Family Talk: Throw in the Towel

Genesis 3:1-15New International Version (NIV)

The Fall

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 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.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate. 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals” You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

• Marriage is more than a full time job; instead it is a life long pursuit of intimacy.
• The reality of every couple to be similar in likes and dislikes is an improbability, but an emotional bond of trust is crucial and must be strengthened through Communication and healthy conflict management. 
• Safeguarding your marriage or future marriage begins with an awareness of the subtle "Intimacy-Invaders" that attempt to dismantle your sacred union.
• Genesis 2:16
• And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
• There was full freedom in the garden with one exception.
• Eve was the secondhand recipient of the instructions.

5 "Intimacy-Invaders" to Identify

1. Isolation
1. Create Division
1. "He said to the woman..." Genesis 3:1
2. Two are better than 1.
3. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
1. Two are better than one,because they have a good return for their labor:10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
2. Look to older couples for example.
2. Hesitation
1. Cause Doubt
1. Did God actually say…
2. " Genesis 3:1-5
3. Substitution
1. By using the name Elohim instead of Jehovah the covenant relationship of God towards man was obscured, and man's position in the garden represented as that of a subject rather than a son.
4. Omission
1. The serpent's question omits the positive statement made by God in Gen 2:16.
2. The serpent also distorts the earlier statement by presenting God as saying Adam and Eve could not eat from any tree at all.
3. Satan does not quote in context to cast doubt and division.
1. He will seek to twist and tweek the word.
2. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
1. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
4. Omission causes misunderstandings
1. A man approached the alter for prayer and asked the pastor to pray for his hearing so the pastor laid his hands on the man’s ears and prayed for healing. Afterwards, the man thanked the pastor and asked if he’d pray also for his court hearing.
5. Temptation
1. Consumed by Desire-"saw that the tree..." 
2. Genesis 3:6
1. Sin of silence.
1. (Men and women operate in equality but with different responsibility)
2. Speaking into your marriage has to do with availability not ability.
2. Deemed-"good for food"
3. Delight-"to the eyes"
4. Desired-"make one wise"
6. An unbridled appetite creates an insatiable craving that does not logically consider the fullest consequence. 
1. God doesn’t use rules to take away our pleasure.
2. There’s protection within parameters.
3. Three dogs escaped.
1. They had been trying to escape for 5 years.
2. They got out and it was not good.
1. They were missing for weeks
2. One of the dogs got ran over and needed surgery.
3. When given the chance to leave again they chose to stay because what was outside of their boundaries wasn’t good.
4. Satan will try to make your monogomy monotony.
1. Proverbs 5:18-19
2. May your fountain be blessed,and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always,may you ever be intoxicated with her love
7. Preservation
1. Cover up Deeds-"sewed fig leaves together…"
2. Genesis 3:7-10
1. Guilt and shame taught them to hide.
2. When crisis arises and the damage is done, you either choose to confess or conceal.
3. Confession
1. For in confessing, you are choosing to agree with God that what He already knows to be true.   
3. Concealing
1. Proverbs 28:13
2. Whoever conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 
4. Blame game.
1. Adam points the finger AT GOD!
8. Justification
1. Continue to Defer
1. "the woman you gave me...the serpent deceived me
2. Genesis 3:11-13
2. Failing to take ownership and responsibility in decision-making perpetuates a mindset of adolescence, thus causing a failure to launch into the deeper waters of intimacy.  
3. Throw in the Towel:  Instead of "throwing in the towel" giving up on your marriage due to turbulence, give over your marriage to God to bring about transformation. 
1. 7 verses and this marriage is jacked up.
9. Reconciliation
1. Contend for Deliverance:
1. God Pursues: "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9
2. God Predicts: "Her Seed" Genesis 3:15
3. God Provides: "He clothed them" Genesis 3:21
2. Romans 16:20
1. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
1. When Satan tries to remind you of your past, remind him about his future.

*Protevangelium:  The very first time the good news of the Gospel is preached is within the context of a marriage relationship that was fractured.  Therefore, hope rises from the ashes of what once was, and now gives hope of what could be amongst the echo of victory in the throws of defeat.  

Praise and Worship

"Praise Him (To The Amazing One)"

"Here For You" by Matt Maher, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, and Tim Wanstall

"Shine On Us" by Deborah D. Smith and Michael W. Smith

"Blessed Assurance"

"You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe

Notes provided by the Community Bible Church Staff