Tag Archives: adam and eve

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – We Are Kings

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“The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life because of this one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

Jack protested angrily, “Why should I be held accountable for the sin of Adam? Why should I be judged and condemned to eternal punishment because of the disobedience of someone who lived centuries ago? I resent that his action should involve me.” I asked my young student friend if he remembered the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor followed by the declaration of war by then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. “Yes,” he said, “I’m a student of history and I remember that event very well.” I reminded Jack that every able-bodied man who was of age was automatically conscripted to join the United States Army to do battle against Japan. “Yes,” he said, “I know.”

“Don’t you think it unfair, following your logic, that the President of the United States should make a decision that would affect young men like yourself? Remember that tens of thousands of them died on the field of battle. Was that fair?”

“Well,” he replied, “that was the only decision that could be made. We had to protect our homeland. We had been attacked and had to defend ourselves.”

“So it was with Adam,” I explained. “The wisdom of the Almighty Creator was attacked by Satan in the Garden of Eden and the battle was lost when Adam and Eve, the epitome of God’s creation, surrendered to Satan’s tempting lies. God, in His sovereignty, wisdom and grace caused the results of the disobedience of Adam to be borne by the rest of us in the human race. But the judgement of God which demands penalty for sin was intercepted by God’s love. while we were yet in our sins God proved His love for us by sending the Lord Jesus Christ to die for us. Now, through accepting God’s free gift by faith, we can become kings of life because of this one man, Jesus Christ.”

Simply stated, one man, Adam, through his disobedience to God, introduced sin into the world, and one man, Jesus Christ, through his obedience to God, paid the penalty for that sin for all who would believe and trust in Him.

Bible Reading: Romans 5:14-21

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Christ has overcome the sin I inherited from Adam by liberating me from the king of death, and making me a king of light. As an expression of my deep gratitude for His love and grace, I will seek every opportunity to communicate this good news to others who still live in darkness that they, too, may enjoy the abundant supernatural life which I now enjoy.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Where Are You?

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Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” —Genesis 3:9

When I play hide-and-seek with my granddaughters, I will show them a new hiding place. Then, when it is my turn to find them, they will go to the place I just showed them.

That is what it’s like when we try to hide from God. In the Garden of Eden, God called out to Adam, “Where are you?” But God knew exactly where Adam was. And He knew exactly what Adam had done. God wasn’t asking Adam this question because He was clueless and looking for information.

By asking “Where are you?” God was saying, in effect, “Well, Adam, how is it going? How did that work out for you—the whole sin thing? Was I right on this, or was I wrong? How are you feeling about it? Is this good? Did I tell you the truth, or did the Devil lie to you?”

God wanted Adam and Eve to confess what they had done so He could set it right, because God cannot forgive a sin that has not been confessed.

The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What does it mean to confess our sin? The word confess used in this verse means “to agree with.”

And what is God’s opinion of sin? He hates it. What else does God think of sin? It offends Him. So we have to see sin that way, stop rationalizing it and justifying it, and start saying, “God, Your opinion of sin is right. I agree with You. I hate it. It was wrong for me to do. I am sorry for it.” Until we come to this conclusion about our sin, it will separate us from God.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Opened to Earth, Closed to Heaven

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And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

—Genesis 3:8

If you happen to hear a dirty joke and don’t get it, way to go. All too often, we know more about this wicked world than we need to know. And we know far too less about God’s Word, which we need to grow. Writing to the believers in Rome, the apostle Paul said, “I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19).

When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened to Earth and closed to Heaven. Then God showed up. It appears from the way it is stated in the text that this was a daily occurrence. And normally it would have been a welcomed visit. But this time Adam wasn’t waiting for the Lord’s arrival. Rather, he was hiding.

It’s interesting to note when God came to Adam. It wasn’t in the heat of the day, lest Adam would think God was coming to him in the heat of His passion. Nor did God come to Adam in the early morning, lest Adam would think God couldn’t wait to punish him for his sin. No, God came to Adam in the cool of the day, loving and patient, yet hurt and demanding confession.

