Overcoming the Enemy at Eden
(Genesis 3)
In this portion of scripture, we learn that God, in his infinite mercy and wisdom after providing every single desire of man, placed him in Paradise. However, after an undisclosed period of time was cast out and for the first time in his life was found lacking. Today God still provides for us and we do find ourselves still wanting. How then do we undo the damage done so many years ago? Let us learn from Adam and Eve as I speak to you on the subject...Overcoming the Enemy at Eden.
Eden is, was and always be your point of blessing and just as Satan tricked Adam and Eve out of the blessings of God, he will try to do the same to you. How will he try to do this? In three ways
1.By Bringing Sin (v 5-6) The word sin means, ‘the wilful at of breaking God’s laws’ Satan wants us to break the laws of God because it causes us do two things
a.To be Disobedient (1 Sa 12:15,’... But if you will not hearken to the Lord's voice, but rebel against His commandment, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.) This is the first sin we commit...it starts as children.
Obedience is an act of faith; disobedience is the result of unbelief. - Edwin Louis Cole
b.To Die (1 Chronicles 10:13, ‘...So Saul died for his trespass against the Lord [in sparing Amalek], for his unfaithfulness in not keeping God's word, and also for consulting [a medium with] a spirit of the dead to inquire pleadingly of it,’
(Proverbs 11:19,’... He who is steadfast in righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) attains to life, but he who pursues evil does it to his own death.’ Man was not created to die but to have life abundantly and live forever but lost it because of sin.
Nothing that is really good and God-like dies. - Ernst Moritz Arndt
In order to get us out of the place that God has created for us, the enemy will try to cause us to disobey God allowing sin into our lives hastening our spiritual and physical death. Secondly, when Sin comes into our life it also
2.Brings Shame (v7) The word shame means, ‘loss of respect because of improper behaviour’ The enemy double teams us with sin and shame because it does two things
c.Separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2, ‘...But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.) As Adam and Eve hid from God, when we are ashamed we hid from God.
Nothing hath separated us from God but our own will, or rather our own will is our separation from God.
-William Law
d.Severs us from God’s protection (Deuteronomy 31:17 – 18, ‘Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them. And they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done in turning to other gods.) Without God’s protection we are open targets for the enemy.
He who prays five times a day is in the protection of God, and he who is protected by God cannot be harmed by anyone.
Don’t allow the sin of disobedience bring death to you. Never allow the shame of sin to separate and sever the connection we have his God and his divine protection. The Enemy will do anything in his power to cause us to Sin and live in Shame because he knows it causes us to.
3.Be Secluded (v8) The word seclude means, ‘to keep someone apart from other people’ In the same way Adam and Eve hid themselves, the enemy wants us to hid from God but no matter where or how long we hide. We will be
e.Exposed (Luke 12:2,’... Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known.’ Nothing remains hidden forever.
Your sin will find you out, whatever is in darkness will come to light.
f.Expelled (Matthew 25:30,’... And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ We will not enter into the joy of our master and Saviour.
