Dealing With The Big Three

There are three things that are common to every human being that if not kept in check, can be the downfall of our lives. To begin looking at this topic, let’s go to the beginning. Let’s look in the book of Genesis!

Genesis 2:8–17 NIV

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God Made Everything Good!

Everything that God made was good. We know that from the first chapter of Genesis and the account of the creation. It was good and after man was created, it was very good. Well He continues here with the Garden of Eden with every tree being good. There is only one instruction. Don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil cause when you do you will die. The end of this chapter we find God creating the woman from the man and they became husband and wife and were not ashamed even though they were naked.

Genesis 3:1–5 NIV

1 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’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 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.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Don’t Add to the Word!

We saw the instruction that God gave to Adam in the second chapter, don’t eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He never told Adam anything about touching it. When we add to what the word says, we really don’t know God. So here we go! Here’s the Big 3.

Genesis 3:6–7 NIV

6 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. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

The Big Three!

When the woman saw that the “tree was good for food.”

This is the first one we need to guard against. The Lust of the Flesh. We want stuff that pleases us like food, big car, lots of money, creature comforts. None of those things are bad in themselves but when we lust after them

“pleasing to the eye” Lust of the Eyes - what are looking at are we lusting after people or things that feed the lust of the eyes like movies or

“desirable for gaining wisdom” The Pride of Life.

Position, honor, prestige that causes us to become prideful. These three are what John mentions.

1 John 2:15–17 NIV

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Whoever Does God’s Will!

These three things are common to all but if we do the will of God we overcome them. How do we do that? Jesus gave us the example on how to do this.

Matthew 4:1–11 NIV

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

We Overcome the Big Three With God’s Word!

Look at what Jesus did. He overcame and beat the devil in the three areas that Eve fell in.

He had fasted forty days and forty nights and the devil came with

The Lust of the Flesh. You’re hungry feed the flesh and turn the stones to bread. Jesus answered with the word. Man shall not live by bread alone by but every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Throw yourself down Jesus and angels will catch you, The Pride of Life. Jesus’ reply, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.

Look from this mountain and see what I can give you if you worship me. The Lust of the Eyes. Jesus replies, Get out of here because the word says we only worship the Lord our God.

We conquer the Big 3 not on our own but with the word of God. That is more powerful than any temptation. The Word is Powerful!!