Sometimes when we sin, we will find a way to rationalize it. We might even assume that maybe God is okay with it because the consequences aren’t yet evident. But God is never okay with sin. And know this: The Bible says, “Your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). If you were to translate that from the original language, it ultimately would read like this: Your sin will find you out. It will come out—maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe a month from now, or maybe ten years from now. But it will find you out.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Journey Toward Unselfishness

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. . . I die daily [I face death every day and die to self]. – 1 Corinthians 15:31

Selfishness is not learned behavior; we are born with it. The Bible refers to it as “sin nature.” Adam and Eve sinned against God by doing what He told them not to do, and the sin principle they established was forever passed to every person who would ever be born. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, and to deliver us from them. He came to undo what Adam did.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes to live in our spirit, and if we allow that renewed part of us to rule our decisions, we can overcome the sin nature in our flesh. It doesn’t go away, but the greater One Who lives in us helps us overcome it daily (see Gal. 5:16). That does not mean that we never sin, but we can improve and make progress throughout our lives.

I certainly cannot say I have overcome selfishness entirely—none of us can on this side of eternity. But that doesn’t mean we don’t do everything we can to grow closer to God and die to our selfishness. We can have hope of improving daily. I am on a journey and, although I may not arrive, I have determined that when Jesus comes to take me home He will find me pressing toward this goal (see Phil. 3:12–13).

The apostle Paul made the following statement: . . . It is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me (Gal. 2:20). Paul meant that he was no longer living for himself and his own will, but for God and His will. I was greatly encouraged when I discovered through study that Paul made this statement approximately twenty years after his conversion. Learning to live unselfishly was a journey for him, just as it is for everyone else. Paul also said, . . . I die daily . . . (1 Cor. 15:31). In other words, putting others first was a daily battle and required daily decisions. Each of us must decide how we will live and what we will live for; and there is no better time to do so than right now.

Trust in Him Are you pressing toward the goal of living for God rather than yourself? Dying to yourself is a process that you can improve daily. Trust God to give you the strength to die to yourself daily.

 

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Where Are You?

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READ: Genesis 3:1-10

The Lord God . . . said to him, “Where are you?” —Genesis 3:9

The two teenage boys heard the sound of their parents’ car and panicked. How would they explain the mess in the house? Their father’s instructions had been clear that morning before he and their mother drove out of town: no parties, no rowdy friends. But the unruly friends came and the boys allowed them to stay, despite their father’s warning. Now the house was in a jumble and the boys were tipsy and disheveled. In fear, they hid.

That was how Adam and Eve must have felt after they had chosen to disobey God and then heard the sound of Him approaching. In fear, they hid themselves. “Where are you?” God called (Gen. 3:9). Adam responded, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (v.10). Sin makes us feel afraid and naked, and we become vulnerable to even more temptation.

God is still calling to people: “Where are you?” Many run away, trying to hide from Him or drown out the sound of His voice. Yet we cannot hide from God; He knows exactly where we are. Rather than hide in fear, we can respond in this way: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). —Lawrence Darmani

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood. —Jones

The only place to hide sin is under the blood of Christ.

Bible in a year: Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

Insight

God did not force Adam and Eve to obey Him but allowed them to choose. Similarly, He did not force them to come to Him after they sinned. Instead, He called to them and allowed them to respond to His call.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – One Life to Give

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Joyce meyer

I die daily [I face death every day and die to self]. —1 Corinthians 15:31

You and I were not born knowing how to love others. In fact, we were born with a selfish, “all about me” attitude. The Bible refers to this as “sin nature.” Adam and Eve sinned against God by doing what He told them not to do, and the sin principle they established was forever passed to every person who would ever be born.

God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins and to deliver us from them. He came to undo what Adam did. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes to live in our spirit, and if we allow that renewed part of us to rule our decisions, we can overcome the selfish, sin nature of our flesh. It won’t go away, but the greater One who lives in us helps us overcome it daily (see Gal. 5:16). That does not mean we never sin, but we can improve and make progress throughout our lives.

Paul wrote our verse for today: ” I die daily.” in other words, even this well-known apostle struggled with putting others first; he found that doing so was a daily battle and required daily decisions. Each of us must decide how we will live and what we will live for; there is no bet¬ter time to do so than right now. You and I have one life to live and one life to give, so the question is: How are you going to spend your life?

