In Genesis 3 we have the record of the fall of man.  We observe many great lessons by looking at this event.

(i)The Devil is Crafty.   Notice he comes in the form of a serpent.  He is in the Garden of Eden and he comes with a purpose to tempt Adam and Eve to rebel against God.  Observe the evil one is crafty (Gen.3:1) and watch how he goes about tempting Adam and Eve to sin. (1)Questions God Word.  Gen.3:1 “” The devil states, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” He starts off by questioning God’s command to Adam and Eve. He in essence states, “Is that what God has said?”  The devil at this time puts into their minds a question, just exactly what did God tell them?  He wanted them to question God’s Word.  (2)Doubt God’s Word. Once you get a man or woman to question God’s word it won’t be long until he doubts God’s Word. The devil says, “God said that?” The devil began to question the authority of God.  This in turn made Eve doubt God’s authority. In fact notice in verses 2-3 Eve already adds to God’s command as far as we can tell by stating they are not to even touch the fruit.  (3)They began to feel cheated.  The devil plants the seed in their minds that God is cheating them. That God is holding us back. Eve began to feel she was missing something in life. God did not want her to be like Him when in reality eating the fruit made her less like God. The devil put in her mind she was being cheated and she became dissatisfied and upset.  (4)Ate of the fruit. They did exactly what God told them not to do.

(ii)The Consequences of such Actions.  Now observe the fact there were consequences to their sin.  (1)They lost paradise.  God kicked them out of the Garden.  (2)They lose their purity. Became sinners in rebellion against God (Rom.5:12). (3)Their conscience was stirred and they recognized their sin.  Genesis 3:7 “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” They were innocent before they sinned. They did not know they were naked until after they ate the fruit. Once they ate the fruit their eyes were opened, they knew right from wrong, and they tried to hide from God.  They not only tried to hide from each other they also tried to hide from God. (a)This is why we must be careful not to let our conscience be our guide unless it is a conscience guided by God’s Word.

(iii)God’s Response.  Look at how God responded to the sin of Adam and Eve. (1)Judgement…there were consequences for their sin. God did not ignore their sin. He expelled them from the Garden and placed curses on Adam, Eve, and the serpent (Gen.3:14-19).  (2)Made a robe for them. In vs.9 God calls for them…seeks for them…that is what He has always done for man. (3)After confronting them over their sin God sacrificed an animal and made them robes to cover their nakedness. Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”  God made the sacrifice even though Adam and Eve sinned. God’s righteousness can only be satisfied in judgment and holiness.

(iv)What Had to Be Done before Adam and Eve could be saved?  Sin had to be judged and put away. Satan’s power had to be crushed. Adam’s only hope was in the robe of skins God provided. Adam and Eve had sinned, they were filled with fear, they had no hope in themselves, and there was nothing they could do to get rid of their sin without God acting on their behalf.  Adam and Eve had a choice, they could try to run from God and hide in their shame and cover themselves with fig leaves, or they could turn to God and let Him cover their shame with the garment of His grace.

(v)Lessons for us today:                                                                                                                                                                           

(1) Beware of the lies of the devil. He is crafty and cunning and often we are more prepared to listen to his lies than we are God’s truth because it is what we think we want to hear.                                                                                                                                 

(2)Beware lest we question God’s word. Some want to accept certain parts of the Bible, but not the entirety. With the Scripture it is either all or nothing.                                                                                                                                                                              

(3)Beware lest we doubt God’s Word. God wants us to be like Him. He desires us to be holy, while the devil lies to make us doubt. The devil’s strategy has not changed (I Jno.2:16).

(4)Beware least you feel cheated. You are not missing anything living in sin. Sin causes us to lose things. When we doubt God’s Word we lose peace of mind.  When we live in rebellion against God we lose our soul.                                                               

(5)Educate your conscience to God’s Word.  Instead of trying to cover and hide our sin from God (which cannot be done) let Him cover us with the blood of His Son. When we are baptized into Christ we are made clean from our sin. God made a sacrifice to save us from our sin, but we must put on Christ and live for Him to be free from sin.  

The theme of Philippians is not difficult to discover. Paul wrote about joy and rejoicing fifteen times in the four chapters of Philippians. The thesis is declared in this verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

The apostle exhorts God’s people to always rejoice. He explains why they should rejoice, how they can rejoice in spite of hurts and disappointments, and how they can experience the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). -- Chapter one explains Paul’s reason for rejoicing and how one may rejoice in the face of difficulties in life. --Chapter two emphasizes the necessity of having the mind of Christ and the joy of hope and anticipation. Then Paul gives two specific examples of men (Timothy and Epaphroditus) who brought joy in their lives. --Chapter three encourages and incites children of God to center their lives on a right relationship with the Lord and, therefore, to have their minds focused on heaven. --Chapter four explores people and activities of people which bring joy, such as those who labored with Paul in the gospel and the possibility of sensing the Lord’s presence. Further attention is given to the right way of thinking. Finally, the church in Philippi is a source of joy to Paul.

While several of Paul’s epistles to congregations were designed to correct some problem or problems (1 Corinthians and Galatians), Philippians is different. The closest thing to a rebuke because of a problem comes when he implores Euodia and Syntyche to “be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2).

William Hendricksen analyzed Philippians as follows: --Philippians reveals the secret of true happiness; and how this secret may be obtained. --Philippians reveals the man who learned the secret and, hence, is one of Paul’s most personal epistles. --Philippians reveals Jesus the Christ as the One who taught Paul true happiness.

Merrill F. Unger offers this summary of the epistle of Philippians: --The joy of Christ our Life (Chap. 1). --The joy of Christ our Example (Chap. 2). --The joy of Christ our Goal (Chap. 3). --The joy of Christ our Sufficiency (Chap. 4).

If Paul could sing from a Philippian jail, he could also rejoice from a Roman prison. This epistle is full of joy in the middle of adversity. Joy is not at the mercy of circumstances. Joy floods the soul that is in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. “Rejoice in the Lord,” Paul urged the saints in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:1; 4:4).

Henry H. Hailey observed: Joy is the predominate note of this epistle. Written by a man in prison, who for thirty years had been mobbed, beaten, stoned, and cuffed about, enough to make the angels gasp. Yet, he is overflowing with JOY. The very things which would naturally tend to make him sour only added to his happiness.

It is simply amazing what Christ can do in one’s life. Acts reveals a joyful people who comprised the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46). The gospel brought joy to Samaria (Acts 8:5). The jailer at Philippi who was on the verge of suicide was, after obeying the gospel, rejoicing the same night. It is time for God’s people to radiate from their lives, and even in the midst of their disappointments and trials, genuine joy!