Gen 3:6a (NIV) When the woman SAW that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.

Jesus, show me that at this point, like Eve, Satan won’t just have my attention, he will have my eyes. I won’t just be listening to Satan’s arguments, I will be checking out the item of temptation. And, even more importantly, I will be checking out the issue FOR MYSELF! Make it clear to me that once Satan has me standing alone by myself, I don’t stand a chance. He is much more skillful than I am. Only You and I together can out reason the devil. Help me see the lie hidden inside a truth. Show me the trap that Satan has set for me.

1. When the woman SAW that the fruit of the tree was good for food: Jesus, Eve couldn’t “see” whether or not fruit was good for food. Show me that, that was a satanically inspired imagination. Teach me that Satan isn’t going to stay neutral; he is going to cheat, lie, distort the truth, and mislead me with trickery, glitter, false enhancements, and frills. When I am looking at something my body, the world, or the devil are presenting, make it clear to me that I am NOT seeing things the way they really are.

2. When the woman SAW that the fruit of the tree was...pleasing to the eye: Jesus, the Bible doesn’t tell me how pleasing to the eyes God made the fruit; but, I am sure He didn’t make it so beautiful that it automatically tempted Adam and Eve to eat it. 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

3. When the woman SAW that the fruit of the tree was...desirable for gaining wisdom: Jesus, show me that, like Eve, Satan is trying to do this to me; I know there was no way that fruit looked like it would give Eve wisdom. Teach me that when I am being tempted to go for a business deal, a relationship, a career opportunity, a pleasurable experience, or a physical thing that God speaks against, Satan is enhancing and distorting the truth of the matter. He IS lying to me! The longer I look rather than pray, the better the temptation is going to look to me.

Jesus, show me that prior to Satan’s temptation, it hadn’t been so pleasing to the eyes that Adam and Eve had already been tempted by it. It took Satan bringing it to their attention. Help me see what happens once Satan gets my attention and then get my eyes to start looking. Teach me that the item of temptation starts looking very beneficial to the body and very enjoyable to the eyes. Like Eve, my imagination will cause me to “see” the fruit as good for “food”, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. All that will happen during Satan’s conversation with me just like it did with Eve.

Gen 3:6b (NIV) She took some and ate it. Bingo! The fall of mankind. In five easy steps Satan won the spiritual battle against Eve’s body. She just DIED A SPIRITUAL DEATH! Jesus, help me see the devastation and ruin these five temptation steps do to people when they listen to Satan. Help me learn the steps to defeating Satan and his schemes.

Gen 3:6c (NIV) She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Bingo! The fall of mankind. In five easy steps Satan not only won the spiritual battle against Eve’s body, he won over Adam’s body too. He just DIED A SPIRITUAL DEATH! Jesus, make it clear to me that sin is very deadly; AND, it is HIGHLY contageous. Help me understand that within seconds it spread from Eve to Adam. Help me see that within a few years Cain killed Abel because it spread from Adam and Eve to him. Show me that before long, the flood came because: Gen 6:5 (NIV) The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

2 Cor 2:11 (NIV) In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. Jesus, Satan is trying to do the same five things to me; so, show me how Adam and Eve got to this place of total spiritual failure; and, show me how to win against Satan.

1. Temptation Step One - Let’s Rethink The Meaning Of This Scripture: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Jesus, when I find myself trying to decide what a Scripture means with my own reasoning power, help me realize I am moving into Temptation Step One. If I start reasoning with myself or with some of my friends about whether or not something “really” means what it appears to mean, let that be the TIME I run to You and let You TELL me what it REALLY means.


2. Temptation Step Two - Scripture That Is Open For Debate: Gen 3:2 (NIV) The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” Jesus, if I ever go through the Scriptures hunting for a loop hole, redirect my purpose. Help me to always sincerely and honestly try to find the TRUTH. Teach me that if I am looking for the truth, I will be praying and asking God to show me what the truth is. If I am looking for a loop hole, help me realize that I will neglect prayer and will ignore including God. If I am weakening the requirements of God’s Word, help me see that I am being manipulated by Satan’s Temptation Step Two and run to You immediately.


3. Temptation Step Three - Trying To Get My Mind Off Of “Who” On To “What:” Gen 3:4 (NIV) “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. Jesus, if I find myself weighing out the consequences, make it clear to me that I am being exposed to Satan’s Temptation Step Three. If I start asking questions like: Can I do it without getting caught? Can I get by with it and it not cost too much? Could I do it and then repent later?
   
   Jesus, help me see that anything like these types of questions are taking my mind off of the most important fact. Help me start thinking that God loves me and has something MUCH better than what I am thinking about doing. Help me start asking these questions: Who loves me the most? God does! Who has my best interests in mind? God does! Who has done the most for me? God has! Who knows everything? God does! Who has the best plan for me? God does!


4. Temptation Step Four - God Isn’t To Be Trusted, I Am: Gen 3:5 (NIV) For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
   
   Jesus, when I find myself getting upset or mad at God because I feel He isn’t being fair, show me that I am being manipulated by Satan’s Temptation Step Four. He is trying to get me feeling sorry for myself. He is trying to get me to evaluate God with my own human reasoning. Empower me to always run to You and let You show me God’s sacrificial love, generosity, and past blessings I have already received. Let me ask this question: What do I think has made me DESERVE more from God than He has already done for me?


5. Temptation Step Five - Get Me Looking At The Item Of Temptation: Gen 3:6a (NIV) When the woman SAW that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.
   
   Jesus, when something the Bible speaks against or even appears to be speaking against and I start seeing all kinds of “benefits,” help me understand that I am being lured and enticed into Temptation Step Five. Teach me that the Holy Spirit will be speaking to my conscience and giving me feelings of guilt and wrong. Help me always listen and yield to His warnings.
   
   Jesus, help me see that Temptation Step Five is the most deadly of them all; at this point I will have already yielded to the other temptation steps.
   
   1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
   
   Jesus, when I find myself at this stage, empower me to run to You as fast as I can. Show me that there IS a way out; but, You will have to empower me to see it and empower me to go through it.