"You Can be As Gods"

You Can be As Gods

November 07, 2010

Introduction

In our recent survey, someone made this suggestion: I believe that people now days go to church to be entertained & feel good. It is all about themselves, not about God. this is due to America moving so far away from God. We need to work to help people to understand that “God” is the answer.

Where do we begin such a study? What does the Bible have to say about this situation? I think it really begins with the very first temptation.

Body

I. “You can be as God!”

Shortly after creation, the Devil tempted Eve to “do her own thing.”

(Gen 3:1-6 NKJV) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" {2} And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; {3:3} "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" {4} Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. {5} "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." {6} So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Is God being too restrictive?

(Gen 3:1) And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

1. Is God keeping you from the good things you should get to enjoy?

2. He’s planted the idea: Can’t you determine what is good for you?

(Gen. 3:5) "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Temptation becomes more desirable.

{6} So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.

That is how temptation and sin works.

(James 1:13-15 NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.(14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

II. We are living in the last days.

(2 Tim 3:1-5 NKJV) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: {2} For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, {3} unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, {4} traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, {5} having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

A. Men reach a point where they want to substitute their own wants for what God has provided.

(Num 11:4-6 NKJV) Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat? {5} "We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; {6} "but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

B. Do we understand the cross?

Well, here I am Lord. You said, "Take up your cross." and here I am to do it. It's not easy, You know these days, this self-denial thing. I really mean to go through with it though, yes sir. I'll bet You wish more people were willing disciples like me.

I've counted the cost and surrendered my life and ... "It's not an easy road." You mind if I look over these crosses? I'd kind of like a new one. Not that I'm fussy, You understand, but a modern day disciple has to be relevent.
I was wondering...are there any that are vinyl padded? I'm thinking of attracting others, see, and if I could show them a comfortable cross I'm sure I could win a lot more. We have to keep up with the times. Right? And I need something durable so that I can treasure it always and occassionally show it off to my friends.

Oh, perhaps there is one that is sort of flat so it would fit under my coat. One shouldn't be too obvious. Funny, there doesn't seem to be much choice here. Just course, rough wood, that's liable to hurt.
I mean, just being with You, that's all that counts. Life has to have a balance too, but You don't understand, nobody lives that way today. Who's going to be attracted by this self-denial bit? I mean, I want to do what's right but let's not overdo it. If I appear too radical they'll have me off to the funny farm or something.
I mean, being a disciple is challenging and exciting and I want to do it, but I do have some rights, don't I?

Now let's see...Well...we'll keep "Grace"....but, ah... No blood, OK? I just can't stand the thought of that, Lord...........Lord???......... Now, where do you suppose He went?

C. Do we understand what Jesus meant when he said, “take up your cross and follow Me”?

(Luke 14:27 NKJV) "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

D. Do we understand discipline?

(Heb 12:11-13 NKJV) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. {12} Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, {13} and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

III. The way of man.

A. There is a way that seems right.

(Prov 14:12 NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

1. Man isn’t truly good.

(Jer 17:9 NKJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

B. It is not in man to direct his own steps.

(Jer 10:23 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

C. The life of Paul

(2 Cor 11:23-27 NKJV) Are they ministers of Christ?; I speak as a fool; I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. {24} From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. {25} Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; {26} in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; {27} in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness;

A. Was it worth it, Paul?

(Rom 8:18 NKJV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

B. So what is the advice?

(1 Pet 1:13-16 KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; {14} As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: {15} But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

C. Do not be like everyone else!

(Rom 12:1-3 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. {3} For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Conclusion

(Eph 6:13-18 NKJV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; {18} praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

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