Genesis 3:1-13 Complete Jewish Bible
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; 5 because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it had a pleasing appearance and that the tree was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves loincloths.
8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Believing that the Battle is Real
The battle is real.
The Enemy is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to fill your mind with subtle lies to gain access at the table of fellowship God has prepared for you.
It’s a table described famously in Psalm 23 intended only for the Lord and you to dine. But this table isn’t set in a beautiful, peaceful meadow. No, as verse five states, it’s a table placed in the presence of your enemies. They see you seated there with the King of the Universe, and they want a piece of the action.
The Enemy will do anything to slide into a seat and begin to tell you lies that will make you doubt your rightful place at the table, or try to convince you that there are better options elsewhere.
But, when the Devil is whispering lies in your ear, you need to know Jesus is there with you in the midst of the temptation and pressure.
He’s there to rescue you when necessary, to protect you at all costs, and to fill your cups to over-flowing.
With all of his conniving and deceiving, it can be hard to recognize the Enemy’s voice for what it is.
It’s important to be able to spot the enemy’s lies—not so you can focus on the lies, but so you can avoid them, fix your gaze back toward the Good Shepherd.
While there are seemingly countless lies the Enemy can tell you, I’ve found that most of them fall into five broader categories.
And if you are able to spot them as they’re coming your direction, you can overcome them and win the battle for your mind with truth in Jesus’ name.
Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 Complete Jewish Bible
1. The Lie of Deception
First, if you’ve heard recently that it’s better at another table, then you can be certain the Enemy is at your table.
Jesus’ table, the one He prepares for you, is about life, life abundantly (John 10:10). Any table other than God’s table is about abundantly stealing, killing, and destroying. When the Devil sits at your table, he often points to another table and talks about how amazing it is somewhere else.
He points to a place that’s not the table where God is and says, That, over there.
That’s the solution to your problem.
Don’t give in to this lie.
The Devil loves for you to look at your life and compare it with somebody else’s, so you wish you had what they had.
He’ll mix in a little jealousy, sift in a little coveting and add a dash of woe is me and throw in a few lines about how God must love that person more than you.
Or about how God is blessing that person more than He’s blessing you. Or about how surely God has withheld something you need. Pretty soon the Devil has you convinced God isn’t good. God hasn’t blessed you, ergo, God doesn’t love you.
You missed out on something good, because God is mean, or God forgot about you, or God’s been lying to you all this time.
I have called this “the grass is always greener” syndrome. If you’re not firmly seated at the table with the Almighty, if your eyes are not locked on those of the Good Shepherd, then you’re too easily distracted by the tyranny of comparison.
The Enemy always paints a great picture of freedom.
It’s over there—where the grass is always greener.
These thoughts that you can shirk commitments and have it your way don’t come from Jesus. He comes to give life in abundance, and give it to the fullest.
2. The Lie that You’re Doomed
So often when we are asked how things are going, we reply something like, “Man, I don’t know if I’m going to make it through this season. I’m not sure I’m going to survive this semester. I don’t know if we’re going to get through this time.”
Have you ever heard yourself saying something like that? Where did you get that kind of thinking? Where did you hear those words of gloom and doubt? Not from your Good Shepherd. You likely heard them from the Enemy at your table.
See, your God has just told you that even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you don’t need to fear any evil.
Did you catch the operative word in this sentence: through. Your Shepherd didn’t just say you’re going to the valley. He said you are going through the valley. In other words—you are going to make it to the other side.
You will not find the Good Shepherd telling you that you’re not going to make it.
You will never find the Good Shepherd telling you that life is hopeless, there’s no way out. May as well chuck it all, quit, and die.
That is not the voice of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd says, We’re going through this valley, and I’m going to be with you all the way through. And guess what—we’re going to have a story to tell on the other side.
This is how God delivered His people from bondage in Egypt. He didn’t build a giant bridge over the Red Sea; He parted the sea so they could walk through it.
Oftentimes God’s plan is not to build a bridge over troubled waters. Instead, His miracle plan is to give you the grace and the power to miraculously go through the troubled waters. “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 NLT)
You are going through whatever circumstance you’re currently in.
And your Shepherd is going through it with you.
