Introduction

Last week we discussed the “sin” / disobedience of the Israelites from Numbers 13-14.  We also know that the Israelites did the same thing time after time. 

What were the resulting consequences?

• “death sentence” against everyone over the same of 20

• wouldn’t see the promised land

Can I apply the principles we saw in their story to my life? 

• I can look at myself and conclude that I can never be “good enough” for God because I can never be completely obedient

• OR My sinful nature is worse than other believers.

It is important to consider the predisposition to my (sinful) human nature – and where does this predisposition come from – and how do I overcome it?  That’s what this lesson is about.

1) Where did my predisposition towards independence from God come from? 

When Adam and Eve were created they were made perfect, as was all creation. They were complete and totally satisfied, not lacking in any way. Everything they did was in total harmony with God’s character.

But, let's read what happened. 

Genesis 3:6  Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 

Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie about God’s character and ate the fruit, choosing to pursue self-satisfaction “independent” of God. The choice to live independent from God was evident in three areas:

The three areas where they chose to be independent of God: 

1. The human understanding (desirable for obtaining wisdom)

2. The appetites of the body (good for food), and

3. Possessions (delightful to look at).

It's not an accident that Adam and Eve fell in these three areas and. If you look at the temptation of Jesus, He was tempted in the same three areas as Adam and Eve.  Except in each case, Jesus made the right choice.

Temptations also fall into one of these three areas.  

It is important to see this “predisposition toward independence” as the “root” problem of humanity and one of the driving forces behind the global and individual resistance to God.

2) Jesus was tempted in the same three areas as Adam and Eve. 

While Jesus was tempted in the same three areas as Adam, He chose to entrust Himself into God’s care instead of believing Satan’s enticement to seek to live independent of God.

Luke 4:1-13 Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.

The Devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”  But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.”

So he took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The Devil said to Him, “I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. If You, then, will worship me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you, 11 and they will support you with their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.” After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.

NOTE:  The devil knows scripture and will often use it to trip us up! 
Jesus didn’t dispute Satan’s ownership of all the earthly kingdoms. Does that apply to me?

3)  The Three Areas of Temptations, Trials, Tribulastions and Surrender

I need to yield my independence and acknowledge His Lordship over my life.

• Is God sbolutely sovereign over my every circumstance.    (what does that mean?)

• Is God in absolute control over all that happens in the universe and on earth?

•  Does there exist some person or force that can somehow affect God’s sovereign power? 

• Does He always do what is right? 

• Can God do wrong? 

• Can He make mistakes?

•  Is He totally trustworthy?

Verses related to the Sovereignty of God: 

Deuteronomy 32:4  The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.

Psalms 18:30  God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure.…

Proverbs 21:30  No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.

Daniel 4:35  (King Nebuchadnezzar spoke)  All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

God will not allow anything to happen in our lives that He is not going to use for long-term  good. If we look at it from our human understanding, that can be hard.  The important thing is that you can't separate that from the fact that God loves you more than you can imagine..

 1)  MY UNDERSTANDING    (What I AM) 

Phiippians. 2:5-8 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, … He … by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, Lord, that a man’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all of you who are wea

​2)  MY BODY  (What I DO)

Romans 6:13,19  And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But … offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. … For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3)  MY POSSESSIONS  (What I HAVE) 

Luke 14:33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.

Luke 18:28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed You.

Luke 12:15 … one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.

My action / response / my heart's cry should be what David expressed in Psalms:

Psalm 73:25 Who do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.