Jay Mijares’ lesson on Sunday was about “A Deceptive Conversation” -- how the serpent talked to Eve in the Garden, from Genesis 3:1-7. The first verse described the serpent as crafty; crafty doesn’t necessarily mean evil, but in this case, since the serpent was Satan, it did. Crafty can also mean subtle, which this conversation was.
Jay said we can learn 5 lessons from Eve’s temptation:
Satan attacks us when we’re alone. The serpent caught Eve on her own and misquoted God’s words about eating the fruit. This made her doubt what was said and to question God’s intent.
Satan tempts us with doubt. The serpent made Eve wonder what God was keeping from them, and why. The serpent said (Gen. 3:4-5) "You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil."
We rationalize our sin by altering what God says. Satan snatches the truth of God’s word out of our hearts. Satan wanted Eve to fall, just like he did. He makes us question God’s word on our own. Eve could have turned away, but did not, because the craving (the coveting) took her over.
Sin eventually affects - and involves - others. Adam ate the fruit, too.
Satan had the authority to tempt Eve, but he didn’t have the power to make her sin. Satan’s language rarely demands or orders us and he didn’t force Eve to eat. She made that choice herself.
Jay gave us two questions to ponder about this lesson:
Do you overlook God’s provision in your life? Eve certainly did; she ignored the entire garden that surrounded her and obsessed on the one forbidden tree.
When you experience the “fear of missing out”, do you recognize it as temptation? That’s just Satan whispering to you, raising doubts about God’s word and making you forget the many blessings that are here for everyone.
We can refuse the temptations of the serpent because we know that God wants us in Heaven with Him; we know what we must do (or not do) to be there with Him. Let His word “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me!”
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