Have you ever believed the lie that you’re hopeless?
You are not hopeless. Jesus lives in you!
Do you believe this?
3. The Lie of Worthlessness
Now, we’ve got to be really careful about this lie, because Scripture calls us to be humble. But as it’s been well said: humility is not thinking less of yourself; humility is thinking of yourself less. We easily get these confused by thinking it honors God for us to think less of ourselves. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Maybe someone told you you’d never amount to anything. Or maybe a spouse walked away. A parent bailed. Or the right man or woman you’ve longed for never walked through the door. Maybe you’ve always wished you looked like someone else. Or had the gifts that a friend has. Or maybe a dump truck of guilt just backed into your story at some point and unloaded a pile of shame on you.
Here’s the thing: you need to know the “I am not or never enough” anthem was composed in the pit of hell. It’s crippling. Debilitating. Paralyzing. Suffocating.
It didn’t come from the Good Shepherd.
This lie isn’t a reflection of true humility.
It’s a club that beats you over the head.
This lie whispers to you that you’re useless.
You will never have what it takes.
Have you been called to lead a small group at your church?
This lie insists it can’t be done.
Have you been called to lead your family with integrity and compassion and kindness and strength as a wife and mother who follows God?
This lie tells you that you’re not good enough; you’re never going to amount to anything, so don’t even bother trying.
In the beautiful comparative picture,
we have of the Good Shepherd in John 10, Scripture tells us Jesus “lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11). Jesus has already put it all on the line for you!
Romans 5:8-10 Complete Jewish Bible
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners. 9 Therefore, since we have now come to be considered righteous by means of his bloody sacrificial death, how much more will we be delivered through him from the anger of God’s judgment! 10 For if we were reconciled with God through his Son’s death when we were enemies, how much more will we be delivered by his life, now that we are reconciled!
4. The Lie of Me Against the World
When you believe the lie that everybody is against you, that you stand alone, no one will come to your defense, you are convinced everybody 100% hates you.
Everybody at your job hates you. Everybody in your family hates you. Everybody in your church. Your pastors. Your professors. Your parents. Your children. Your friends. Your colleagues. Your neighbors. Even the politicians spit in your soul.
This is the voice of fear-based illogic, of paranoia, a voice that encourages you to mistrust everybody in your life.
Certainly, there are subtler forms of this lie.
The Enemy is great at sowing seeds of doubt, at working to undermine your confidence about what God says is true about you.
You might not exactly hear the word hate, but maybe you are hearing yourself say words like this:
“Well, that person didn’t even look up when I walked into the office—I bet she doesn’t like me. See those people talking over there—I guarantee you they’re talking about me. They are out to get me. Look at that friend—I bet she never wants to talk to me ever again. I don’t have any friends. All my friends do things without me. No one ever invites me anywhere. Nobody likes me.”
What’s the truth?
Well, it’s possible that somebody hates you. Sure. But it’s not likely that everybody’s against you.
What’s more likely if you’re hearing that lie is that you’ve got your fist clenched and you’re ready to strike.
Somewhere in the past you developed a defensive posture, an untrusting nature, and now it has become your default position. Your walls are up.
People have hurt you in the past, so you’re not going to let them ever get close to you again.
The truth is that you need to let the Good Shepherd lead you by still waters.
When God is walking you through the valley, you can stop worrying about managing all the outcomes.
You can stop looking over your shoulder. You can take the boxing gloves off.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 Complete Jewish Bible
16 “But,” says the Torah, “whenever someone turns to Adonai, the veil is taken away.”[a] 17 Now, “Adonai” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit.
5. The Lie that There’s Never Any Way Out
This is a classic lie of the Enemy.
It’s that ultimate lie that combines several of the lies we’ve already addressed. The Enemy convinces you there’s nowhere to turn. Nowhere to run. No way forward. No chance you’re ever going to live free again.
The consequences of your bad decisions are closing in from one side, the betrayal of one friend to another.
Your reputation is toast. You’re going to lose your job. You can’t go back to your community. You can’t trust anyone. You’ve played your last card. The pressure is too great. Give up. Cash out. Get out of town, or worse, get out of this life.
I’ve been through enough storms to know the harsh reality of those feelings, so I’m not going to pretend following the advice I’m giving you is any cakewalk.
