I. Introduction and Review (Revelation 3:11)
A. Happy Mother’s Day!
B. We are studying the Book of Genesis, verse by verse
C. We have worked through all of chapter 1, and chapter 2
- The marvellous and true account of the creation of the universe, about 6,000 years ago
- The creation of a perfect Garden in Eden
- The making of a Man - Adam (Genesis 2:7)
- The forming of Eve (Genesis 2:18)
- God Brought the Woman to the Man - the First Marriage (Genesis 2:22-25)
- Everything was finished
- Everything was perfect!
- No competition. No rain. No storms. No thorns. No bugs.
- Just two people. Living in paradise - walking with God!
D. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
E. We now come to Chapter 3
- And we will watch as the most cunning creature God ever made used his wisdom for the ruin of all of mankind
- And learn from Eve’s entrapment, so you don’t fall for Satan’s lies as well!
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” - Revelation 3:11
II. Message
A. Meet the First Family (Genesis 2:21-25)
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” - Genesis 2:21-25
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Eve is in a perfect home with Adam
- She and her husband lived in a Garden
- No neighbours
- Just beautiful views in every direction!
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She has the best marriage
- Perfect harmony
- Each deeply in love with the other
- No competition
- No history to keep bringing up!
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They have perfect worship
- Nothing was confusing to them about God
- God is first and pre-eminent in their lives
- They walked with God, talked with Him
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There is no stress
- No hassles to deal with
- No storms, no thorns, no bugs
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She has perfect weather
- No rain
- Just a sauna, with steam rising from the ground every morning!
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She has perfect health
- Full of energy every morning
- The body of someone around 25 years of age
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Everything was perfect… why? Because everything was a gift from God
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” - James 1:17
B. Meet the Thief (Genesis 3:1)
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Adam and Eve are both doing their own things in the garden - they are not together at this moment
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And that was when some-THING stepped into view…
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A Serpent
“Now the serpent was more 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?” - Genesis 3:1
- Yes, a real, live, sneaky snake
- But, This is no ordinary snake - it is unique!
- This is Satan, the devil, Lucifer, disguised as a beautiful serpent
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” - Revelation 12:9
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He’s Very Subtle
- That means he was SO careful, so wise, cunning, crafty
- Like a snake in the grass - you don’t hear it coming!
- Beware of people who sound so right, but won’t let you question THEM!
- Did you notice that this serpent walks up to Eve? He targets her, not Adam!
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He’s a Talker
- He begins to speak to Eve, which was very unusual
- Speaks HER language
- Reasons with her
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A Debater
- He didn’t ask about the weather
- He questions what God had said
- “Did God not say you can be eating from EVERY tree in this beautiful garden?”
- The power of suggestion by a question!
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Eve’s Response:
“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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.” - Genesis 3:2,3
- That’s strange. God never said anything about not touching the fruit - just don’t EAT of it
- Eve gives the devil his inch… his opportunity
- By getting her to believe God was excessive
- And by getting her to ADD to the words of God
- The Progression:
- First Satan instils DOUBT in what God said
- Then Eve exaggerates what God said
- And Satan will take a MILE!
III. Conclusion
A. Satan is always trying to steal what God has given you
B. He approaches subtly - don’t let your guard down
C. He questions God’s Word - know it and believe it
D. Adding to or taking from God’s Word leads to destruction
E. Hold fast to what you have - don’t let anyone take your crown!
For more information, contact Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig at www.biblebc.com