This sermon delves into the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve's fall in the Garden of Eden, highlighting the deception of the serpent, the choice to disobey God's command, and the resulting curse of sin that affects all of humanity. It emphasizes the importance of discerning false teachings, practicing righteousness, and understanding the consequences of rebellion against God.

Now, let's welcome for the first time Brother Milton Greene. Thank you very much. I've looked forward to some time to share with you, come visit with you, and most of you I don't know and you don't know me. I was kind of thinking about my brother's testimony a while ago, mine's kind of like his. I'd like to share some of it with you. He lifted me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mire of clay. He put my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm. He's put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to my God. Many a see and fear and trust in the Lord, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord and has not turned to the proud nor lapsed in the falsehood. Many, O Lord, my God, are the wonders that Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts are toward me. There is none to compare to Thee. My ears has opened up, and then I said, Behold, Lord, I come to Thee. In the scroll of the book it is written to me, I'd like to do Thy will, O my God, because Thy law is written within my heart, because I've been born again into a living hope. By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, my dead, to an inheritance that's incorruptible, undefiled, fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for me, and I'm kept by the power of God through faith and through salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. And although I've never seen You, Lord, I love You, and although I don't see You right now, I believe You and I trust You, and I rejoice with a joy unspeakable, full of glory, receiving in my faith even a salvation of my soul, because I've been redeemed. I've been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, who without blemish, without spot, I've been born again, not a corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed, by the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever. Jesus Christ is my cornerstone. He's a living stone rejected of men, but chosen of God and precious, and I'm a lively stone. I'm a lively stone that makes up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people to show forth praises unto Him who has delivered me out of the darkness from death into His marvelous light, who His own self took up for weakness, sickness, disease, infirmity, curse, and sin, and by the stripes of the Lord Jesus Christ I was healed, recovered. And who will harm Him who will fall asleep to that which is good? And I sanctify the Lord God in my heart. I'm ready to give an answer to every man that asketh me with meekness and fear, casting all my cares on Him, because He cares for me. Will you receive that? Well, stand up and help me a little bit. We need to wake up. Praise the Jesus. I'm the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Help me. Blessed with all spiritual blessings. In the heavenly places. In Christ Jesus. God is my heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is my Lord. And I'm a product of His love. I have love. I have joy. I have peace. Long-suffering. Goodness. Gentleness. Meekness. Temperance. Faith. I can do all things. Through Christ who strengthens me. I'm strengthened in all power. By His glorious might. I'm born again. I'm kept by the power of God. I'm redeemed by the blood. I'm born again by the Word of God. I'm complete in Jesus. My sins are now the cause. I'm seated in the heavenly places. Right now in Christ Jesus. My weapons are mighty in God. Tearing down strongholds. Testing down imaginations. And every thought. And every argument. That exalts itself. Right here. Against the Word of God. And I bring every thought captive. To the obedience. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. My Father's Word. Is forever settled in heaven. It's a final authority. And my Father's Word. Sanctifies me. Renews my mind. Separates me from the world. Into righteousness. And I rule and reign in life. Through the gift of righteousness. And the grace of God. Through Jesus. You believe that, don't you? And in Jesus name. From the throne of grace. I receive grace. The Word. And the blood. I remove from this building. All oppression. All heaviness. All tiredness. All fatigue. All the works of legalism. All traditions. Every word. Every curse. Every spell. And in the name of the Jesus. I speak peace. Now Lord Jesus. We just bless you. We just receive this peace. And in the name of Jesus. I speak your blessings. Peace. Grace. Love. Healing. Living. So this meeting in Jesus name. Hug three people before you sit down. Around the neck. Well I want to share with you today about a pure heart. There's a war against you having a pure heart. It's a war the church hasn't showed up for the most part. And. That's his job to see that. The enemy to see that you don't have a pure