Resistance
You Are Born into a Battle • Message 2
Bryan Jones
January 26, 2025
Prayer Points for Prayer Time:
- Pray for Brookwood to equip believers as they battle the enemy.
- Pray for people to be aware of how the enemy attacks.
- Pray people know Jesus as advocate and defender.
Scripture Reading:
Good morning. My name is Parin Urness, and I serve with First Impressions, Care and Special Friends. Our Scripture reading today is Genesis 3:1-5, and says:
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5 (NLT)
This is the Word of the Lord.
- Introduction
You are born into a battle…
Not a lot of people would think things are great in the world right now… you need only to flip on the TV, read the news, or talk to someone, and you can see things aren’t as they were intended to be…
When God created the world, He said it was good… He said, I’m done, it’s good.
But now, something has gone terribly wrong.
Suicide rates are higher; divorce is higher; abortion is higher. The stats are anxiety and depression are through the roof now; we have mass shootings, political corruption, anger and bitterness…. Technology has evolved, living has evolved … but something has gone wrong.
No matter what you believe, there is an unseen realm all around us—if you believe in angels and demons or if you don’t. No matter what you believe or what you think, you are in the middle of a war.
The other day, I was reading something about the Ukraine war… and it hit me: there is literally a war, a physical war happening, but most days, I’m completely unaware or think that’s out there.
Most of the time, we can live completely unaware of the spiritual war that’s going on around us, and sometimes, when we talk about it, it seems like it’s something out there.
But I want you to understand there is a war right here. And you are born into it.
The thing about this war is you can’t remain neutral. People have tried that in various wars, but when the enemy comes and invades, you will have to pick a side. Indifference and inactivity won’t be an option.
So, we established last week Satan is on this earth… and he’s attacking you… let me show you his best weapons… if you become aware of these, they are transformative.
B. You are born into a battle
- Satan attacks with LIES.
(Genesis 3:1-5)
Do you ever wonder, if Satan is so wicked, evil and cruel, why do so many people fall prey to his attacks?
It’s because he is a deceiver… and what he does is he takes what is good, and he twists it… he turns it…
I recently read a survey on lying:
- 30% of patients have lied about their exercise routine and food-eating habits to their doctor… (I know none of you would do that.)
- In one day, the average person lies four times, totaling 1,460 lies each year.
- On average, women lie three times a day…
- While men lie about six times a day on average.
The first lie we read about is in Genesis 3…
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
Genesis 3:1 (NLT)
- Now it’s important to point out a talking snake didn’t freak Adam and Eve out… and part of the reason I believe this is because they had probably seen spiritual beings, they were in a spiritual realm… God was walking with them… which is an amazing thing.
- Notice, did God really say that… Satan never went up to Adam and Eve… and said, hey, I really want to destroy you… take this fruit and eat it… Hey, just want you to know, I have all these terrible plans for you, so go ahead and take this bite…
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Genesis 3:2-5 (NLT)
- Notice Satan doesn’t say anything bad. He tries to twist it… some commentators even say the way he words it makes it sound like Adam and Eve could help God… They weren’t trying to overthrow God.
- Satan comes in and makes them think they are missing out… Think about it: they are in a tropical place, with all the food they want, and I’m not trying to be crude, but they are naked… Do you know what we call a tropical place; with all the food we can eat and naked people? … We call that a honeymoon and people pay a lot of money for that... but Satan takes it, and he twists it.
- It’s interesting they had a grace garden with a single law tree. And Satan met them there, in a law garden, with a few grace trees.
- The point is, no one wakes up and says, I’m going to blow up my whole life. I’m going to leave my spouse, live with hate and bitterness, pain and anger. I’m going to get addicted to this thing or spend my life chasing after this and neglect what matters…
- What happens is Satan comes in and makes them think something… he twists the truth and gets them to go after those things…
You must understand Satan is a liar…
Lies of Satan:
a) DECIEVES
(John 8:44)
I saw this coffee mug online, and it looked pretty great... This is a picture [Mug – Ad] ... This is what is advertised… This is what showed up [Mug – Real] J… Satan always makes sin look so appealing, but it’s deception because it never lives up to the promise. It never fills you up. He deceives us in following God’s ways, just like Adam and Eve.
