God's good is always better than all other alternative experiences combined

There are many voices that are influencing us today. Many of these voices are attempting to paint reality for us.

These voices come in various manners:

There are verbal statements made by people

There are written statements on social media

There are landmarks set to make statements - “statue of liberty”…etc

In all cases, these statements or messages have the goal of causing us to believe something. Sometimes they want us to change our beliefs. Sometimes these voices want to strengthen our beliefs.

Even something as simple as a “red light” is communicating something: STOP!

McDonalds branded some of their food by showing young people with earbuds listening and moving to music: “Pop culture eats McDonalds”

Dominoes Insurance on Pizza Commercial has a message.

It is imperative that we take time to know what is true and be faithful to what is true in the midst of many messages that would cause us to believe otherwise.

Messages like, the pursuit of pleasure if the purpose of life

Messages like, follow your heart.

Messages like, money is king

Messages like, knowledge is power

Messages like, I answer to no one

Messages like, gaming is what life’s about.

(1) The tree in the middle of the garden makes a statement

What did the "tree in the midst of the garden" tell us about God?

It tells us that Eve knew she was under authority.

(1) The tree in the middle of the garden makes a statement

It tells us that man understood his accountability to God.

It tells us that God was in charge or sovereign.

It tells us that God gave man an opportunity to choose.

It tells us how evident God's authority was before Adam & Eve.

(2) The temptation of Eve in the garden makes a statement

How can we understand Eve's deception, in consideration that she knew God's authority and there were three reasons why she rejected God's authority according to ? What was she deceived about? What did she think was true that was a lie? She clearly knew and saw the authority of God.

Eve believed that her immediate experience was more true than what God said would be her immediate experience. Eve believed that her immediate experience was better than what God had already provided for her (Himself-connected; garden, provision, husband...etc)

Principle: [Believing] What is true about God's person and provision is always true and infinitely better than all alternative experiences accumulated.

(3) The tendency of mankind in the world makes a statement

If this was difficult for Eve to live out, think of how much more difficult it is now for us to live this out since sin has corrupted our nature. It is not just that we were enslaved to the consequences of what Adam & Eve did, but we are enslaved to the corrupt nature of Adam and Eve.

(i) It is difficult because now we have a tendency towards determining what is good -

(ii) It is difficult because of our tendency towards the pursuit of pleasure -

(iii) It is difficult because of our temptation to be superior in knowledge -

(4) The triumph of Jesus in the wilderness makes a way

In Jesus we see this deception confronted and defeated. What is it that we see?

We see Jesus declaring the authority of God in word. Jesus was under his authority.

We see Jesus declaring that what he has in God is infinitely more true and better than any alternative, immediate experiences.

We see Jesus declaring firmly that his identity was in the truth of God's Person and God's provision.

Because Christ has accomplished this as the Spirit-led Savior, he now eternally delivers those who follow him. -

Hebrews 5:8–9 KJV 1900

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Application Thoughts:

Application Thoughts:

Application Thoughts:

For the unbeliever: What God has provided in Jesus Christ is infinitely more true and better than all alternative experiences - be they experiences that we think are good, be they experiences that bring us physical pleasure, or be they experiences that increase our knowledge and thus our status.

For the unbeliever: What God has provided in Jesus Christ is infinitely more true and better than all alternative experiences - be they experiences that we think are good, be they experiences that bring us physical pleasure, or be they experiences that increase our knowledge and thus our status. (5) The test for Christians in this world begins with the belief in their own hearts

(5) The test for Christians in this world begins with the belief in their own hearts

What or how does this principle apply in the believer's life?

Maintain a Christ-centered understanding of what is good

(1) Believe that the authority of Christ has been established by a different tree. - You cannot follow your feels. You must see what is TRUE.

Colossians 3:14–15 KJV 1900

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

(2) Believe that the ability to submit to God’s Word has been given to you through the Holy Spirit -

Ephesians 5:18–24 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

(3) Submitting to God’s Holy Spirit does not happen involuntarily. You must engage your flesh with spiritual disciplines that exercise your senses in obedience to the Word -

Hebrews 5:11–14 KJV 1900

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation A. Failure to Progress in the Faith (5:12–14)

The writer is clearly saying that the mature Christian, the eater of solid food, constantly exercises himself in spiritual perception, and the result is manifest. He can “distinguish good from evil” and, therefore, the implication runs, will not be in danger of doing the wrong thing to which the readers find themselves attracted.

God’s good is always better than all other alternative experiences accumulated.