heart. And I think that. You're going to be excited about. The things we see in the Word. And I'll promise you this. If you receive the Word it will perform its work in you. And I expect the Word to change your hearts and lives this week. Amen. Now I come here with a part. Everybody's got a part. If Jesus Christ is their Lord. It's time for my part. I've looked forward to my part. The Lord has put something in my heart to go with my part. And I'm just like Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11. I'm jealous for you with a godly jealousy. That you might be presented to Christ. Christ is a pure virgin. Now the heart is really the real you. And that. A pure heart. Is a heart. That all of it. Belongs to the Lord. And that's by the way is how you make covenant. You receive Jesus. In other words. You don't just receive Jesus as one of your idols. You're lost. No. You receive him with all your heart. And that means. That you will not love. Anything. Or anybody. As no stronghold. That you're going to love more than you will the Lord. Because these strongholds. Are going to be torn down. And this is what the Spirit of God leads you to do. To purify your heart. To sanctify it. Now. I don't know any good stories. So let's turn to Matthew 7. Okay. Verse 14. We're talking about going to heaven. And that's pretty interesting isn't it? For the gate is small. And the way is narrow. That leads to life. And few are those who are going to find it. That gate has been made wider today folks. Wolves. Terrors. Devils. And everything else walking through it. And this. Is a very interesting point that I want to talk to you. In relation to the pure heart. Is the narrow way to heaven. I want you to remember that. It's a narrow way to heaven. And in the last days. There's going to be a falling away. Well. We don't hear a lot about the falling away. We're going to deal with the falling away. I believe I can show you what the falling away is. In the word of God. Many people. Who call themselves the church. Is already falling away. And I'm not saying these. I didn't come up here with any hostility folks. I want you to be sure of this. I've come here before you in love. But I'm going to. People that represent God say what God says. Is that right? So when we come to it. We'll say what God says. All right. Okay. Now. In verse 15. Beware of false prophets. Who are going to come to you in sheep's clothing. But inwardly. And I want you to mark inwardly. They're ravenous wolves. And that inwardly is the heart. They look the part. They look like servants of righteousness. But they're really servants of Satan. They don't even know it. People who've fallen away don't even know they've fallen away. Deceived people do not know they're deceived. Now. You are supposed to know them. By their fruits. That's the only badge you're looking for. Is that right? What is fruit? Fruit. Is what comes from the heart. See, that's what discernment is. I hear what comes out of someone's mouth. And I know what strongholds are in their life. I know what to get them set free from. And I know how they've been deceived. The powers that aren't. I lead them in repentance in these areas. That I see. I see what's got them in bondage. But a people who do not deal with the flesh. Who do not even. Understand what the sin nature is. Please. Please tell me how can they know what even repentance is. That's a false security. And. So you're going to know them by their fruits. Let's just continue. Verse. 18. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. There's a lot of folks wish that wasn't in the Bible. Verse 18. And verse 21. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord. Will enter the kingdom of heaven. That means some people are going to think. That many people are going to think. That Jesus Christ is our Lord. And they never didn't know him. And you will see very clearly in this same scripture. Who does go to heaven. But he who those three words. What I want you to mark. Does the will of God. Does the will of God. Who is in heaven. Now they are the ones. This scripture clearly tells you who's going to heaven. The ones that do the will of God. Now let's just continue in verse 22. Many will say to me on that day. Didn't we prophesy in your name. In the name of Jesus. And in the name of Jesus. Didn't we cast out demons. And in the name of Jesus. Didn't we perform miracles. And then Jesus says. I'll declare to them. Them. I never did know you. You who are doing the miracles. You are casting out the demons. You are prophesying. You have a different spirit working with you. I never did know you. Never. You know why I never knew them. You who practice. Lawlessness. You practice another way to say it. You who practice sin. All right. I want you to turn with me just a second to John 3. John 3. He was practicing sin. John 3. And then when you get to John 3. I want you to turn Colossians 3. You recall in Romans 13. When we come to the Lord Jesus Christ. We change masters from Satan to Jesus. Is that correct? Satan is our master before Jesus Christ. Becomes a Lord. Now there's an interesting thing in verse 14. Of Romans 13. 