*Your best life only happens when you do life God’s way. . . . Problem with that is we don’t.
(Romans 1:21-25 NLT) They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. … As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. …
*Only way relationships work is by letting the One who designed them define them.
(Genesis 3:1-7 NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, #1 “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” #2 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. #3 “For God knows that when you eat from it #4 your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they #5 realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Step #1 — Questions the TRUTH of God’s Word. (Did God really Say?)
Lie #1 — God’s WORD isn’t totally TRUE.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT) . . . we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God–which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
Step #2 — DISCOUNTS the consequences of sin. (You won’t die?)
Lie #2 — It wont HURT ANYTHING.
(Proverbs 14:12 NIV) There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Step #3 — Devil accuses God of HOLDING OUT FROM US. (God know if you find out)
Lie #3 — God’s way is BORING. Sin is FUN.
(Psalm 16:11 NIV) You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
*God calls out SIN because He LOVES us.
Step #4 — Devil sells SIN as BENEFICIAL. (your eyes will be opened)
Lie #4 — Life is BETTER when you LEAD it. (You know better)
(1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT) Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Step #5 — Devil uses sin to bury you in SHAME. (realized they were naked)
Lie #5 — There is no HOPE and no WAY OUT.
(Psalm 34:5 NLT) Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
* DEFENSIVENESS
* REMORSE
* REPENTANCE
(2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
