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Dealing with the Tempter

Words of Faith Final

Dealing with the Tempter
Words of Faith 1-19-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 3
    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'?"
    [2] 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."

        Temptation came to the Garden in the form of a serpent. In the conversation between Eve and the serpent, we see not only the pathway to the Fall of the humans, we also see the tools of the Tempter Satan and the mistakes we humans can fall into.
        The first tool of the Tempter is to question God. This is not the same as asking God questions or even asking questions about God. The serpent questioned the character of God. The Tempter said, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
       There are all sorts of ways that the Tempter tries to get us to question God. "Is there really a God?" "Would God really do that?" "Would a loving God really treat you this way?" You can probably make your own list. These are legitimate questions, but they need to be brought before the Lord and not discussed with snakes. What was she thinking? And what was Adam thinking?
        The second tool is to twist the Word of God. The serpent misstated the Word of the Lord by exaggerating the one prohibition of the Garden. The Tempter misstated-- You must not eat from any tree in the Garden? This is a favorite tool of the Enemy. The Tempter knows the Word of God and loves to manipulate it. He loves to twist it just enough to get us off track. The Tempter even uses religion and religiousness to get believers divided or into condemnation that is not from the Lord.
        The third tool of the Temper is to undermine trust in God and invite us to try to be our own god. "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
        The Tempter called God a liar. But he also questioned the motive of God. The Tempter tries to undermine our trust in the lovingkindness of the Lord. The Tempter tries to turn us against God so that we will try to be our own god, thinking we can do a better job. This rebellion is seated in pride and is the essence of sin.
        What are the mistakes that Eve made? The first would have to be talking to a serpent rather than God. Eve enjoyed complete access to and fellowship with God, yet she began talking to a serpent rather than the Lord. Every question could have been checked directly with the Lord God Himself. Prayer is our powerful tool when tempted. We have the privilege of saying, "Good question, let me check on that. I will ask the Lord. Lord?"
         A second mistake was adding to the Word of God. Eve had been instructed not to eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the Garden, but then she added her own prohibition that she "must not touch it." Somehow she put the fruit even more off-limits than it really was. We often fall into the trap of thinking that God is mean or restrictive. We exaggerate the prohibitions that are intended for our good. God is holy, but He is love. Nothing He prescribes for us is bad. Nothing God restricts from us is good. His only concern is for us.
         A third error was trying to be her own god. This is the fundamental nature of sin. We are creatures. We have a Creator. We are human. We make very poor gods. But the fundamental choice in our sin is to attempt to rule our own lives and be our own god. We do this when we try to decide for ourselves right from wrong rather than listen to the Lord. We do this when we try to control every detail of our lives. We do this when we judge others. We do this when we seek the approval (or worship) of people rather than the approval and lovingkindness of God.
        What are the possible responses to the Tempter?  
        First, talk to God! Don't talk to snakes! If we have a question, we need to go to the Lord with it. We need to be very careful of the snakes that lurk about, luring us with questions or issues that undermine our faith in the Lord God.
        Carefully listen to and learn the Word of God. Don't add to His limits or take away from them. Don't exaggerate His restrictions.
        Confess the Lord God as God alone. Stop seeking to be our own god or the god of others. Stop seeking to be your own god. Lovingly receive the guidance and protection of the Lord.

        Lord, help me in the times of temptation. Keep my mind and eye upon You alone. Keep my ear and heart open to You alone. Instruct me in Your ways and fill me with Your Word. Forgive me for the desire of my sinful nature to be my own god. You alone are God. You alone are worthy to be praised. You alone are my sovereign Lord. In Jesus' Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.