14. That you put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And you make no provision. Is that what your Bible says? It says you make no provision. For the. Lust. Of the flesh and its lust. All the lust of the flesh is rebellion. All rebellion to God is tied up in the lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. This is what this man who was casting out demons. Was doing. He was still practicing rebellion toward the Lord. He never had turned from it. And the wrath of God was still on him. If we look right there. Let me just first share this one thing. When you make covenant. If any one of you and myself make covenant. We know that when you make blood covenant. Your identity changes. That's when two become one. That's when covenant is. And so that means. When I make covenant with you. I have to give up to everything I have. And everything I am. And you have to do the same. So I lose my identity and our identity becomes one. Is that right? That's right. All right now. You see there in verse. In Colossians 3 verse. For you have died. And your life is hidden with Christ. In God. Now verse 5. Now this is a strong verse. Now when we read them. We're not going to act like they're not there. OK. Let me say it again. We're not going to act like they're not there. They're there right. I don't care what something else. This doesn't fit in the box. We're reading out of the box right now. Isn't that right? OK. Verse 5. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body. You're going to be dead to immorality. Now that covers a bunch. Impurity. Oh what is impurity? Impurity is opposite from a pure heart. Let me ask you something. What kind of bride is Jesus coming after? Holy and blameless. Is that right? And this bride is going to be eagerly awaiting him. Is that right? In other words. They're living through things above which we're seeking. The things above which we see there in verses 1. You set your verse 2. It's not on things that are on the earth. That's where their heart is. It's things above. It's not on the world of the things of the world. Is that right? OK. But you are dead to immorality, impurity. You're dead to passion. You're dead to evil desire. And you're dead to greed. And all of these things amount to what? Let me hear you say it one more time. Idolatry. Now, idolatry is not good. Idolatry is saying, I found something that I love more than God, more than Jesus. And when you practice something and the Spirit of God, many of you have, you've had brokenness, you've cleansed your hands, you've purified your heart, and you've been purifying, you come before the Lord the whole heart and then you come to a stronghold and you've lost your peace. You know how you lose your peace? The hedge comes down when you won't deal with that stronghold because you're choosing that stronghold over the Lord. Do you understand what I mean? You won't let the Spirit of God, in other words, you won't give it up because your heart loves it. Now, I'm going to explain some things about the sin nature in a minute. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come. Now, what are these things? These things are all the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, the lust of obeying of God, and when you come to receive Jesus Christ as Lord, these are the things you turn from in your heart. That's what repentance is. All right? And in them, verse 7, those two words say, you once walked, which means you don't live there anymore. Amen? You once walked there when you, that word is were, mark this when we come to it, you were living in them, which means you're not living in them now. So you also, you put them all, all, all, all, all aside. You put aside anger, you put aside wrath, you put aside malice, and there is the slander and what does this say? Abusive speech. Now, these things, folks, let me tell you something. Let me just stop right here. When it's in your heart, it's going to come out your mouth. If it's there, it's going to come out your mouth. So you put this slander and abusive speech from your mouth and you do not lie to one another since you laid aside the old man. Now, your heart was married to the old man. That's the old satanic, cursed, sin nature. When your heart lived for that, Satan is master over your life. I mean, you was in darkness, you thought you was a pretty good fella, and you were a slave of darkness. But now, Jesus came to a people that's sitting in darkness and he said, repent. In other words, change heart, change masters. So you've laid aside the old man with his evil practices. You've laid it aside unless you've got a form of godliness. Are you hearing me? Now, we turn back to John 3. I want to just briefly show you what this Bible calls a Christian. Now, verse 16, John 3, 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Now, you can take part of the Bible and build structures like the Pharisees did. You build a religious structure and then take part of the Word of God and call it it. Now, there are a lot of people saying a lot of things today. Is that right or wrong? Somebody's wrong. Do you hear me? In this day of compromise, there's somebody wrong. Now, let me just make one thing