Recurrent Thought: God personally and purposefully created us in His personal image and desires to relate with us at a personal and intimate level for His personal global glory. Therefore, in our intentional availability to Him and cooperation with Him, we promote God’s Global Glory.

Scripture Text: Genesis 3:1-11, 15, 21

1. Introduction

 This chapter Genesis 3 gives us a preview to understanding the darkness that covers the earth. It also helps us get a hint of the light, which shines in the darkness. Genesis 3 is a prelude to the spiritual warfare we are in against the forces of darkness. There is no demilitarized zone (neutral zone) for mankind. We are either on the side of light or that of darkness – no standing on the fence! Self-check! - On which side are you?

We know from Scriptures that this world was originally very good when God first created it (Gen 1:31). Remember, God created man and woman in His image and gave them dominion over the earth and all its creatures (Gen 1:26) - all creatures were subject to mankind. God originally enjoyed a very good relationship with mankind and seems to have had the habit of visiting them in the Eden in the “cool of the day” (Gen 3:8). BUT then something happened in Gen 3:9 that destroyed this beautiful order– an order of a personal intimate fellowship between God and mankind.

       2.Original Order Destroyed

• Enter the Dragon! - 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’?”- Gen 3:8
• The serpent draws the mankind (represented by Eve) to philosophize or reason or argue out God’s instructions.
• He does it methodically in 3 Key Strategies.

Strategy #1: Distorts God’s Instruction – vs. 1-3

• He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
• After some time in the dialogue with the serpent, the instruction of God is reduced to a less serious alternative viewpoint/perspective.
• Gen 2:17 “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.” vs. Gen 3:3 “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.’”
• Beware of the little twists of the Word of God!  Watch out for the distortion- Satan is subtle!

Strategy #2: Denies God’s Instruction – vs. 4-5

• The serpent now goes right ahead to out rightly deny God’s Instruction. But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die”.
• Then the serpent offers Eve an interpretation of God’s motives behind the prohibition. –The serpent claims mankind would now actually possess an awareness of what’s good and evil just like God. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (vs. 5)

Strategy #3: Defies God’s Instruction – vs. 6-7

• Eve’s decision was deliberate, not impulsive and accidental, in the heat of the moment.
• Eve saw what was captivating at the sensory level (“good for food”), the aesthetic/visual level (“delight to the eyes”), and an intellectual/cognitive level (“making one wise”).
• God is not unfair to Adam either! Yes, Adam may have come to the interview scene towards the last segment.
• He however, chose to disobey God’s Instruction. He should have known better of the instruction of God and corrected his wife accordingly.
• He was personally responsible for the disobedience - he ate the forbidden fruit against God’s Word!
• Adam compromised both his headship over Eve, his wife and his dominion over the serpent.

1. God’s solution – He Gets Personal

• Verses 8-13 is an invitation to restoration by a loving and merciful God.
• God approaches Adam and Eve with a rhetorical question of invitation for them to confess and repent - “Where are you?”. – Remember this is an omnipresent, omniscient God asking!
• God expects to find us at a designated spot/position of fellowship in all areas of our life -  family, ministry, career, community. Where are you? Are you at the spot God expects to meet you?
• Just like kids and similar to us, Adam and Eve responded to God in ways we all know.
• First, was shame, then cover-up/camouflage. They wanted to go unnoticed by God by blending with vegetation! (vs. 8). Are you at take-cover from God?
• Second was fear, with an attempt to escape God’s presence (vs. 9-10). Nowhere to run! says the Psalmist
• They tried their own fixes to cover the shame and guilt of sin – see the effects of sin on our intellect! Leaves for a covering? Hiding from the All-Knowing and All-Present God?
• Third, was guilt, which led them to shifting blame (vs. 12-13). Quit the blame-game!
• God did not invite the serpent to repent as He did with Adam and Eve. Instead, He pronounced a chain of three judgments—beginning with the serpent, then the woman, and finishing with the man.
• Since the serpent had destroyed/ruined mankind, the serpent would be destroyed a Son of a woman. (vs. 15)
• BEHOLD God’s love and mercy – garments of skin for a covering of their nakedness! Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World! (vs. 21)

1. Conclusion

1. God created us for His global glory and desires to have a personal intimate relationship with us.
2. Satan wages war against this beautiful setting and we need to be alert and aware of his schemes and never be naive.
3. God has provided us with all we need to be victorious when we remain close to Him.
4. When we slip up in any aspect of our life, He is ready to receive us and help us, as long as we sincerely own up and resolve to course-correct.
5. Just like the Men of Honour have sang, let us decide to follow Jesus and resolve never to turn back.

