Memorise: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5 (KJV)
Read: Genesis 3:1-5 (KJV)
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Bible in one year:
Proverbs 23-25,
Mark 8:31-9:13,
Hymnal:
Sing hymn 7
Message:
Many people don’t know that it is dangerous, if not a curse, to possess the knowledge of evil. To have the knowledge of evil is to know how to do evil.
In Genesis 3:5, when the devil told our first parents that their eyes would be open and they would be like God, knowing good and evil, he was literally saying “you will know how to do evil”, even through he did not tell them he was teaching them how to do evil. This is why it is wise for every child of God to understand the source and nature of any knowledge they are acquiring. In James 3:17, the Holy Spirit recommends the type of applied knowledge we should seek after, saying:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
Do you know that some people acquire knowledge that destroys their entire life? When a young boy learns how to smoke marijuana or other narcotic substances, he becomes emboldened and begins to feel he has “become a man”.
What folly this is! When a young girl is introduced to premarital sex, she may be deceived that such carnal knowledge will make her “a real woman”. Although she may be excited about it, the truth is she has only learned how to do evil, and it will destroy her destiny. This is why parents must endeavour to fill their children with godly knowledge before it is too late. God’s wisdom in Proverbs 22:6 says:
“Train up a child in the way he would go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
There are ways the devil introduces his “curriculum” on the knowledge of evil to mankind. In today’s Bible reading, he used to deductive method to achieve his goal. He asked: “Did God say you should not eat of every tree of the garden?” He was pretending not to know which of the fruits in the garden was forbidden.
Would God have arranged for his children to starve by commanding them not to eat of every tree of the garden? Even today, the devil still uses this style. For example, he may come to you saying, “Did God say you should not drink any wine?” The answer is definitely “No, what God said is that I should not drink alcoholic wine.” He may also say to you, “Yes, I know God would not want you to have sex because it is bad!” The answer is “No, what God said is that I can only have sex with my spouse.” The devil is a liar; please don’t believe his lies.
Action Point
Watch the kind of knowledge you acquire over the internet, and review the kind of blogs you read.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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