clear to you first. Your Bible only talks about one Jesus, one gospel, only one righteousness, and there's only one church, and you need to adjust. That's all this Bible's talking about, and they love one another. You know why? They have a pure heart. They come to the Lord with all their heart and Jesus stands in the center of it. It's not man. Amen? Okay. Now, we see that you could build a structure if you just want to take John 3, 16 and you just call it it, and then you just go off all kinds of directions, but there's more Bible than John 3, 16, isn't there? Okay? Now, let's just, for instance, let's look at verse 36. He who believes in the Son has eternal life. That's just exactly what we read over in verse 16, but there's more to that verse. He said, but he who does not obey the Son, he doesn't obey. In other words, he's not led by the Spirit of God. Is that plain? He does not obey the Son. He shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. The wrath of God never did come off of that person. Is that plain? I mean the wrath of God never came off of him because he never has repented because he's not obeying the Word of God. He's not turned. Amen? Now, let's just see what we're talking about. There's got to be something between verse 16 and 36, and we know that that wrath is a judgment. Is that right? The judgment on those, I mean, you know, the world who practices, you know, the world out there is the image and likeness of Satan. And so it's just a normal thing to have pride, ego, rebellion, all these things, so is Satan. It's to slander, abusive speech, to judge people, condemn people, criticize people, all these things, the nature of Satan, that's just normal for the world because they're captives. They're slaves of sin. They're slaves of the powers of darkness. Amen? And so are you, and so are you right now if Jesus Christ is not Lord over your heart, over you. All right? Now, let's look in verse 19. Now, this is not a popular message, is it? Huh? And verse 19, and this is the judgment. Are we going to see what the judgment is? I want you to mark that this is the judgment, that the light is coming to the world and men love, their hearts love what? They love the nature of Satan. They love darkness. You know, in Romans 13, 12 through 14, you lay aside the deeds of darkness and you put on the Lord Jesus Christ and you make no provision, no provision, no provision. I don't care what somebody says down the street. Your Bible says you make no provision. It's there for the flesh and its lust. You don't make any provision for rebellion. And, of course, we know that if we do, we're not going to practice it. And we know that this is what Jesus defeated and we come before the throne of grace and we can move ourselves right back into peace. Is that correct? Okay? For this is the judgment, that the light is coming to the world and men love the darkness, the deeds of darkness. That's the flesh, that's the Satan nature that every man received rather than the light for their deeds were evil. They loved them and their deeds are evil. And the deeds are the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. And they love it. That's where their hearts are. So if the light comes into the world, they don't come to the light. They practice the deeds of evil. Now, let's go in verse 20. For everyone who does evil, he hates the light. Now, what did Jesus answer that? Jesus said, Those who love me will obey my commandments. Is that right? If you really love me, don't say you love me. I'll tell you, if you love me, you'll obey my commandments and then if you obey my commandments, I'll know what your fruit is. Amen? All right? For everyone who does evil, he hates the light and he does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed because he loves in his heart. He loves that old nature. Now, see, this is a fellow right here that does not obey the Word of God. You understand what I mean? And the wrath of God remains on him because he's gone through a form of God and he says something like, He never has turned to obey the Lord to be led by the Spirit of God. That's the fall and the way in the last days, which is going to be very clear later on this week. All right, let's continue. Verse 21. But he who practices the truth, another way to say it, the one that practices obedience to God, he comes to the light, which means he comes to the Word of God that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. In other words, he wants his deeds. He wants to be like Jesus because Jesus has all his heart. That's where he's living at. He's living for things of the above. Amen? Now, quickly, if you will, turn to me to Luke 6. To Luke 6. Look with me in verse 45. This is a very important verse and I hope you mark it real well. The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, he brings forth what is good. Now, if your heart is good, you bring forth what is good. This is how you're going to know a person by his fruit. All right, now let's go ahead to the next one. And the evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, he's going to bring forth what is evil. For his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Whatever's in his heart is what's going to come out of his mouth. Now, isn't that an interesting verse right below there? Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not obey me? Amen? Now, let me ask you something. Does this Word perform its work in you? Does the Word of God renew your mind and it conforms you to the image of Jesus? All right, is that the ministry of reconciliation in II Corinthians 5, that we'd be reconciled back to God with what Jesus came here to be an example, to lead us out of the... In other words, being slaves to Satan and to sin? He's led us and he showed us the way to be reconciled back in the image and likeness of God. Is that correct? You don't take Satan by the hand when you go there, do you? That's the way of adultery. Now, but your Bible says, when it talks about these two different kind of trees. Now, we're talking about two different kind of trees. That's where we started from in Matthew 7. One bears good fruit and one bears bad fruit. One is going to think in the last days that he knows the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord said, I don't know you. And then there are going to be people whose hearts go like the fellow over in Matthew 7. He cast demons out in the name of Jesus. He prophesied in the name of Jesus. He did miracles in the name of Jesus. And do you believe that's got a lot of people's hearts today? Well, do you think Satan would lead you to someone? Everything that God has a real thing of, Satan has a counterfeit of, doesn't he? So then, we're not going to know each other by our experiences or what gift or anything else. We're going to know one another by what fruit comes out of the mouth. And then that fruit comes from the heart. Now, let me ask you something. Is this a seed right here? That's a seed, isn't that right? Is the heart the field? Are we God's field? 1 Corinthians 3, 9, is that correct? All right, now, when we repent and we turn from the ways of Satan, which I'm going to explain a little clearer later on, we receive only the Word of God, is that correct? All right, Satan has seeds too. Where do they come in at? Right there. What in the form of what? The lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boast of pride of life. It's headed for your heart, is that correct? And what is their purpose right there? They want to build idols up in your heart. Is that correct? See, that's the war. That's the war of Satan. That's the war. And people who don't deal with the flesh leave these scriptures out of the Bible. They act like they're not there, and they're destroyed. Just like a moth, just like rottenness. And there's no peace in it. But isn't that an interesting thing? Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? See, we're talking about heaven and hell. Is that right? There is going to be a falling away in the last days. Is that correct? All right, are we all so told in 1 Timothy 4.1? Now, see, don't label me as a deliverance memory. The body of Christ is a deliverance memory, and I've not come here to talk about pigs in the parlor or anything. I'm talking about a pure heart. Do you understand what I'm saying? I'm talking about a pure heart. And part of this is to expose how Satan deceives you and he destroys all peace around you and how he deceives people. And there is a tremendous deception. Now, let's look right there. Let's back up a little in verse 36. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Now, let me ask you something. Can you tell when mercy is coming out of somebody's mouth? Can you? You can tell when somebody is showing mercy to someone. All right, now look here at the next verse. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Now, folks, is the pure God of beginning wisdom and my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge? You know, when you're judged, when you're judging somebody, if you had any peace, it's left you right then when it comes out of your mouth. Now, folks, you'll learn something about the pure God, the pure God, if you receive what I'm, if you stay close to what I'm saying this week. Because you've let the hedge down on you right then and you're attacked. And you'll not have any peace if you don't repent of the judgment that you place on others. Now, we know in 2 Corinthians 10 that when we come to the Lord Jesus Christ, we no longer war after the flesh. You no longer, that's not what. So you're just free to love. The Lord said vengeance is mine and that's all you walk in is love. And when you walk in love, you suffer in the flesh, but you see some sin. And that's where the glory is. As a matter of fact, I'll show you exactly. That's the only way the power will come through you. Is that plain? All right? Do not judge and you'll not be judged. Do not condemn and you'll not be condemned. I'm telling you, when you condemn others, you're immediately under condemnation. Is that plain? I mean you're under condemnation right then. You have no peace when you condemn others or you judge others. Let's continue. Pardon and you'll be pardoned. If you will not forgive others, you might as well not pray. You understand? Have you ever