The Reaction and Consequences

Instead of rejecting the questionable source, Eve engaged with it.

Her Reaction: She entertained the doubt, even adding to God's command ("...neither shall you touch it"), which shows the original information was already getting distorted in her mind. She then accepted the serpent's outright lie that she would not die but would become like God.

Adam's Reaction: His was a sin of passive acceptance. The scripture says he was "with her" (Genesis 3:6). He heard the ungodly source and, without protest, participated in the disobedience.
The Consequences: Their acceptance of this new information had immediate and devastating effects.

Spiritual Death: Their first reaction was shame ("they knew that they were naked") and fear, causing them to hide from God. Their fellowship with their Creator was broken.

Relational Division: Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Unity was replaced with blame-shifting.

Physical Hardship & Exile: They were cast out of the garden, and creation itself was subjected to a curse.

Who told you that you were naked?"

God already knew the answer. He was asking them to check their source. He was essentially saying:

"The identity you have just adopted—one of shame, fear, and inadequacy—did not come from Me. I created you and called you 'very good.' This new feeling of 'nakedness' is the direct result of listening to another voice. You believed the wrong report. Who told you that?"
This is the question that echoes through scripture and into our lives today. Who told you that you're not good enough? Who told you that God is holding out on you? Who told you that His Word isn't trustworthy? The source of our information determines the state of our spirit.

Have a good weekend
Pst Sam

"Who Told You cont."
The Original Information (The Godly Source)
Before the lie, there was a clear truth. God gave a direct, life-preserving command: "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). This was the only "information" Adam and Eve needed on the subject. It was clear, protective, and from a source of perfect love.

The Questionable Source (Genesis 3:1)
The serpent enters with a question: "...Did God really say...?" This question was a masterfully crafted piece of misinformation, designed to:
1. Sow Doubt: The phrase "Did God really say...?" is engineered to make God's clear command sound uncertain and questionable. It attacks the reliability of the source.
2. Insinuate Malice: It subtly plants the idea that God is a restrictive killjoy who is withholding something good. It questions the goodness of the source. People have lost relationships because of these kinds of insinuations.
3. Invite Judgment: The question elevates Eve to the position of a judge over God's word, inviting her to re-evaluate and critique the command rather than simply obey it.

What is the devil and its agents whispering into your mind? And what has been your reaction? (To Be Continued).
Pst Sam

Who Told You That?
Gen 3:11 KJV And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Every major failure in the human story, from the Garden of Eden to our own personal struggles, can be traced back to one single mistake: believing the wrong information. It started with a whisper in the garden, a simple question designed to create doubt. That whisper has been echoing ever since.

*Defining "Information" in a Spiritual Context*
In the context of our faith, information is more than just data or facts. It's any word, report, teaching, or idea that influences your perception of God, yourself, and the world. It's the counsel you receive that shapes your beliefs and, ultimately, your actions. The critical question is whether this information aligns with the character and Word of God.

*The First Misinformation (Genesis 3)*
The story of the fall in Genesis 3 is the primary case study on the catastrophic danger of accepting information from an ungodly source
( To be continued).

Have a wonderful day
Pst Sam

Taking the Step of Faith

Theme: Faith is not defined by your past or your position, but by your decision to act on God's truth, no matter the personal risk.

Hebrews 11:31 (KJV) "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace."

Introduction
Have you ever felt disqualified? That your past, your nationality, your profession, or your family background makes you an unlikely candidate for God's grace? Today we meet a woman who ticked all of those boxes, yet she is celebrated in the "Hall of Faith" and is even listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

The Unlikely Hero: We are in Jericho, a city under God's judgment. And our hero is Rahab—a Canaanite, an enemy of Israel, and a prostitute. By all human standards, she should have been the first to perish. But Hebrews 11 tells us faith made the difference. Her story shows us that the step of faith is available to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The Steps of Rahab
Rahab’s faith journey wasn't a long, drawn-out process. It was a rapid-fire series of steps taken in a single, high-stakes moment.

1. The Step of BELIEVING the Report (Joshua 2:8-11)

The Context: Before she acts, Rahab makes a stunning confession of faith to the spies. She hadn't seen God’s miracles herself. She wasn't at the Red Sea. But she had *heard* the reports of what God had done for Israel.
The Faith Action: Her faith came by hearing (Romans 10:17). She processed the news reports of her day and came to a radical conclusion: "the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." This was a complete transfer of allegiance from the powerless gods of Jericho to the one true, all-powerful God of Israel.
The Lesson for Us: Faith doesn't always need a personal miracle to begin. It can start by simply hearing the testimony of God's power—the Gospel—and choosing to believe that it is the ultimate truth.
Application Question: You have heard the report about Jesus—His life, death, and resurrection. Have you moved from just hearing it to truly *believing* in your heart that He is Lord of all?

