Knowing God’s Word and Knowing God’s Word. 8/17/2025

Genesis 3: 1-7)  nkjv Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

❓  When are you tempted the most to use half truths?  Where you use a twisted version of things to make yourself look justified? ( example: Speeding “was I speeding? -  bank robbers - I didn’t rob the bank I just drove the care.)   

💥  We all know how important it is to read and know God’s Word - but there is a difference in knowing God’s Word and knowing God’s Word!➣   Proverbs 4:7) Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.  ⭐   This verse tells us that the wisdom of the Lord is top priority in the lives of believers --but understanding what it means and knowing how to use it is as important as it is to have it. 💥   Deception by using half truths is literally the oldest trick in the book.  It goes all the way back to the garden of Eden where Satan used half truths to get Adam and Eve to disobey God’s Word.  

• They both knew what God had said but were persuaded by Satan into believing that what God said didn’t mean what they thought it meant!

➡️   Eve nailed the out and out lie that Satan approached her with.v1-3) And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’  ➣   She knew what God had said and it was the principle guide to her life. ➣   But Satan nudged Eve to believe half truths that caused her to believe lies.

What half truths?A.   That somehow the boundaries God set up with the intent of our best interest somehow stood in the way of what we believe is our best interest. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened,  We will stop walking by faith and start walking by sight! 

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 ) We walk by faith not by sight. 
• Romans 1:17) For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

There is a great value in having the faith of a child. ( Jesus said, unless you become like children we shall not enter the kingdom! Matthew 18:3) “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.   ( We don’t have to justify ourselves to the world. It’s OK to look like fools!    Paul-- I’d rather be a fool for Christ! 1 Corinthians 3:18)

B.   That it is somehow Ok to go outside of the boundaries of love, loyalty and faithfulness. (To God and each other) v5b) you will be like God, You can call your own shots!  Be like God. Decide for yourself what you want and need. 

C.   That we can believe what we want to believe and make that “Our truth” vs “Your truth”. v5c) knowing good and evil.”

• Choose for ourselves what we believe is right and truth.  
• Make up our own truth.  “Your truth” vs “My truth”.

💥  What does this teach us?I.    We need to read the Word of God.  Know what God has said!   v2-3) 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 

• Eve started good, and it kept her from immediately diving off in sin..
  • Satan still does this today.  Makes it so burdensome to hear or meditate on God’s Word.

II.   Be careful of the new perspectives we gain from others.A.  The good people can be wrong!➢  Peter:  Matthew 16:22-23)  22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.➢  Paul vs Peter  Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;➢ Paul and Barnabas Acts 15:39) Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one an➢other. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

• Books, speakers, articles, 

B.  The stranger’s voice.➢  John 10:5) Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ➢  2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ➢  2 Timothy 3:5) Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. C.   Spouses, Friends, Church people. v6)   Eve was someone Adam could trust.  But we aren’t always the best thing for our spouse--- especially when we are not listening to God.

III.   The things that help us do things ourselves. v6) 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.  Self help books.v6( 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,  We don’t need faith and really don’t need God.  Just use His principles and do the rest ourselves.   Make one wise

• Focus is not on trusting and faith in God, but depending on ourselves.
  • We don’t need the help of others.  Pride, self

IV.   Things that make worldly sense! v6) 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

• It made good sense!  
• Was helpful insight for worldly living. (Not godly living)

💥  We need to know the Word.

💥  We need the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us into all truth.  Walk by faith and trust. 

💥  We need God, family and friends that will help us stay focused on obedience to God.

• Raise your kids to obey and serve God, NOT YOU.