If you feel like you’re surrounded and there’s no way out, I’ve got game-changing news for you—you are surrounded! But it’s better than you think.
It may be true that circumstances are closing in.
Enemies have taken up their position in the night. Your whole world is surrounded by threats, accusations, missiles, and hate.
But here’s the thing:
That’s only half the story.
The Enemy wants you to believe you are doomed.
That there is no way out.
But the Spirit of God is interceding for you: Lord, open their spiritual eyes; Father, let them see with the eyes of faith.
God has everyone and everything that’s surrounding you surrounded.
2 Kings 6:14-20 Complete Jewish Bible
14 So he sent horses, chariots and a large army there; they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 The servant of the man of God got up early in the morning; on going outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. His servant said to him, “Oh, my master, this is terrible! What are we going to do?” 16 He answered, “Don’t be afraid — those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!” 17 Elisha prayed, “Adonai, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see.” Then Adonai opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots. 18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Adonai, “Please strike these people blind”; and he struck them blind, as Elisha had asked. 19 Next, Elisha told them, “You’ve lost your way, and this isn’t even the right city. Follow me, and I’ll take you to the man you’re looking for.” Then he led them to Shomron. 20 On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, “Adonai, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see.” Adonai opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.
Defeating the Lies
John 16:12-15 Complete Jewish Bible
12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. 14 He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you.
When the Enemy tells you you’re not smart enough, you’re not strong enough, you don’t have the right background, you’re not pretty enough, you just don’t matter enough, never be good enough . . . look up and lock eyes with the King.
Hear Him say, Daughter—Son—I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than at this table with you.
His words are the words of life (John 6:68).
John 6:63-69 Complete Jewish Bible
63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust.” (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 “This,” he said, “is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him.”
66 From this time on, many of his talmidim turned back and no longer traveled around with him. 67 So Yeshua said to the Twelve, “Don’t you want to leave too?” 68 Shim‘on Kefa answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the word of eternal life. 69 We have trusted, and we know that you are the Holy One of God.”
His voice thunders from heaven (Psalm 68:33). His voice drowns out every Enemy lie. By His grace, you can start taking authority over the voices at your table and kick the Devil out of your dinner party. He has to flee in Jesus’ name.
Psalm 68:33-36 Complete Jewish Bible
33 (32) Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth!
Sing praises to Adonai, (Selah)
34 (33) to him who rides on the most ancient heavens.
Listen, as he utters his voice, a mighty voice!
35 (34) Acknowledge that strength belongs to God,
with his majesty over Isra’el and his strength in the skies.
36 (35) How awe-inspiring you are, God,
from your holy places,
the God of Isra’el, who gives strength
and power to the people.
Blessed be God!
Imagine that your mind is a garden. Seeds can float in on the wind or be dropped by birds or be scattered in your garden by any number of things.
But you as the gardener are responsible for what grows there. You have the power to water the good seeds, cultivate the good seeds, and pull out any weeds that come from seeds you don’t want.
How do you cultivate, weed, and water the garden of your mind?
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Whatever you give shelter and sustenance to in your mind is ultimately what will grow in your garden. You’re going to reap what you sow.
The way you renew your mind is to wrap your thoughts around Scripture.
You can take control of what you think about. You deliberately plant the good seeds/thoughts of God in your mind. As these thoughts take root and grow, they will help remove the destructive weeds the Enemy tries to plant in your mind.
Don’t give the Enemy a seat at your table.
You can win the battle for your mind.
Do not give in to sin, despair, or darkness. Take every thought captive.
Bind every thought in Jesus’ name that doesn’t come from God. Fill your mind with the goodness and richness of Scripture. Memorize Scripture, and become the DJ of your mind, letting thoughts of God consistently fill your heart and life.
Surrender your life completely to Jesus. He will lead you to green pastures and quiet waters. He will lead you through dark valleys, but you don’t ever need to fear. You will not be in want, because Jesus will restore your soul.
Jesus will lead you to a table in the presence of your enemies, but there’s truly nothing to worry about, because your head is overflowing with oil, and your cup overflows, and goodness and mercy are following you all the days of your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible
23 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 