Love God Today: Remember that whatever you do for others, you are doing for God.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; A.W. – A Woman of Influence

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In 1999, Time published a list of the 100 most influential people of the twentieth century – individuals known for changing the world. Based on its popularity, the magazine made it an annual event. In 2014, a record 41 women made the list. One woman, however, should top the list since the beginning of time: Eve.

When the woman saw the tree was good for food… she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6

In today’s verse, Eve made a decision that affected not only her future, but the future of all mankind. God had given instruction to Adam and Eve about which fruits they could eat in the garden, but Satan twisted God’s words and convinced Eve to go against God’s command. Eve then influenced her husband to do the same. The consequences have influenced every other human since.

Like Eve, each decision you make has a ripple effect that influences others. As you pray today for your own decision making, also ask God to help the nation’s leaders resist the temptation of going against His commands and to guide each decision they make.

Recommended Reading: I Thessalonians 4:1-12

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Where Are You?

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Charles Stanley
Genesis 3:7-13
After not listening to God, Adam and Eve found themselves in a terrible predicament. Their first reaction was to cover up rather than “fess up.” Fig leaves can never hide the root problem of sin (Gen. 3:7), but even today, we still try this approach. Instead of acknowledging and confessing sin, we frequently look for a quick fix to the situation.
Adam and Eve’s second response was to avoid God. They knew they were guilty of disobeying, but instead of coming to Him to reestablish their relationship, they hid from Him in fear (v. 8). We often do the same thing when sin breaks our fellowship with the Lord. Have you ever found yourself avoiding prayer and time in the Scriptures because you were struggling with sin and feelings of guilt?
A third reaction was to try and avoid personal responsibility by blaming others (vv. 12-13). Shifting guilt to another person can’t remove it. We are each responsible before God for our actions, regardless of the circumstances or who else is involved.
Despite Adam and Eve’s sin and their evasive ways of handling it, the Lord came to them (v. 9). Our sin is never large enough to keep Him away; God still calls to us and asks, “Where are you?” He knows what we have done and why, but He questions us so that we can come to realize our desperate state.
Never let guilt or shame keep you from the Lord. He seeks those who have made a mess of their life and speaks to them through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Forgiveness and a restored relationship await all who are willing to listen, confess, and repent.

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Generosity of Love

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John MacArthur

“[Love] does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5).

Love transforms selfish people into self-sacrificing people.

From the time of Adam and Eve, replacing God with self has been at the root of all sin. Our first parents had only one restriction: “From the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:17). But Eve believed the serpent’s lie that God was trying to keep her from realizing her full potential (Gen. 3:5). She ate the forbidden fruit, gave some to Adam, and together they plunged the human race into sin and death.

Christ changed all that when He came, not “to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Unlike Adam and Eve, He didn’t seek His own comfort or gain, but made whatever sacrifices were necessary to redeem lost sinners.

It is reported that the inscription on a tombstone in a small English cemetery reads,

Here lies a miser who lived for himself, And cared for nothing but gathering wealth. Now where he is or how he fares, Nobody knows and nobody cares.

How tragic to spend your entire life enslaved to your selfishness. In contrast, a tombstone in the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London reads, “Sacred to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God.” The first tombstone testifies to the futility of greed and selfishness; the second to the glory of generosity and self-sacrifice.

Christ is the perfect example of self-sacrifice. If you love Him, you should be characterized by the same quality. Then others will see your genuineness and commitment to them, and by God’s grace be drawn to your Lord.

What epitaph might your family and friends write about you? I pray it is one that glorifies God for the selfless love He demonstrated through you.

Suggestions for Prayer; Thank God for those who have made significant sacrifices toward your spiritual growth. Seek to imitate their love.

For Further Study; List the fifteen qualities of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, then determine how self-sacrifice relates to each one.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – The Only Source

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This time of year many gardens flourish…blooming flowers, ripening tomatoes, maturing fruit on the tree. But storms have taken their toll in some areas of the country. Floods causing roots to rot, winds stripping corn stalks of their leaves and pulling trees up to expose roots to the sun are examples of plants being taken away from their life source.

The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

Genesis 2:7

That’s what happened to Adam. He was in the presence of God, his life source, until sin pulled him away from the beautiful relationship he had with His Creator. The Holy One had provided all that he and Eve would ever have needed, but Satan craftily enticed Eve into wanting more…and Adam consciously disobeyed the Lord’s only command. The consequences of God’s judgment, long-reaching and ongoing, have plagued mankind ever since.

