October 31, 2023 – Do You Have a Negative View of God?
Genesis 2:8-9
Sermon: 1649 Overcoming Satanic Deception
Pray Over This
“The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:8-9
Ponder This
Many think of belonging to the Lord as taking bad medicine to get well. The idea of serving God is painful to them. The idea of being a Christian is negative; it's something you endure. They believe God is a cosmic killjoy. If that is you, you better get that negative idea of God out of your heart and mind. God is not some sort of a cruel, vengeful deity, sitting upon a throne somewhere hurling down thunderbolts of wrath.
The truth is, if Satan can get you to think negatively about God, he has you. Can you imagine the glories of the Garden of Eden? Can you imagine how beautiful Eden must have been? Not so long ago I was at Butchart Gardens in Canada. Those gardens are indescribably beautiful. As you walk through, you wonder what the Garden of Eden must have been like. God, with a smile on His face, said, “Adam and Eve, I made that for you. Help yourself.” But there was one tree that God said, “Don't eat of it.” That wasn't a threat; it was a warning. Every time God says, “Thou shalt not,” He's saying, “Don't hurt yourself.” And every time God says, “Thou shalt,” He's saying, “Help yourself to abundant life.” God loves you. Life with Him is good because you are with Him. The devil doesn't want you to know that.
- When have you had a negative view of God? How did that impact your relationship with Him?
- What helps you see the goodness of God?
Practice This
Write down all the reasons God is good. Remind yourself of His character traits and praise Him for those qualities.
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