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44 (NLT)
None of us would listen to a pathological liar… we would be distant and guarded…
But why will Christians listen to Satan knowing he’s not just a pathological liar… the Bible calls him The father of lies. And yet we listen to him… why?
Because the best lies are closest to the truth, and he deceives us…
And what he does is he takes the truths of God, and he twists them. He repackages them, and because we haven’t meditated and memorized the word… we don’t really know it…
Gossip - prayer requests
Drunkenness - taking the edge off
Vanity - building a platform
Living together - test drive
Abortion – it’s a choice
Pornography - not that big of a deal
Consumerism - I just want a church to meet my needs
Hatred - politics
Greed - it’s just living comfortably
Sexual sin - it’s just an appetite.
Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
C.S. Lewis
Lies of Satan:
b) ACCUSES
(Romans 8:1)
You aren’t good enough. If they only knew what you did, God won’t really love you.
You know all those negative thoughts in your head? That’s often demonic…. God won’t forgive that. They won’t accept you. You can’t overcome this. You can’t get that or do that.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
- Satan attacks us by getting us to BLAME
(Genesis 3:11-13)
I said this before, but there isn’t any warfare until Adam and Eve are together… so after a wedding comes a war… … saw this chart... we love to blame others... I usually pick on the men, but I’m going to pick on the women for a sec:
|
Husband
|
Wife
|
Verdict
|
|
Wrong
|
Right
|
Wife is right
|
|
Right
|
Wrong
|
Wife is right
|
|
Right
|
Right
|
Wife is right
|
|
Wrong
|
Wrong
|
Husband is wrong
|
We love to blame others… when Adam and Eve mess up, that starts shifting blame.
“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?”The man replied, “It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
Genesis 3:11-13 (NLT)
Adam: God, You and I were great, but You made this woman… and it’s been crazy ever since… I feel like I married the wrong woman... and God, who made her? You did. You got some bugs in the creation. I didn’t want to tell her this, but she’s not all there…You need to create another woman.
Eve says: The devil made me do it.
See, we tend to make two mistakes with sin…
- (This is what Adam and Eve did. Someone else made me do it... it’s their fault, I just reacted.)
- (There is no hope… doom and gloom.)
- Right size. (Own it. Take responsibility, repent and ask God to change you.)
Think about this: did Jesus cause you to sin? No!
But He took responsibility for it… He took charge. That’s what it looks like.
- Satan attacks us by causing us to HIDE.
(Genesis 3:8-9, 14-15, 21)
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. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT)
Do you know the first sins ever committed in the Bible?
Hiding and lying…
And we hide because we have an enemy who accuses and deceives us, but also because we fail to understand the Father heart of God…
Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.”
Genesis 3:14-15 (NLT)
When Adam and Eve sinned… they both were asked questions… but Satan wasn’t asked a question; he was given judgment because he’s spiritually dead. There isn’t hope. Satan wasn’t looking to return to God.
- Notice, it says I will put enmity between you and the woman… Satan already hated Adam and Eve… but God, in His kindness, put a natural fear and hatred towards Satan…there is a resistance we are born with towards evil if we don’t harden our hearts.
- Think about it: the fact that God put enmity or hostility between Satan and the woman means that Adam and Eve can become like God and not Satan. There is a choice now.
Notice one of the most amazing verses again. It says: He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.
This verse is referred to by some as the protoevangelion, which means the first Gospel. It’s the promise of Jesus coming to win the war we couldn’t. It’s the promise that Jesus has come to make things right.
Listen, when you go to battle, your ally matters… this is saying Jesus is your ally. He fights for you. This is good news…
Satan Jesus
Accuses Advocates
Deceives Delivers
Is there anything you are hiding today… is there anything you are trying to keep from God or others? Is there anything you’re lying about?
What’s the solution? Confession and run towards God. And when you do, you will find His grace and compassion. There is more grace in God than sin in you…
In fact, listen to this verse…
And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Genesis 3:21 (NLT)
Don’t try to cover up your sin and shame. Come to God this morning, and He will clothe you with His mercy and love!
Communion - He advocates
He delivers
Resistance shows you are still in the fight.
This might sound odd to some… but if you are feeling miserable about some sin, if you are struggling with something right now… thank God for the struggle…
The struggle shows you are spiritually alive. If you are spiritually dead, you make excuses… and you don’t care…