Genesis 2:15-25 NIV
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 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.”
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:15-25 NIV
Genesis 3:1-15 NIV
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’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 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.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 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. 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. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:1-15 NIV
God gave man the marching orders after creating the Garden. Man had the responsibility to watch-over and keep the garden, He could eat of whatever tree or shrub or vegetable or plant in the Garden except one… he was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil…which was in the middle of the Garden…I perceive that it was probably surrounded by many other trees.
Let me share this understanding with you: God keeps the best things for us and not from us and in due season and when we are matured enough He would give it to us. If not for disobedience, not only would God had given the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but also the The Tree of Life.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.
Amen!
Now when God had judged that it was not good for man to be alone and God was looking to find a suitable helper for man, He made a special set of animals and brought them to man. Man named them but none was found to be a suitable helper (the serpent was in the class of such animals). These animals have a close semblance and a peculiar understanding of the human nature than any other class of animals.
(The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made)
The snake and it’s craftiness it still of note till date, it exists everywhere, very subtle in trapping it’s prey, varies in the potency of venoms, varied camouflage abilities… and possibly when it could still talk and walk must have had a way with words and speech.
In Genesis 3, we read that the serpent came to the woman…although not recorded in the Bible, I would almost be right to say that this was not their first interaction. There was a sense of familiarity, such that their conversation flowed with great ease. And if not that seemingly trusted words had been exchanged in the past…I would have hoped that as soon as the serpent asked the question that did God really say? The woman would have immediately shut down the conversation and alerted the man.
Did God Really Say?
The serpent’s words got the woman to move from faith to questioning to disbelief and from disbelief to utter disobedience. It changed her perception so much so that what was not at all attractive in obedience became attractive in disobedience.
“Utter disobedience of what is right is knowing what is right but allowing yourself to be convinced to do that which is wrong”. This should not be confused with ignorance, the time of ignorance God pardons:
Acts 17:30 (ESV)
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
If the devil can cause a man or woman to doubt God and His Word (God is not seperate from His Word) he has successfully separated such a person from faith and lack of faith attracts the displeasure of God.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What or who is making you question if God Really Said what you know He has said? Or are you the one playing the role of the serpent and making people question “if God Really Said”?
What or who is making you question what God has said to you? Who or what is making you doubt the validity of His Word or the Bible or your Christian faith?
Who and what has made you to lose your leadership in the spirit and has become your leader in the flesh?
It would definitely not be a stranger, nor something unfamiliar to you.
That person or thing would be most subtle in leading you to start doubting God… as with the snake and the woman there would have first been a creation of trust-actions to get you to consider that it or he or she is safe… Who and what have you been listening to, what have you been reading and what have you been looking at or watching?
What is it doing to you? Do you find yourself seeking God more to do His will or is it diluting the fervency of your love for God and your faith in His Word?
“Utter disobedience of God is not overlooked. The devil will advocate for consequences because God is Just, but because of Grace and the victory of Christ Jesus every repentance is tempered with mercy because God is Love”.
Is any disobedience to God and to His Words worth the consequences, the price or the pain? No beloved, No!
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)
But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams”.
Disobedience is sin and sin separates one from God. It is wisdom to separate from what or who is causing you to disobey God in every way possible: emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually…no matter how close your relationship is to that thing or person, there is nothing and no one greater than the worth of your relationship with God.
Matthew 5:29-30 NLT
So if your eye—even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matthew 5:29-30 NLT
Is there any area of your life that you are currently being disobedient to the Word of God? Are you willing to repent of the sin and change your ways (metanoia)? I implore you that you do not let this moment pass you by. God is merciful and He will give you all the help you need through His Grace in Christ Jesus to stand after making a righteous decision.
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land” (Isaiah 1:19).
“If you love me, you will obey what I command….Whoever has my commands, and obeys them he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14:15, John 14:21).
“Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
7 Things to Note about Faith and Obedience:
1. No one can ever go far in the things of God nor in their walk with God, nor in their enjoyment of God without faith and obedience.
2. True and persistent faith in God will move you into obedience to God every time (positive response to the truth of God’s word and to the leadership of the Holy Spirit).
3. Persistent disobedience is a symptom that a man is no longer in faith.
4. Both lack of faith and disobedience bring displeasure to God.
5. Lack of faith, breeds doubt and fear. Disobedience breeds rebellion.These are classed as sin before God.
6. You cannot separate faith from obedience. Faith is incomplete without obedience and obedience is incomplete without faith.
7. Lack of hope, distrust and impatience are faith killers and disobedience motivators.
Praise be to God Almighty that…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
(I John 1:9).
*Let us pray: Lord God and Father, we repent of all forms of disobedience (and sin) to Your Word and receive the Spiritual sensitivity and power to seperate from, shut up and shut off anything or anyone that may try to make us question the validity and power of Your Word in Jesus Name. Amen!
Lord henceforth we take you at Your Word. We are willing to go with You all the way, no falling by the wayside and no turning back. In Jesus Name we have prayed. Amen!
John 14:21 NLT
Still on the point of being obedient: Jesus said; “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:21 NLT
Peradventure you are not born-again, or you can’t remember ever confessing and accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord…
ACTS 4:12 AMP
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
ACTS 4:12 AMP
“…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
Romans 10:9-10 KJV
Will you like to be born-again? If so then Pray this prayer meaningfully:
“Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept You out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear You knocking. By faith I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe Your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Saviour. Amen”.
Congratulations if you’ve just said that prayer and welcome to the higher life in Christ Jesus.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
If you do not yet have a bible believing Church that you are already attending please join one today at http://www.lifeoasisinternationalchurch.org make the effort to complete the first timers form and an ordained minister will contact you afterwards.
There is so much more about life for a born-again Christian, there is so much more that the Spirit of God desires to reveal to you and will surely review to you on the road of divine destiny.
Finally, think on this words:
What Word of God do you need to work for you and in which area of your life? Find it in the Bible and Say/Speak it with faith and expect a divine manifestation. Assuredly* God is not man that He should lie. Let nothing nor anyone cause you to again doubt or disobey the Word of God.
See Numbers 23:19 (KJV)
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good”?
The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 