"For we who have believed do enter into the rest.. although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested the seventh day from all His works." ..there remains a rest to the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:3-10 MKJV)

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Enter the party-pooper(def: someone who spoils the pleasure of others) => Adam and Eve entered into conversation with the deceptive "one" disguised as a snake, who cast aspersions at God's love for them and His ability to look after them completely. He convinced them they could do a better job than God, in looking after them selves. They disconnected from God and moved from God-dependence to self-dependence, with the promise of a better future as the "god" of their own lives. It did not take long to discover that they had been deceived. The story they had been sold on, was not all it had been cut out to be. They had believed a lie and fell from a glorious existence to shame(Romans 3:23). Their choice was made; they had abandoned rest and entered into their own works. Destined to Hard labour, for which they were not created; a perfect recipe for a stressful existence that would take its toll on the human race.

1. "The serpent..spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it--she'd know everything!--she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate...GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"..GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."..He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk.." (Genesis 3:1-19 MSG)

Who to Trust => To live in God's rest, required complete trust in God(Isaiah 26:3) and total submission(aka faith)(Proverbs 3:5-7). This is why the deceiver had to attack both, through his words. He introduced doubt and distracted them from thinking about any evidence that may stand in God's defense. Adam & Eve considered his words and esteemed them above their knowledge of God and unbelief was born. Faith kept them in His rest. In the absence of any contrary voice, there was no effort involved in staying there. Adam & Eve considered contradictions introduced by satan until, coupled with their lust, it tipped the balance of their belief in his direction, in direct opposition to their belief in God's love. Their choice to believe his lies, committed them to the corresponding action of disobedience, leading to death(Romans 5:12-14). Unbelief took them out of rest into their own works.

1. "..in the Scriptures this is said about the seventh day: "God rested on the seventh day from all his work." This same matter is spoken of again: "They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest." Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it." (Hebrews 4:4-6 GNB)

A New world order => Satan's plan was now in full swing, he has caused those over whom he had no power, to deliver all their power and possession to him through deception(Matthew 4:8-10). In line with his original aspiration, he became the god of this world, working through man to establish his own self centered, self-seeking world system with the explicit mission to exclude God from it's operation(Psalm 53:1-4). Not having the power to create, he began to pervert all that God created, to our destruction, turning use to abuse(Romans 1:21-32).

1. "In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God." (Ephesians 2:1-2 GNB)

Selah

(To be continued..)

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