Super Natural Stories

Trouble in a Garden Part 1

INTRO: As we unfold this discussion of Spiritual warfare my plan is to take our time and walk together through the scriptures with a supernatural mindset. When you hear the word “Mythology” what do you think of? Websters: “an Allegorical narrative”. A story particularly about gods, demigods or supernatural happenings. Some believe the stories in this book are “myth” and they may be right but one thing they can not argue is that every story is supernatural in nature. So in order to re capture a supernatural view of the Bible we will go back to the beginning where it all began.

A. A Place inside Creation

1. Genesis 1-2 are creation accounts that work through creation in its different simplicities and complexities.

2. Genesis 2:8-9 “The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground He caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

NOTE: v.15 God puts man in the garden to “cultivate it and keep it.” v.16-17 is the command to eat freely from any tree accept the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because in the day that you eat you will surely die. v.18-25 is Adam’s Match.com experience. Eve is made from his side as a helper and they are both naked and were not ashamed.

ILLUST: It appears and others have stated that this was the Kingdom of God on earth. The place where God would dwell with His people and they would experience the fullness of all He is and all they were created to be. John 14 Jesus said I go and prepare a place for you so you can dwell with Me there. Revelation 21 speaks of a new heaven and new earth and a “holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and v. 3 says “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”

B. A Supernatural Being in the Garden

NOTE: There is a lot of controversy surrounding this Serpent in the garden.

1. The Serpent Hebrew is (nachash)

a. basic meaning when it is in its noun form is “serpent”

b. verb form can mean “The diviner” which is one who communicated with other realms; to practice divination.

c. Can act like an adjective. In this form it may mean “copper” or “bronze” or give the idea of brilliance.

NOTE: You could conclude that this is an actual serpent possessed by an evil being known as “The great dragon, the devil, and satan.” Revelation 12:9

However I submit to you the thought that this was a supernatural being that was communicating with Eve and that these spiritual beings were not uncommon in this realm called Eden?

The reasoning may be found in two other texts. Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. Here the writers are speaking a judgment against the king of Tyre and the king of Babylon.

ILLUST: Ezekiel 28:1-19 “say to the leader of Tyre . . . you are a man and not God. . .” v.2 The leader has gained riches through wisdom and used them only for himself and now he will be judge by the most ruthless of nations.

v.11 another word comes to Ezekiel about the king of Tyre but the language takes on supernatural characteristics.

“You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; . . .” v.12-13

“You were the anointed Cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire.” v.14

NOTE: “Cherub is a winged supernatural (angelic) being that serves God in a number of ways.”

Ezekiel 1 when describing this vision of the thrown of God, he saw four Cherub called “living beings” also in Revelation 4:5-11. These are throne guardians described with all this brilliance.

Interestingly enough Isaiah 6: 1-2 describes the Throne of God and he sees “Seraphim” with the same description as these living creatures. The word “Seraphim” means a kind of Serpent and the root can mean “to burn”. Numbers 21:6

So without even going to Isaiah 14 you can see that a more comprehensive understanding of the Bible could easily lead one to see that this was no snake in the garden but a supernatural being that desired the death of God’s prized creation, mankind. And this struggle is as real today as it was back in this garden.

C. The Big Lie About Paradise!

Genesis 3:1–6 (NASB95)

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

1. v.1-3 Did God say you can’t eat? Yes eat or touch the tree of Knowledge of good and evil.

2. V.4 You surely will not die!

3. V.5 God knows that your eyes (understanding) will be opened, you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (experience)

NOTE: The lie about Paradise is that we can depend on ourselves instead of God and experience it.

ILLUST: When we choose to depend on ourselves and our own resources instead of God do what Paul talked about in Romans 1 Romans 1:23-25

Romans 1:23–25 NASB95

23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

CLOSE: Our greatest battle to bring healing, success, life of integrity and righteous is to lean solely on and depend completely in the Person of Jesus. When tempter comes, when lusts in your heart and mind draw us away from His will to satisfy our own desires it wont matter how many bible verses you know, it wont matter how knowledgeable and passionate you are on the spirit realm. The only thing that give us the power to live this blessed life and be a blessing to those around us is is to stop believing the lie that you can do any of it without fully depending on Jesus. The more a person believes the lie the more you will find them living for themselves!