19/05/2016
INTRODUCTION
A story was told [in a large city some very creative crooks broke in to a department store. They entered the store unnoticed and stayed long enough to accomplish their mission. You may wonder what they stole, but that’s just the catch. They didn’t take anything. Instead, these thieves switched the price tags. The tag on R1000.00 camera was removed and placed on a box of stationery which worthy R50.00. They stick off an Apple phone worthy R10 000 to boxes of Chocolate which worthy R25.00. Everything was mix up. When the store opened the next morning, you would have expected total chaos. Surprisingly though the store operated normally at first some regulars literally felt robbed some while others felted lucky. After four hours passed the deception was discovered.
Today I want to look at a story that I think is familiar to all of us. It takes us way back to the beginning. And from this we’ll see that the big issues we face today are not new, but they have been around since the beginning of time. And, indeed, they have been infecting humanity from the beginning of time.
In God’s creation of the world, we see the statements in Genesis 1 that God saw that it was “good.” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) Then in verse 31, he says that it was “very good” or “excellent.” Here God is making a statement about creation. He is saying that his creation is good. We know good describes a moral quality. It describes value. It also describes there is no evil in Good. While the fact that God called creation good is of itself significant, I want to draw attention not the goodness itself, but to the fact that it was God who was making this judgment. It was God who decided that the creation was good.
Then in Genesis 2:16,17, it says, 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.
God introduced the first rule to mankind. Just notice, based on the fact that they are going to die if they eat from this tree, that this tree is not good for them. What we can say about this tree, it is not good for food.
PREPOSITION STATEMENT: IN THIS SERMON I WILL SHOW YOU FOUR WAYS SATAN TRICK PEOPLE TO CALL EVIL GOOD. SO THAT YOU MAY BE WATCHFUL TO NOT FALL FOR HIS TRICKS
1. DOUBT GOD’S WORD v. 1a “Has God indeed said”. What Satan wants is for us to DOUBT GOD. We doubt God when we doubt His Word. Satan wants us to believe that God’s Word is just like any other book. It is nice, helpful, but not absolute. He wants us to question God's Word, avoid God's Word, and neglect God's Word or whatever else it takes to get us out of regular contact with the Lord. Satan does not only cause us to doubt God word but he twists and distorts the Words of God.
3: 2-5. The woman said to the serpent, "we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 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.’" 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing .good and evil."
Application: Let me ask you this morning, is Satan's error showing up in your life this week? Do you doubt that God's Word is more important than anything is in this world? Jeremiah said in 15:16 Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts
2. DOUBT GOD’S GOODNESS v.5 “for God knows that in the day you eat from it your eye will be opened and you will be like God”
Define: goodness."The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and all that God is and does is worthy of approval." Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
What Satan wants is for us to doubt the goodness of God he wants us to believe that God is trying to hold out on. He is robbing us of some good times. He is out of touch with our needs. He messed up on how He made us. This is a direct attack to the character of God. One of the great truths about our God is the moral attribute of God we know is His GOODNESS.
Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
3. DOUBT GOD’S AUTHORITY v. 4 “You will not surely die”. What Satan wants us to do is to Doubt God Authority. We doubt God when we doubt His Authority. Satan wants us to believe [that God is not in charge – we are in charge;] God isn’t interested in our choices we are in charge; God will not make us accountable for our deeds – we are in charge.
The enemy will entice you and hook you with half-truths. He wasn’t lying, he just showed Eve the pleasant side but left out the end results… (Point) Sin may be pleasant for a season but the end of it is death.
Few things Satan will show you:
The pleasures of drinking; but not the results of… Alcoholism
The pleasures of unlawful s*x; but not the results of… HIV/AIDS
The pleasures of drugs, but not the results of… Addiction
4. DOUBT GOD’S PLAN v. 5 “your eyes will be opened” What Satan wants us to Doubt God Plan for us. We doubt God when we doubt His Plan. Satan wants us to believe that there is a better way to immortality, an easier way to glory, a quicker way to happiness. Again this is an attack upon the very Word of God. God's Word is sufficient.
How many times have you doubted God plan for your life; how many times have you asked why me question: do you trust that God is sovereign- all powerful all knowing?
Conclusion
Never ever doubt God word; it is without error; and it brings life to us when we believe in it. Salvation comes by hearing God world.
Never ever doubt God goodness
God is good no matter what situation you are in. death God is still good
Joy situation God is still good
Sickness God is still good
Never ever doubt God Authority he is in charge not you: he commanded From Genesis 1 all came to being
Take this to heart the moment you falling to those four tricks you are saying…God word is not absolute…God is not good…God is not in control but man..God plan is not sufficient