2. The Step of CHOOSING a Side (Joshua 2:4-7)

The Context: The king of Jericho's soldiers are at her door. This is the moment of truth. Will she side with her king, her city, and her culture, or will she side with these two foreign spies and the God they represent?
The Faith Action: She chose the spies. She hid them and deliberately lied to the authorities, putting her own life on the line. Her faith was not a private opinion; it was a public and treasonous act. She chose to align herself with God's people and God's plan, immediately separating herself from the fate of her city.
The Lesson for Us: A genuine step of faith will always lead to a decisive choice. At some point, our belief requires us to act in a way that aligns us with God, even if it puts us at odds with the world around us.
Application Question: Where is God asking you to choose His side? In your workplace, in your relationships, in your ethics? Are you willing to take the risk of being different for His sake?

3. The Step of TRUSTING the Sign (Joshua 2:18-21)

The Context: The spies give her a strange instruction for salvation: Tie a scarlet cord in her window. This single strand of rope was to be the sign that distinguished her house from all others doomed for destruction.
The Faith Action: Rahab didn't argue or doubt. The Bible says, "she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window." When the walls of Jericho came crashing down, she and her family were not saved by the strength of her house, but by their obedience in displaying the sign. She trusted God's promise attached to that simple symbol.
The Lesson for Us: Our salvation rests on our faith in a sign. The scarlet cord is a beautiful picture of the blood of Christ. We are not saved by our own good works or merits, but by trusting in the sign of the cross and the salvation it represents. Our part is to obey and "tie the cord to our window"—to openly identify with Christ's sacrifice.
Application Question: Are you trusting in God's prescribed way of salvation—the blood of Jesus—or are you trying to save yourself through other means?

Conclusion

Rahab's story is a powerful demonstration of faith. She believed the report, chose a side at great risk, and trusted the sign she was given.
From Outcast to Ancestor: Because of these steps, as Hebrews says, she "perished not with them that believed not." Her faith not only saved her and her family but grafted her into the very lineage of King David and Jesus Christ.
Call to Action: No one here is disqualified. Your past does not define your future with God. Like Rahab, you can hear the report of the Gospel today. You can choose to side with God. You can trust in the sign of the cross for your salvation. Take the step. Your destiny will be forever changed.

Psalm 150:6 (KJV): "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD."

This verse is a universal, all-encompassing summons to worship.
While we humans praise with words, songs, and conscious thoughts, the rest of creation praises God by simply being what it was created to be.
1. A lion praises God with its majestic roar and strength.
2. A soaring eagle praises God with its mastery of the wind.
3. A mighty tree praises God by reaching for the heavens and providing shelter.
4. The oceans praise Him with the thunder of their waves.
So, while all of creation praises God by its existence, we have the profound privilege of praising Him with our will, our words, and our lives—in sunshine and in storms. We are the lead vocalists in the grand symphony of praise.

What a magnificent thought to reflect on this day even.
Have a blessed day.
Good morning
Pst Sam

Ps 103:3-5

In these verses, David unpacks the very substance of God's goodness, giving us a specific list of benefits that should forever fuel our worship. It is a portrait of complete redemption:

1. *Spiritual Restoration:* It begins at the source of our deepest need: *He forgives all our iniquities.* This is not partial pardon, but a complete wiping of the slate, the foundation upon which all other blessings are built.

2. *Physical Wholeness:* He *heals all our diseases,* addressing the brokenness of our physical bodies with His restorative power.

3. *Divine Protection:* He *redeems our life from destruction,* rescuing us from the pits we fall into or that are dug for us. He is our constant deliverer.

4. *Royal Adoption:* He doesn't just save us; He elevates us. He *crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.* We are not just rescued servants; we are crowned children of the King, adorned with His own character.

5. *Supernatural Vitality:* Finally, He *satisfies our mouth with good things,* providing for us with abundance that leads to a glorious result: *our youth is renewed like the eagle's.* This is not just about feeling young, but about receiving divine strength to rise above circumstances and soar with a heavenly perspective.

This is the comprehensive care of our God. From our soul's deepest stain to our body's greatest weakness, He redeems, crowns, and renews. May you walk in this five-fold blessing today in Jesus name!
Good morning and have a wonderful day.
Pst Sam