Scripture: Genesis 3:8-24.  J.B. page 7.

Observation.  Know your enemy.  God created the first six days and declared it good.  That’s the beginning of God’s story with us.  Day seven God rests.  The enemy, Satan, shows up in the Garden, twists God‘s Word, and deceives Adam and Eve.  In verse 13, Eve states, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God returns to the Garden and Adam and Eve are hiding and ashamed.  God tells them the consequences for their sin.

At the heart of sin is not trusting God at His word.  Satan was able to get Eve to doubt God’s word and convince Eve that God was holding back good from them.

Application: Know your enemy.  Sin is you telling God “I am just fine without You.”  “I can do it on my own.”  “I am a better god for my life than You are.”

We have to constantly rely on God’s Word.  We MUST get to know it.  God gives us the truth so we will not be deceived by Satan or others.  As we get to know the truth of God’s Word, we will also get to know how to identify our enemy’s schemes.

In Matthew 4, (page 1478 in the Jesus Bible) Satan tempts Jesus, much like he did Eve.  Jesus responded by quoting God’s Word.  He fought off deception with truth.=

Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man(woman) keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word.”  If Jesus used God’s Word as a strategy for fighting sin, we should do the same.

Prayer.  Jesus, I know Satan is my enemy.  I know He only wants my downfall.  Help me to use Your Word, the truth in my Bible to defeat Satan.