Temptation

Intro: Valentines day & Temptation

How Temptation works and what to do about it.

Genesis 2:15–17 ESV

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:1–7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

The biblical writers have written this in such a way that you can’t help but put yourself in their shoes.

How Temptation Works

The serpent is crafty

Leads her to rethink…

“Did God actually say”

Genesis 2:16 - the LORD God

Just - God

Actually say you can’t eat any fruit?

Surely that’s not what he ment. Why is he is just being restrictive ?

Be very careful when someone gives advice who does not see God as LORD

Step 1 - Temptation gets you dwelling on it. (not thinking)

Then what happens?

The Woman miss quotes God

God is miss quoted 3 times by the woman

The LORD God said “you may surely eat of every tree”

Command of permission!

God gives a command of freedom not restriction

Woman says “We may eat”

The Woman adds to the commands of God

“Neither shall you touch it”

Sets up a rule without consequence - danger!

what’s a rule without consequences? = Nothing

The Woman softens the penalty or consequence

Woman says, “Lest you die”

Lest = to avoid the risk of

God says, “You shall surly die.”

Step 2 - You start changing what God actually said.

Why does this happen?

1) Suspect God is not giving the best

listen to the crafty snake

Genesis 3:5 ESV

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

95% true

Your eyes will be open

you will be “like God”

he is holding out on you

You will know good and evil

They know right and wrong

They have seen good - the garden

They don’t know evil

How often do you suspect God is not give you the best?

Marriage, House, School, Job, Kids

What happens we see God this way?

Falling on the ground is fun when there is 8-12 inches of snow - it creates a barrier between you and the ground.

2) The distance between thoughts and actions evaporates, like snow

Genesis 3:3 ESV

but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

God is no longer the center of the garden

The forbidden tree becomes the center

We need to notice something that gets played out the rest of the biblical text - and in our life today.

Theological Pattern of Seeing

Genesis 3:6 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Their thoughts lead to action - after talking for a while…

Saw that it was good for food

and Saw that is was a delight to the eyes

Took it, ate it,

gave to her husband (who was with her), - he ate it

After timing thinking they were moved into action.

They got what they wanted. Eyes were opened.

Haven’t we all be there?

What was the first thing they saw with these new eyes?

Nakedness = Shame & Guilt which = isolation from God and each other

Step 3 - You act out what you have been thinking about

How do we resist Temptation?

Spend time walking and talking with God

God regularly walked with them in the cool of the day

You and I need to spend time with God. Reorienting our eyes to see him

Read the bible

Pray

Go to church

Talk to Christians

Proverbs 3:5–7 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Run in the other direction

used car salesman

Someone not calling God LORD…

Get away you can’t handle it on your own!

Literally run!

Amos 5:14 ESV

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.

Amos 5:14 NLT

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.

Think about the goodness of God

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Psalm 1 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Write these verses on your wall

Make them your desktop image

Memorize them and say them everyday going to work.