This sermon delves into the concept of the root of sin, emphasizing the importance of addressing the core issues rather than just surface manifestations. It explores the significance of understanding the root of sin by referencing Genesis 3 and the symbolism of the tree of knowledge of good and evil versus the tree of life. The sermon highlights the contrast between living by human reasoning and conscience versus living in dependence on God and listening to the Holy Spirit, ultimately leading to the choice between spiritual life and death.

So, it's something here, which the Bible says, and if you read the Bible, the answers are all there. And John said, it's no use just cutting off all these. It's no use just saying, okay, I stopped watching internet pornography. I stopped reading Harry Potter. I stopped doing this and stopping. Listen, there are many other manifestations. If branch 6 and 7 are cut off, there are still branch 1, 2, 3, 4, branch 25, branch 26. What about all of them? When are you going to finish? No, it's a much better way is to get the axe to the root. So, if you understand what the root is and say, Lord, I want to see the root of sin and allow Jesus through the Holy Spirit to hit that. Many of these things get solved. And now, to understand the root of sin, we've got to go back to Genesis 3. In Genesis 3, we see those two trees. The tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. And there are many ways we can look at these two trees. We can look at these two trees as a picture of the old covenant and the new covenant. Where the old covenant gives you the knowledge of good and evil. This is bad, this is right, this is wrong, this is bad, this is good. That's what the Ten Commandments did. Whereas the tree of life symbolizes God himself giving you his life. Now, another way to look at it is when Adam reached out for the knowledge of good and evil, why was it so bad that God said you will die as soon as you eat it? In these two trees was the option that Adam had of two ways in which he could live. Two ways in which he could live. One was where... You see, man had a conscience, let me tell you that first. Adam was created with a conscience. When God made him out of mud, he didn't have a conscience. But when God breathed into him, he suddenly got what no animal had. Because God never breathed into any animal. God took mud and made the animals. All the animals were made of the same blood. That's why you find the dogs have got kidneys and heart and liver and all just like you and I have. But God breathed into Adam and suddenly he got a conscience. A conscience that made him sensitive and aware of God. Now, in order to educate this conscience so that you don't do what is wrong, conscience tells you don't do what's wrong. He wanted to have this knowledge from this tree within himself. That I have got this knowledge now. I can decide what is good and what is evil. I don't need anybody to tell me. Have you met good people like that? Who don't harm anybody? And who don't cheat, don't tell lies, don't commit adultery, don't murder? And you say, well, why doesn't God take them to heaven? I'll tell you why. Because the knowledge of good and evil brings death. The point is not whether you're good or evil. Adam didn't get kicked out of Eden because he murdered Eve or spat on Eve's face or told a lie or nothing. It was just that he decided, I want to decide myself now what is good and evil. I don't want God to tell me that. Yeah, let him be in heaven and I'll acknowledge him as God. But when it comes to good and evil, I decide myself. That is the root of sin. The other tree was where God says, no, no, no, no. You be dependent on me and receive me as your life. And I will tell you in every situation what is good and evil. These are two ways in which you can live. One is where you use your mind and say, yeah, I think that's okay. Use your reason. The other is you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And that tells you the two principles by which you can live your life. And the difference between them is hell and heaven. And that's why you have heard me say many, many times, dear brothers and sisters, if there's one habit you must develop from early in your Christian life, it's the habit of listening to God. It says in Luke chapter 10 and verse 42, let me give you an example of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. Here was Mary and Martha working and living in a house and Jesus came to visit that house, Luke 10, 38. And Martha welcomed Jesus into the house. And what did she do? She did not listen to what the Lord had to say to her. She lived by the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which told her, I know what to do. I'll just go to the kitchen and get some food. Was that evil? No. There are a lot of good people in the world who are not acceptable to God, just like Martha was. She knew within herself what was right and wrong. She didn't need to pray about it or ask God, nothing. You know, there are a lot of things which we say, I know what to do. I don't need to wait on God or I don't need to consult Him. I know. Okay. And Mary was different. She symbolizes here the life of dependence, the tree of life where she sat at Jesus' feet and said, Lord, I want to hear you. What do you got to tell me? You tell me to do something, I'll do it. But I want to listen to you. And when Martha saw Mary sitting apparently lazily, she came and upset, you know, people who live by the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they get very upset. When you get upset, it proves that you're living by the tree of knowledge of good and evil, particularly upset with somebody else who you think is not doing what you think they should do. You get upset with people who are not doing what you think they should do. Because your tree of knowledge of good and evil says they should do this, and they're not doing it. You know, people who sit and listen to Jesus don't get upset. Because they leave other people to do what they should do. They're not here to be busybodies in other people's lives. You know, this curiosity that you have to find out there, this is part of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A person who is dependent on God is not interested. You know, these people who want to know who's marrying who next, and who's pregnant, and who's having a baby, and this, that, and the other. I say, brother, you please go ahead and be occupied with that. I know so little of the Bible that I want to know what God is trying to say to me. I have no time for all this. Life is so short that I don't have time to find out who's marrying who, and who's getting pregnant. When they have a baby, they'll tell me. I'll know about it. That's it. You know, this curiosity to know so many things about other people. Do you know how much it destroys your spiritual life? It doesn't look evil. It looks so natural. Yeah, Adam's nature. That's right. So Martha is upset. Why is she sitting there while the food is boiling? Her heart is also boiling because Mary is sitting there doing nothing. And she finally can't stand it anymore. Leaves, let it get burnt. Let me go and tell my sister something. Tells Jesus. And Jesus says, Martha, you're worried and bothered, verse 41, about many, many things. You are worried and bothered about so many unnecessary things. One thing is needful. Only one thing. I'm glad Jesus didn't say 25 things. I wouldn't remember it all. When Jesus says one thing, that's easy to remember. He didn't even have three points. One. Only one thing. Listen to me. Depend on me. Lean on me. I'll tell you what to do. I'm not really so hungry for food. I'm hungry for people who will listen to me.