Sin drives you from the presence of your life source. But just as the Lord cared for Adam and Eve as they were turned from the garden, He will secure your presence with Him forever if you believe in Christ as Savior. Pray now that the people of this nation will turn back to God – the only source of life.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 139:7-14, 23-24

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – We Are Kings

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dr_bright

“The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life because of this one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

Jack protested angrily, “Why should I be held accountable for the sin of Adam? Why should I be judged and condemned to eternal punishment because of the disobedience of someone who lived centuries ago? I resent that his action should involve me.” I asked my young student friend if he remembered the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor followed by the declaration of war by then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. “Yes,” he said, “I’m a student of history and I remember that event very well.” I reminded Jack that every able-bodied man who was of age was automatically conscripted to join the United States Army to do battle against Japan. “Yes,” he said, “I know.”

“Don’t you think it unfair, following your logic, that the President of the United States should make a decision that would affect young men like yourself? Remember that tens of thousands of them died on the field of battle. Was that fair?”

“Well,” he replied, “that was the only decision that could be made. We had to protect our homeland. We had been attacked and had to defend ourselves.”

“So it was with Adam,” I explained. “The wisdom of the Almighty Creator was attacked by Satan in the Garden of Eden and the battle was lost when Adam and Eve, the epitome of God’s creation, surrendered to Satan’s tempting lies. God, in His sovereignty, wisdom and grace caused the results of the disobedience of Adam to be borne by the rest of us in the human race. But the judgement of God which demands penalty for sin was intercepted by God’s love. while we were yet in our sins God proved His love for us by sending the Lord Jesus Christ to die for us. Now, through accepting God’s free gift by faith, we can become kings of life because of this one man, Jesus Christ.”

Simply stated, one man, Adam, through his disobedience to God, introduced sin into the world, and one man, Jesus Christ, through his obedience to God, paid the penalty for that sin for all who would believe and trust in Him.

Bible Reading: Romans 5:14-21

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Christ has overcome the sin I inherited from Adam by liberating me from the king of death, and making me a king of light. As an expression of my deep gratitude for His love and grace, I will seek every opportunity to communicate this good news to others who still live in darkness that they, too, may enjoy the abundant supernatural life which I now enjoy.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Why Does God Allow Evil?

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 2:15-17

When Christians discuss how and when evil entered the world, they most often point to the serpent’s temptation of Eve. But in fact, we must go back a bit further to the moment when God planted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. By offering Adam and Eve a choice between obedience and rebellion, the Lord allowed for evil to enter His perfect creation.

Now, you are probably asking the very question that plagues many believers as well as unbelievers: Why does a loving God allow evil? Some unsatisfactory answers have been given over the years—for example, that the Lord doesn’t care or that He’s helpless to prevent evil. Such responses contradict what God says about Himself in Scripture (Rom. 5:8; Ps. 47:8). The truth is, our loving Father wields absolute authority over this world.

God had a reason for letting evil enter the world. The Tree of Knowledge was a testing ground. Adam and Eve had to choose between rebellion and love, evil and righteousness, disobedience and obedience. Because the Lord desired love from the human beings He created, He had to offer a choice. Genuine love is given freely. The alternatives were either to skip the whole creation process or to program mankind like robots to give Him glory and praise.

The Lord gives two assurances regarding evil. First, His purpose is not for us to sin (James 1:13). He desires that we live with righteous intent so that evil finds no room in our hearts. Second, when we are touched by evil, He will make the situation work for our good (Rom. 8:28).

Theirs Is the Kingdom

The Dominican Republic, like many Caribbean island nations, is known for resorts that cater to tourists. But outside the town of Puerto Plata’s manicured beaches and villas is another world—one you wouldn’t see from the highway.

Behind the sugar cane fields are the trash heaps of the local landfill, and behind that are shantytowns filled with families—mostly refugees from Haiti—who methodically sort through the garbage, looking for anything recyclable or salvageable. And just past the dump, hidden away at the top of a small hill, is an old concrete compound where drug addicts are in rehab.

