Genesis 3:8-13 (NLT)
[8] When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the Garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.
[9] Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
[10] He replied, "I heard you walking in the Garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."
[11] "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"
[12] The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it."
[13] Then the LORD God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it."
These passages are excerpts from the full story in the third chapter of the Book of Genesis, which discusses the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The 11th verse, where our Heavenly Father asked Adam, 'Who told you that you were naked?', is pivotal. This simple yet fully loaded question opens the Christian's eyes to the devil's deceptive strategy and how, if not correctly handled, it can lead to our eventual fallout with God.
Let's dramatise the scripture so you can understand what we need to discuss. Adam and Eve eat from the forbidden tree and realise they are naked. Quickly, their fashion design sense kicks in, and they make some Ad-Eve clothing from fig leaves. Before they could think of making more for their daily activities in the Garden, they heard our Heavenly Father walking in the Garden. Knowing that God is a Spirit, they still wanted to play hide-and-seek with Him by hiding among the trees. God played along and called out, "My baby man, Adam, where are you?" Adam hesitantly responded, "I heard you walking in the Garden, so I hid." God stopped in His tracks. Something wasn't right. The man he has created in His image and likeness is deliberately hiding from Him. He thought it was one of the usual days when Adam and Eve wanted to play with their Father.
Adam added, "I was afraid because I was naked." God immediately knew that something unusual had happened in His absence. Adam is speaking the thought of another being. Adam is stressing a known fact that was previously never a problem. God needed to get to the root of the matter, so He asked, "Adam, who told you that you were naked?" Adam is silent. Eve is silent. One could hear the droplets of water sipping through the rocks into the flowing river if one would pay attention in this silence. "My son, have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?" Adam was scared. He has betrayed the one instruction our Heavenly Father gave him. "But it wasn't my fault", Adam thought to himself. "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it," he quickly stated. Eve couldn't believe her ears. "Is this the man who said I was the bone from his bone? Is this the man who said I was the flesh from his flesh?" she thought. Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "THE SERPENT DECEIVED ME. That's why I ate it," she quickly replied. Our Heavenly Father finally found the root of their strange words and perception - the devil.
My brothers and sisters in the Lord, our thoughts, statements, and actions are not random, as some have been made to believe. Every thought, statement, and action you have made or will make is based on a specific knowledge intercepted while it is being transmitted either from the kingdom of light or darkness. The Christian who constantly finds excuses to distance themselves from a relationship with the Holy Spirit through reading, studying, and meditating on Scriptures, prayers, worship, and fasting would always be a perfect prey for the numerous demonic insights. However, with discernment from a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, we can recognise and reject these deceptive influences. The failure of the Christian to spend time with the Holy Spirit is why many Christians still find it challenging to live the crucified life.
Like he did with Eve in Genesis chapter three, the devil always starts by either questioning what God has said or stating what he wants you to believe. The only way a Christian would be brought to the consciousness of his deception is through a relationship with the Holy Spirit born from consistent reading and studying of the Bible, prayer, worship, and fasting. Scripture is our guide, providing us with the thoughts of God on all matters of life. We can only fight the thoughts of the devil with the thoughts of God, not the thoughts of men. No wisdom from the wisest man or woman on earth can ever outdo the devil's wisdom. All dead men (sinful men) transmit from the kingdom of darkness, so do not be surprised when their opinions or 'wise counsels' offer results in a world principally ruled by the devil, the prince of darkness.
Who told you you will fail in life?
Who told you you are a failure?
Who told you you are daft?
Who told you you cannot live a holy life?
Who told you you cannot be successful without being corrupt?
Who told you you cannot surpass the achievements of your parents?
Who told you you could not take over territories, although you were born into a low-income family?
Who told you a Christian cannot own industries and run them with godly principles?
Who told you virginity is a scam?
Who told you marriage is for the weak?
Who told you women are weak?
Who told you?
If the statement you have heard doesn't have a well-explained scriptural basis, you have no right to believe it and speak it. The fact that it makes sense doesn't mean it is a truth to run with. Be like the Berean Christians; go home and search the scriptures until you find the truth.
If the success keys of the Christian are at par with those of one from the kingdom of darkness, then that Christian needs to question the transmission they have intercepted. How are you a successful Christian, and the man or woman in darkness cannot testify of a certain strange Grace at work in your life? How is the man or woman in darkness comfortable that you two are doing the same thing the same way and getting the same result? Where is Grace?
Let's go back to the days when we spent hours reading the Bible, studying verses in the context of a chapter or story, and long hours of worship and prayers based on the scriptures studied until the Lord speaks. Let's spend time in the Word of God. Let's acquaint ourselves with the speaking patterns of our Heavenly Father. I can differentiate between the voices around me because I have spent time with the people around me. You cannot know the voice of God if you haven't spent time with God.
CONFESSION
I am a child of God. I have been bought with the blood of Jesus. I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to light. I am hidden in Christ and Christ in God. I have the life of God, so I cannot based on the decree of men. I have the mind of Christ, so I think and live based on the thoughts of God. I live in the will of God. I am favoured wherever I find myself. I am Graced for every and any assignment the Lord has communicated. All that concerns me is soaked in the blood of Jesus. I carry the fire of God wherever I go. I operate with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. I depend on the Holy Spirit. I am not a failure. I succeed at everything I do according to God's success standard. I flourish wherever I find myself. My presence changes any atmosphere I find myself in because I carry God wherever I go. I am a blessing to every man and woman who encounters me. God loves me dearly. I am forgiven and free of all guilt because of the blood of Jesus. I am seated in heavenly places far above all principalities and powers. I am blessed. I am victorious. I am full of joy, no matter the circumstances.
Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.
MD.
