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In The Garden...Danger!

A friend and neighbor called an exterminator because of snakes in her garden!  Yes, it's true!  She had the most beautiful garden on the block and yet snakes were nesting there.  They found a place hidden away behind the beauty and multiplied. 

Momma's English Dogwood


The first garden had a snake, but he was not like the snakes in my friend's garden.  This snake was a killer of a different sort.  He was called Serpent.  He approached Eve with a specific purpose; planting seeds of doubt.  Doubts about what God really said.  Doubts about God's goodness.  Doubts that would choke and kill Eve's trust in God's Word.  This snake was set on the destruction of her relationship with God!

He's called by many other names.  The Bible refers to him as Satan, the devil, our enemy, the deceiver, accuser, a roaring lion.  The Bible also warns that the enemy's goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.  He wants to steal our joy, confidence, and identity in Jesus.  He delights in hurting God by hurting us.

Our enemy uses our desires against us, and dangles temptations with the promise of pleasure.  He wants sin to rule our lives and steal our freedom.  He schemes, plots, and plans ways to deceive us, discourage us, and provoke us into doubting the truth of God's Word.  He doesn't want us to know sin will multiply until it's a nest of sin filled with guilt, shame, and heartbreaking consequences. 

Big praises!  God doesn't lie and His Word is true.  We can overcome evil with good by the strength of the LORD.  Our desires change as we delight more and more in the LORD.  We stand firm against the lies of the enemy when we're armed with the truth of God's Word.  Sin and death have been defeated by the blood of Jesus; the King of kings and LORD of lords!

Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?”  
Genesis 3:1 (CJB)

 Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14b (AMP)

 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
John 10:10 (AMP)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

 Rather, each person is being tempted whenever he is being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire.
James 1:14 (CJB)

 Delight yourself in the LORD: And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 (NASB)

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (NASB)


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NASB)

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