It’s right here, in the midst of poverty and struggle, that the light of God’s kingdom is growing stronger each day. Pain and darkness abound in the dump, but love and dignity also flourish in this impoverished community. Many have become believers, and pastors have risen up from their midst, sharing the gospel and discipling younger Christians.

And from the rehab center on the hill, a steady stream of fervent prayer flows—not just for these warriors’ own freedom, but also for their nation and the rest of the world. Led by an ex-addict turned pastor and other men he’s mentored, these brothers are inviting God’s kingdom to come on earth, “as it is in heaven.”

When an intern from In Touch Ministries visited this community on a mission trip, he took Spanish-language Messengers with him. And in giving away these precious discipleship tools to believers with few earthly possessions, he gained a new understanding of true wealth.

To read about his life-changing experience, visit intouch.org/Messenger.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Freely Forgiven

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Charles Stanley

“How could God ever forgive me? You don’t know what I’ve done.”

“How could I have done such an awful thing? I can never forgive myself.”

As a pastor, these are similar to questions I hear from people who have never fully understood God’s forgiveness. When we do not realize how the Lord’s mercy applies to our daily lives, the result is bondage, which stifles our ability to love and accept others. It also chokes the abundant life that Christ promised to those of us who believe.

Forgiveness is “the act of setting someone free from an obligation resulting from a wrong done against you.” For example, a debt is forgiven when you free the offender of his responsibility to pay back what he owes you. True forgiveness, then, involves three elements, all of which are necessary: an injury, a debt resulting from the injury, and a cancellation of the debt.

In God’s economy, sin creates a deficit; that is, something is taken or demanded from the sinner. What He ultimately requires of the transgressor is death:

The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “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 from it you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17).

The result of their sin was that death came into the world—not only physical death but also eternal separation from God (Rev. 20:15).

Why did God not immediately snuff out the lives of Adam and Eve? Why does He not do the same for all sinners? The answer is simple yet life-changing in its profundity: There is something God desires more than retribution for the disrespect shown Him—He wants fellowship with us.

He cared enough about Adam and Eve to slay an animal and make garments of skin to cover their nakedness and hide their shame (Gen. 3:17). This was the beginning of the sacrificial system that restored the fellowship between God and His people.

God was willing to move quickly to reinstate fellowship with Adam and Eve, and He will do the same for us today. In light of His mercy, shouldn’t we likewise extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us?

God doesn’t look at sins on a case-by-case basis to determine whether He will grant forgiveness. During Old Testament times, any person could receive atonement for transgressions simply by following prescribed steps. Similarly, to anyone desiring forgiveness today, it is freely available through Christ’s death on the cross:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us” (Eph. 1:7-8).

Notice that forgiveness is “according to the riches of His grace.” Scripture is clear that forgiveness is a gift, available for the asking (1 John 1:9).The details of what we have done, why we did it, and how many times we did it are irrelevant.

Are there sins from your past that continue to hang over you like a cloud? Do you doubt that God hears you because of sinful choices you’ve made? Do you feel that your potential for the kingdom of God has been destroyed?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have not yet come to grips with God’s solution to your sin. You are still holding on to a way of thinking that can keep you in bondage for the rest of your days on earth. You have set yourself up for a defeated life in which you will never reach your potential in the kingdom of God.

God wants you to be free. And because He does, He sacrificed what was dearest to Him. I encourage you to meditate on the concepts in this article. Ask God to sink them deep into your heart so they become the grid through which you interpret the experiences of life. When you can see yourself as a forgiven child, you will be able to enjoy fellowship with the Father, which was made possible by the death of His Son. Then you can begin to fulfill His marvelous calling on your life.

Adapted from The Gift of Forgiveness, by Charles F. Stanley, 1991.

 

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Why the Cross?

We wear them on our jewelry, we place them on our cars, we put them on top of our churches – but what does the cross truly represent to you? In this message, Dr. Stanley takes a look back on the history of crucifixions and the reasoning behind Christ’s death. (Watch Why the Cross?)

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – One Life to Give

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Joyce meyer

I die daily [I face death every day and die to self].

—1 Corinthians 15:31

You and I were not born knowing how to love others. In fact, we were born with a selfish, “all about me” attitude. The Bible refers to this as “sin nature.” Adam and Eve sinned against God by doing what He told them not to do and the sin principle they established was forever passed to every person who would ever be born.

