able to be redeemed from his sin and Lucifer wasn't, was because Lucifer originated sin and did so in the very presence of God. But Adam's sin was due to the contamination of the Evil One. And the contamination spread to you and me. We are certainly able to infect others!

Sin is insidious enough by itself. But it never exists in a vacuum it has to drag others into its grip.

Don't think you can handle sin. Don't think that a "little" sin won't matter. One sin was enough to contaminate the entire human race! You are contaminated. You will contaminate others.

Never underestimate the power of sin. And never underestimate your need to depend on the salvation of Christ, the cleansing power of His blood, the sanctifying power of His Spirit, and the purifying effect of His Word! Your only hope for decontamination!