Lie: God Cannot Be Trusted Series

Series: Lies Satan Tells 5/29/05a RRC

GOD CANNOT BE TRUSTED

Genesis 3:1-13

The condition of the world today is a far-cry from the Garden of Eden. When God created the world and man, He rightly said all things were “very good.” No sin, no sorrow, no suffering, no hatred, no hunger....

Today is a different matter. The condition of today’s world has caused many to doubt God. They doubt His...

Goodness- if God was truly good why would He allow the suffering

Power - if God was really powerful why would He not stop the pain

Reality

But this doubting began in the Garden and it did not begin due to the bad in the world but through the deception of a cunning adversary.

I. SATAN IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN HIS TRADE OF DECEPTION

(Rev 12:9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

(2 Cor 11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

When I think of people at the top of their field usually several names come to mind. Ex basketball: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic.

This is why at award ceremonies many are nominated. But not the case with the trade of Deception. Only one is nominated. Only one is at the top.

A. He is the Father/Source of all Lies (John 8:44)

B. He is the Most Clever/Shrewd/Crafty/Subtle of a Liars

“Subtil” `aruwm — subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible ( The Online Bible Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)

A woman was out golfing one day when she hit the ball into the woods. She went in to to look for it and found a frog in a trap. The frog said to her, "If you release me from this trap, I will grant you three wishes." The woman freed the frog, and the frog said, "Thank you, but I failed to mention that there was a condition to your wishes. Whatever you wish for, your husband will get times ten." The woman said, "That’s okay." and for her first wish, she wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The frog warned her, "You do realize that this wish will also make your husband the most handsome man in the world, an Adonis whom women will flock to. " The woman replied, "That’s okay, because I will be the most beautiful woman and he will have eyes only for me." So, KAZAM! she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. For her second wish, she wanted to be the richest woman in the world. The frog said, "That will make your husband the richest man in the world and he will be ten times richer than you." The woman said, "That’s okay, because what’s mine is his and what’s his is mine." So, KAZAM! she’s the richest woman in the world. The frog then inquired about her third wish, and she answered, "I’d like a mild heart attack." (From Mikey’s Funnies)

Satan always looks out for himself and has an another motive

II. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SATAN’S DECEPTIONS IS TO

SEPARATE MAN FROM HIS CREATOR

A. Man is the crown of God’s Creation

- only man was created in the image of God

- only man was created as a free moral being

- only man was created to have an intimate personal relationship with God

B. Satan is Committed to Destroy God’s Relationship with Man

1. Satan Hates God

2. Satan is Jealous of Man

III. DECEIVING MAN TO DOUBT GOD IS SATAN’S PRIMARY TOOL OF SEPARATION (3:1-2)

A. The Serpent attempted to Cast Suspicion on...

1. The Reality of God’s Word

NKJ: Has God indeed said

NIV: Did God really say

2. The Truthfulness of God’s Word

3. The Reality of God’s Goodness

B. If Satan can make us Doubt God’s Word, then We will naturally....

1. Doubt God’s Character

2. Doubt God’s Promises

3. Doubt God’s Reality

(Henry Morris, Genesis Record)

“Sin always begins by questioning either the Word of God or the goodness of God, or both”

IV. BELIEVING SATAN’S DECEPTIONS AND DOUBTING GOD LEAD TO TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES

A. Suspicion leads to Doubt

B. Doubt leads to Unbelief

C. Unbelief leads to Disobedience (Sin)

D. Disobedience leads to Separation

E. Separation leads to Destruction