God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, and to deliver us from them. He came to undo what Adam did. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes to live in our sprit and if we allow that renewed part of us to rule our decisions, we can overcome the selfish, sin nature of our flesh. It won’t go away, but the greater One who lives in us helps us overcome it daily (see Galatians 5:16). That does not mean we never sin, but we can improve and make progress throughout our lives.

I was greatly encouraged one day when I discovered that the apostle Paul wrote, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me approximately twenty years after his conversion (Galatians 2:20, NKJV). Learning to live unselfishly was a journey for him, just as it is for everyone else.

Paul also wrote our verse for today: “I die daily.” In other words, even this well-known apostle struggled with putting others first; he found that doing so was a daily battle and required daily decisions. Each of us must decide how we will live and what we will live for; and there is no better time to do so than right now. You and I have one life to live and one life to give, so the question is: How are you going to spend your life? I firmly believe that if each of us does our part to put the welfare of others first that we can see and be part of a revolution of love—and that kind of revolution has the potential to change the world.

Love God Today: Remember that whatever you do for others, you are doing for God.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Shutting Our Ears to the Lord

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Charles Stanley

James 1:22-25

When we fail to listen to God, we pay attention to wrong voices, fall prey to deception, and refuse to submit to the Lord. All three negative results are evident in Adam and Eve’s decision to eat from the forbidden tree. What other consequences result from shutting our ears to God?

First, we will make decisions based on their appeal. To entice Adam and Eve to disobey, the Devil twisted God’s words and misused legitimate desires the Lord had given to the couple. We have the Holy Spirit to teach us how to keep our appetites and desires in check.

Second, we will excuse our wrongdoings and blame others. Adam pointed a finger at Eve, and she blamed the serpent. Satan can tempt us, but the responsibility is ours if we consent.

Third, we will experience divine discipline. Not only that, but others will also suffer when we disobey. The first man and woman were cast from God’s presence, and their lives became much harder. Sin entered their family and led to strife and death—their son Abel was murdered by his brother Cain. Adam and Eve’s choice affected all future generations as well. Through them, sin entered the world and resides in us (Rom. 5:12).

Fourth, we will miss out on God’s best. The first humans lost both Eden’s splendor and perfect communion with the Lord. Unconfessed sin will separate us, too, from fellowship with the Father.

Closing ears to God’s voice can happen in a moment’s time. Safeguard yourself. Commit to genuine listening: hearing, remembering, and doing what God says.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Lord’s Rescue Plan

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Charles Stanley

Romans 3:10-26

The Creator placed two people with clean souls in the Garden of Eden, but when Adam and Eve chose to disobey, their hearts became sinful. God had told them that the penalty for their sin was death (Gen. 2: 17).

Mankind’s first parents bequeathed their sin nature to the entire human race. So we are all born with hearts rebelling against God. Like a toddler who defies his parents by touching a forbidden item, we disobey our heavenly Father because we prefer to follow our own desires.

It is not our wrong conduct that condemns us, but rather the fact that our nature is corrupt. Whether good or bad, our deeds don’t determine where we will spend eternity. Apart from the Lord, no one is righteous—not a single person has done enough good to earn a place in heaven. But the Father loves us and wants us to live with Him eternally. So, before the creation of the world, He planned a solution.

The rescue plan was simple—a perfect sacrifice had to be made for mankind’s sin so that everyone could be blameless before a holy God. By accepting this sacrifice on his or her own behalf, any individual would receive a new nature to replace the corrupted one. In addition, the Holy Spirit would indwell that person to provide truth and guidance.

The sacrifice was Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, bearing all our sin. When we trust Him as Savior, our “flesh” nature dies with Him. The Holy Spirit comes to make our hearts new so we can find joy in obeying God. We are rescued and set free!

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Withstanding Satan’s Attacks

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 6:10-11

The Enemy’s attacks against our minds are skillful. By watching how we live, he can determine when and where we are defenseless. While he is not omniscient, he knows enough to work against us.

For instance, he directs our attention to something we want, causing us to get so wrapped up in perceived needs that we forget the many wonderful things our Father has already provided. Once we have narrowed our focus to a desire for satisfaction, Satan steps in to meet our craving with what he wants us to have—something that will ultimately draw us away from God.