THE ALTAR IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR US

Recurrent Thought: God personally and purposefully created us in His personal image and desires to relate with us at a personal and intimate level for His personal global glory. Therefore, in our intentional availability to Him and cooperation with Him, we promote God’s Global Glory.

Scripture Text: Genesis 3:1-11, 15, 21

1. Introduction

 This chapter Genesis 3 gives us a preview to understanding the darkness that covers the earth. It also helps us get a hint of the light, which shines in the darkness. Genesis 3 is a prelude to the spiritual warfare we are in against the forces of darkness. There is no demilitarized zone (neutral zone) for mankind. We are either on the side of light or that of darkness – no standing on the fence! Self-check! - On which side are you?

We know from Scriptures that this world was originally very good when God first created it (Gen 1:31). Remember, God created man and woman in His image and gave them dominion over the earth and all its creatures (Gen 1:26) - all creatures were subject to mankind. God originally enjoyed a very good relationship with mankind and seems to have had the habit of visiting them in the Eden in the “cool of the day” (Gen 3:8). BUT then something happened in Gen 3:9 that destroyed this beautiful order– an order of a personal intimate fellowship between God and mankind.

1. Original Order Destroyed

1. Enter the Dragon! - 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’?”- Gen 3:8
2. The serpent draws the mankind (represented by Eve) to philosophize or reason or argue out God’s instructions.
3. He does it methodically in 3 Key Strategies.

Strategy #1: Distorts God’s Instruction – vs. 1-3

1. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
2. After some time in the dialogue with the serpent, the instruction of God is reduced to a less serious alternative viewpoint/perspective.
3. Gen 2:17 “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.” vs. Gen 3:3 “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.’”
4. Beware of the little twists of the Word of God!  Watch out for the distortion- Satan is subtle!

Strategy #2: Denies God’s Instruction – vs. 4-5

1. The serpent now goes right ahead to out rightly deny God’s Instruction. But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die”.
2. Then the serpent offers Eve an interpretation of God’s motives behind the prohibition. –The serpent claims mankind would now actually possess an awareness of what’s good and evil just like God. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (vs. 5)

Strategy #3: Defies God’s Instruction – vs. 6-7

1. Eve’s decision was deliberate, not impulsive and accidental, in the heat of the moment.
2. Eve saw what was captivating at the sensory level (“good for food”), the aesthetic/visual level (“delight to the eyes”), and an intellectual/cognitive level (“making one wise”).
3. God is not unfair to Adam either! Yes, Adam may have come to the interview scene towards the last segment.
4. He however, chose to disobey God’s Instruction. He should have known better of the instruction of God and corrected his wife accordingly.
5. He was personally responsible for the disobedience - he ate the forbidden fruit against God’s Word!
6. Adam compromised both his headship over Eve, his wife and his dominion over the serpent.

1. God’s solution – He Gets Personal

1. Verses 8-13 is an invitation to restoration by a loving and merciful God.
2. God approaches Adam and Eve with a rhetorical question of invitation for them to confess and repent - “Where are you?”. – Remember this is an omnipresent, omniscient God asking!
3. God expects to find us at a designated spot/position of fellowship in all areas of our life -  family, ministry, career, community. Where are you? Are you at the spot God expects to meet you?
4. Just like kids and similar to us, Adam and Eve responded to God in ways we all know.
5. First, was shame, then cover-up/camouflage. They wanted to go unnoticed by God by blending with vegetation! (vs. 8). Are you at take-cover from God?
6. Second was fear, with an attempt to escape God’s presence (vs. 9-10). Nowhere to run! says the Psalmist
7. They tried their own fixes to cover the shame and guilt of sin – see the effects of sin on our intellect! Leaves for a covering? Hiding from the All-Knowing and All-Present God?
8. Third, was guilt, which led them to shifting blame (vs. 12-13). Quit the blame-game!
9. God did not invite the serpent to repent as He did with Adam and Eve. Instead, He pronounced a chain of three judgments—beginning with the serpent, then the woman, and finishing with the man.
10. Since the serpent had destroyed/ruined mankind, the serpent would be destroyed a Son of a woman. (vs. 15)
11. BEHOLD God’s love and mercy – garments of skin for a covering of their nakedness! Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World! (vs. 21)

1. Conclusion

1. God created us for His global glory and desires to have a personal intimate relationship with us.
2. Satan wages war against this beautiful setting and we need to be alert and aware of his schemes and never be naive.
3. God has provided us with all we need to be victorious when we remain close to Him.
4. When we slip up in any aspect of our life, He is ready to receive us and help us, as long as we sincerely own up and resolve to course-correct.
5. Just like the Men of Honour have sang, let us decide to follow Jesus and resolve never to turn back.

THE ALTAR IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR US