| This Weeks Lessons: (back to Parents) Middle School High School Sunday School Downloads |
Middle School REFUEL 9/3/2008 This week we took a look at what is truth, and can we know it with certainty. Our biggest problem that effects us all, is that sin is a very powerful and destructive force that chooses to twist the truth in our heads. We take a look at the classic confrontation between Satan and mankind in Genesis chapter 2 and 3. Where God commands Adam in vs.16 and 17, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." THE TRICK In Chapter 3 the serpent comes into the picture and does the perfect switch-er-oo. First the serpent gets Eve to question the truth, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" THE LIE "You will not surely die." the serpent said to the woman (Gen3:4) THE HALF TRUTH "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil," (Gen3:5) THE FULL TRUTH The devil always finds a way to twist the truth, telling us that their is no consequence to sin and that we are missing out on the pleasures of this world. But in reality he is just hiding the fact that we will end up with a guilty conscience and a broken world. THE REAL HOPE So what are we to do when we have such a crafty genius fighting against us? We look to 1 Corinthians 10:13 where it says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." You always have a choice - no matter how delicious sin looks or how convinced you are that God is somehow keeping you from what life has to offer. The truth is.... that life apart from Christ offers only death, and God has only forbidden the things that will ultimately destroy us. Sin without a doubt, is a very powerful and destructive force.... but we have a choice, we have a Savior.... who promises us with faithfulness, power and hope! |