By observing us, he knows the times and situations when we’re most likely to say yes to temptation. He will do anything in his power to get our minds off the Lord and will distract us even during prayer. In addition, he understands our emotional climate and looks for fatigue, loneliness, and other vulnerabilities that he can exploit. Satan urges us to “want it now” and tries to hide from view any future consequences.

The Enemy works to create doubt in our minds. He wants us to question the truth of the Word, and even to feel unsure about our salvation. Once disbelief sets in, as it did for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-6), our minds will start to rethink the interpretation of Scripture in order to justify our conduct.

Though we may be susceptible to his schemes, we’re not helpless against Satan (2 Tim. 1:7). Since our Father protects us, our Savior intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit guides us to truth, “resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4: 7).

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Making Healthy Choices

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Joyce meyer

And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight or to be desired—good (suitable, pleasant) for food.—Genesis 2:9

Learn to do everything you do for God’s glory, including eating. Look at your dinner plate and ask if what you are about to eat is mostly what God created for you. Don’t view eating as a secular event that has nothing to do with your relationship with God. Don’t forget that God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and told them what they could eat. If eating had nothing to do with their walk with Him, He probably would not have mentioned food. Make good choices! Each time you choose good healthy foods, you are choosing life, which is God’s gift to you. He wants you to look great and feel great, and you can, if you keep in mind that your body is the temple of God and the fuel you put into it determines how it will operate and for how long.

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Generosity of Love

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“[John MacArthurLove] does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5).

From the time of Adam and Eve, replacing God with self has been at the root of all sin. Our first parents had only one restriction: “From the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:17). But Eve believed the serpent’s lie that God was trying to keep her from realizing her full potential (Gen. 3:5). She ate the forbidden fruit, gave some to Adam, and together they plunged the human race into sin and death.

Christ changed all that when He came, not “to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Unlike Adam and Eve, He didn’t seek His own comfort or gain, but made whatever sacrifices were necessary to redeem lost sinners.

It is reported that the inscription on a tombstone in a small English cemetery reads,

Here lies a miser who lived for himself, And cared for nothing but gathering wealth. Now where he is or how he fares, Nobody knows and nobody cares.

How tragic to spend your entire life enslaved to your selfishness. In contrast, a tombstone in the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London reads, “Sacred to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God.” The first tombstone testifies to the futility of greed and selfishness; the second to the glory of generosity and self- sacrifice.

Christ is the perfect example of self-sacrifice. If you love Him, you should be characterized by the same quality. Then others will see your genuineness and commitment to them, and by God’s grace be drawn to your Lord.

What epitaph might your family and friends write about you? I pray it is one that glorifies God for the selfless love He demonstrated through you.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for those who have made significant sacrifices toward your spiritual growth. Seek to imitate their love.

For Further Study:

List the fifteen qualities of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4- 7, then determine how self-sacrifice relates to each one.

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Charles Stanley – Moments of Weakness

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2 Samuel 11:1-5

The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who sinned against the Lord in moments of weakness. These true stories—beginning with the account of Adam and Eve—are given to us for our instruction (1 Cor. 10:11). The Father wants us to learn from the mistakes of others.

Idleness allowed King David’s mind to contemplate adultery with Bathsheba. Weariness led Elijah to consider death preferable to life (1 Kings 19:4). Pride may have played a part in Eve’s listening to the serpent (Gen. 3:6), while lust may have prompted Solomon to desire many wives, including unbelievers (1 Kings 11:1-3). Add to these a sense of spiritual or emotional neediness and emptiness, and we have at least six situations that are fertile ground for temptation. In some biblical examples, enticement was resisted; in others, the individuals gave in. I’m certain every one of us can identify.

While there are many kinds of temptation, they follow a similar pattern. The eye looks, the mind desires, and the will acts. King David looked at Uriah’s wife, inquired about her, and then he acted. Another Israelite, Achan, who helped in the Jericho conquest, noticed all the material wealth, coveted it in his mind, and took what he wanted (Josh. 7:20-21).

No matter what’s creating vulnerability, each person is ultimately responsible

for his or her own actions. So in times of weakness, remember the word halt. Its letters can remind you not to let yourself become too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Most importantly, fix your attention on the Lord, draw strength from Him, and experience victory over temptation.