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Genesis 2:8-9- “Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:15-17- “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
TWO TREES- TWO DIFFERENT RESULTS!
Have you ever seen individuals who are doing the same thing while one thrives and the other struggles, waivers and eventually falls away?
Families that do the same thing but one thrives and the other struggles and breaks apart?
Churches that do the same thing, preach and teach from the same Bible, but one thrives and the other struggles and dies while the people in the church are fussing, fighting, gossiping negative, critical?
But the church that is thriving is FULL OF LIFE. Both preaching from the same Bible.
Why is it that while doing the same thing one produces life while the other does not!
WHAT IS LIFE?
Life speaks of that which is receiving the LIFE OF GOD!
John 10:10- “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”
DIFFERENT TREES, DIFFERENT FRUIT, LIFE OR DEATH!
WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE, WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES?
- I’m either a victim or a victor.
LIVING IN THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. A VICTIM!
It’s always someone else’s fault!
Evidence of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: People begin blaming each other!
It finds fault, places blame, and demands punishment!
It’s the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
LIVING IN THE TREE OF LIFE- A Victor
You are virtually free from OFFENSE!
You’re victorious and innocent in your response to being offended!
YOU’RE FORGIVING AND LOVING AND ENCOURAGING TOWARD OTHERS!
HOW ABOUT IN
2. Our Response to Sin
If we handle others mistakes with a life giving attitude, then we and they have the opportunity to experience greater freedom and power.
If we handle others mistakes negatively, then we’re eating from the wrong tree and we will experience death.
Galatians 6:1- “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”
It all has to do with our response. It doesn’t mean we overlook the idea of good and evil or that we condone others mistakes!
We respond in a way that brings life and not death!
ANOTHER AREA
3. Religion or Relationship
Every religion operates in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They all try to attain godliness through adhering to a standard of right and wrong.
They believe that being good is the goal. It’s good to go to church, read our bible, pray.
However, it is legalistic and results in a self-righteous mindset.
Jesus Christ came to offer us a relationship. Only through a relationship with Him can we experience true godliness and relationship with the Father.
Goodness, mercy, and righteousness will follow those who’ve a relationship with the Father! THE TREE OF LIFE!
ANOTHER AREA
4. Going to Church
TREE OF LIFE- We are grateful for the congregation, grateful for the pastors and leaders. We want to make ourselves available to serve.
It’s a joy to give, a delight to worship and easy to pray and fellowship with those around us.
TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL- We go because of duty or obligation. We do not come to draw life from the gathering.
We view everyone with a critical eye.
The pastor, the volume of the sound system, the temperature or the music isn’t quite right, a sour spirit begins to develop in our hearts.
If a need surfaces somewhere in the church, rather than manifesting a compassionate desire to help, we criticize and find reasons not to help.
5. Prayer
TREE OF LIFE- Joy, communion, fellowship, and an easy connection with the Spirit of God.
TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL – Pray only because you have to, no fellowship or communion, dry, no connection with the Spirit of God!
6. Reading My Bible
TREE OF LIFE- Joy is always a part of my reading. I read it with a childlike heart. I submit to the Scriptures and make them a part of my life.
I like to take notes and even mark in my Bible!
TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL- Obligation, struggle trying to get through a certain number of chapters or to read at a certain time of day.
THE BIBLE IS LIFE-GIVING!
John 5:37-40- “And my Father himself, who gave me this mission, has also testified that I am his Son. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his Word truly live inside of you, for you refuse to believe in me or to embrace me as God’s messenger. You are busy analyzing the Scriptures, poring over them hoping to gain eternal life. Everything you read points to me, yet you still refuse to come to me so I can give you the life you’re looking for-eternal life.”
The Bible is Life-Giving because it points to the giver of life! Jesus!
The Bible is a relationship book not a rule book!
“We must not come to the Bible only to learn and understand. The Bible is not the Tree of Knowledge, it is the Tree of Life!
Deuteronomy 30:9-10- “The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.”
If your heart belongs to God, his commands are about relationship. If you heart belongs to the world his commands are rules to follow!
Deuteronomy 30:19-20- “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW?