“INFLUCENCE: With Her, He Ate”
Genesis 3:1-7(KJV)
11 February 2007
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Presidio of Monterey (ORD Military Community Chapel)
Monterey California, 93940
BIG IDEA: The person you marry has the power to influence your life NEGATIVELY or POSITIVELY.
References: 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners; Genesis 3:6 (KJV) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.; Proverb 20:1 (GW) Wine (makes people) mock, liquor (makes them) noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise; Romans 6:2 (GW) That’s unthinkably as far as sin is concerned, we have died. So how can we still live under sin’s influence;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Genesis 3:1-7 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Genesis 3:1-7 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Genesis 3:6 (KJV) And when the woman saw the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat;
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that the person you marry has the power to influence your life NEGATIVELY or POSITIVELY.
V. INTRODUCTION:
This Wednesday, 14 February 2007, all across America … Americans will celebrate a day of love; a day in which many of us call “Valentines Day”.
As you can attest to, Valentines Day is one of the busiest days of the year for many florists.
Yet, for some florist this coming Wednesday will inevitably either confirm or invalidate their business. Doors will either be open for the remaining of the year or close.
Valentines Day is an important for many.
Husbands and wives; boyfriends and girlfriends will send flowers, cards, chocolate, and teddy bears to deserving love ones;
My brothers and sisters … I can tell you now that this Wednesday, many young ladies will receive proposals and engagement rings. So ladies get ready …!
Phones will be ringing both near and afar – daughters telling daddy’s of their engagements; while sons will be calling their mothers and fathers to share their good news as well.
Happy “EARLY VALENTINES DAY” to all.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 1: Now, in our scriptures today, in sort of a VALENTINES DAY atmosphere, the first couple that God created … TEACH US through their mistakes and wrong choices … the importance of WISE COMMUNICATION.
a. As a result … we learn (from this passage) that we can’t talk about GOD’S BUSINESS to everybody.
b. Everyone that sounds like they are concerned about our educational and spiritual progression … ISN’T.
c. Some folk are trying to use us, FOLK IN THE CHURCH, to promote their OWN AGENDA.
d. So, Christian Couples must become WISER. WE must GUARD OUR CONVERSATIONS.
e. And learn WHAT NOT to listen to. We must learn AS COUPLES that we don’t have to HAVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYBODY.
f. Instead, we must hide God’s Word in our hearts. So when the time comes and we feel the ENEMY presence in our midst … the most … … we can use God’s WORD against THE DEVIL.
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 2: For the scripture teaches us that we should be QUICK TO HEAR BUT … SLOW … TO SPEAK.
a. If Christian Couples took this advice to heart … we would not have some of the issues that we have.
b. For the fact of the matter is that those who are in communion with God, must have NO COMMUNICATION with the unfruitful works of darkness …
c. Couples should CEASE all UNGODLY communication with the devil.
d. In other words, BELIEVERS WHO ATTENDS CHURCH … AND OR … BIBLE STUDY … MUST GUARD THEIR SPIRIT MAN AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF UNGODLINESS …
e. For Christian Couples must maintain CONSTANT COMMUNICATION with God;
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 3: Maybe it’s the fact that I’m an only child and my mother has always told me to WATCH THE COMPANY I KEEP.
a. Or maybe it’s what I’ve heard, from the Apostle Paul or Saint Paul, down through the years of being in the church, and having a personal relationship with God and others.
b. Nevertheless, my brothers and sisters, I’m convinced that the people we hang-out with … AND TALK TO OR EVEN MARRY … CAN influence us POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY …
c. … FOLK THAT COUPLES TALK TO CAN INFLUENCE their spiritual goals and their relationship with one another.
d. If couples are hanging around other couples who cheat, and physically fight … they are allowing their relationship to be influenced NEGATIVELY.
e. And if you’re engaged and you’re getting BEAT-UP NOW …
f. … what do you think is going to happen after you say YES on VALENTINES DAY?
g. And if we don’t think WHO WE MARRY MAKES A DIFFERENTS, WE BETTER THINK TWICE.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 4: BECAUSE THE PERSON WE MARRY TODAY, CAN IMPACT OR AFFECT OUR BEHAVIOR with our family tomorrow.
a. The person WE marry today … can WEIGH IN ON if WE have a relationship with our siblings …
b. … The person WE marry today … can weigh in on if WE have a relationship with our mother tomorrow …
c. … The person WE marry today … can weigh in on if WE have a relationship with our father tomorrow …
d. Choosing the right person today … will make a big EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONAL difference in OUR life tomorrow.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 5: This is why the Bible instructs BELIEVERS to acknowledge God in all of our ways and He will direct our path.
a. God has a particular path and A PARTICULAR PERSON for each of us to follow, but in order to learn the path AND THE PERSON THAT GOD HAS IN MIND, … we have to talk to GOD FIRST.
b. The Proverbial Writer, in Proverbs 12:14 GW, says a “wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband, but the wife who disgraces him is like a bone cancer.
c. Influence is defined, by Webster, as “power exerted over the minds or behavior of others”.
d. POWER OVER THE “MINDS” OR “BEHAVIORS” of someone else is INFLUENCE.
e. The Apostle Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 15:33, Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. In other words, bad company does influence good behavior.
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 6: In our text today, we learn that as soon as Eve had sinned herself, and had eaten of the forbidden fruit …
a. … she used her POWER of INFLUENCE to get her husband to DO SOMETHING NEGATIVE.
b. For the Bible says … when the woman saw the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, …
c. … she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, …
d. … and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat;
e. Now my brothers and sisters … it’s a terrible thing when those who should be HELP MEETS for each other in the great work of their salvation …
f. … are only promoters of each other damnation ..
g. For if we ourselves are good, and have good intentions … WE SHOULD INFLUENCE OTHERS TO GOODNESS.
h. Therefore, we must be CAREFUL of how we lead … and how we follow …
i. For the Bibles says that when the WOMAN took of the fruit and ate … she gave also unto her husband …who was WITH HER, and HE ATE!
j. Now, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, if THE FIRST MAN had been the POSITIVE INFLUENCE THAT that God had created him to be … IN TOUGH TIMES
k. … HE WOULD have rebuked the enemy … and CEASED HER COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEVIL … before it got to this point …
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
CELEBRATION: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