tried to pray for someone and get somebody with an unforgiveness in their heart? You're wasting their time. If it's any symptoms of their being healed or whatever, it's not going to last very long because the Lord said this is foundation of prayer to forgive. All right? Now, this is used a lot of time to take up offerings in 38, but this is whatever you give is whatever you get. You understand what I'm saying? You give mercy, you get mercy. And this, give and it will be given to you. The good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap for your standard of measure will be measured to you. In other words, the way you give it out, the way you speak, what comes out of your heart, the heart is a real you, that's what comes back to you. Now, you get in agreement with the powers of darkness and you've got a problem. Amen? The stained glass don't keep them out. And you... I better not get into that. Verse 39. And he also spoke a parable to them. A blind man... Now, let me tell you another way to say it. A blind teacher cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they both, not both, fall into the pit? Now, let me just tell you something. You're looking at a free man. Take a good look at me right here. I'm free from men. Let me say that again. I'm free from all men. I'm no subject of any man. I'm a subject of the Lord Jesus Christ. But see, I know the voice of Jesus and I recognize the voice of Jesus. I don't bow my heart to titles. I bow my heart to the Jesus I see in a man. I'll fall all over myself. I'll see the Jesus in a person. And when I want that person to be a success in the Lord Jesus Christ and however the Lord wants to use me, it only matters that the Lord have his way in every relationship I have, but no man has my heart. And the second verse is that nothing else does either. And so, then we see that a blind man... God's a blind man. Will they both not fall into the pit? Now, let me ask you something. If your heart... We live in a time where people take the things of God and they capture the hearts of people. Do you believe that's done? And the person can come along and he can share things with you you've never heard or seen before. And at the same time, this man can become an idol in your heart. The powers of darkness show everyone who God uses how to make... This is what they... If they can't prevent something, they pervert it. And they show you how to draw people to... In other words, instead of you listening for Jesus and giving Jesus all the glory that comes through a man of all good things, flesh, people in flesh, want to boast in the man and give him all the glory because flesh loves to follow flesh. Flesh doesn't want to have to wake up first thing in the morning and be led by the Spirit of God. Flesh doesn't want to die. Flesh doesn't want to go to... Flesh doesn't like that verse. If anyone wants to follow after me, let him first deny himself, take up his cross and follow me because whoever wishes to save his carton, life, cursed nature, I'm not talking about your body, is going to lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel, that's covenant. They're the ones that's going to save it. Amen? Is that right? Okay. Now, if there... You know, the Lord said there's only one teacher. Is that correct? So that teacher is Jesus. Is that right? So you're supposed to bear witness to him through me or anyone else you hear. Is that right? Now, he's the one you're listening to. And if anything comes out of my mouth that doesn't come from Jesus, you're supposed to know the difference. Is that right? Is that right? All right, now, watch very carefully this next one. Now, if you don't do this, watch what happens if you start following after a blind man. A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone after he has been fully trained, he was going to be just like his teacher. Now, there's a difference right there. Whether you are going to be led, whether Jesus is who you're listening for, or where you want to follow after men. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Now, that doesn't... You hear what I'm saying. God... Jesus uses men, but he only speaks to them, and any man that you ever see only has one part. Incidentally, God has given the greatest gift to less honored members so there'd be no division in the body. See, there's not reputation in the things of the Lord because Jesus gets all the reputation. Is that right? How can dead flesh make a reputation? Huh? How can dead flesh be a personality? Tell me. Where'd that come from? Jesus didn't have any reputation. Where are you going to get one? Huh? Was he the example? All right. Now, let's go back and see where all this started. Turn to 1 John first. Just turn to 1 John 2. 1 John 2. Now, make that 1 John 3. I want to read verse 2. Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when he appears, what are we going to be like? We're going to be like him because we put to death everything that doesn't look like him. Amen? All right, now, in verse 4... Oh, I love verse 3. And everyone who has this hope fixed on him... What does he do? He purifies himself just as he is pure. That's what one walking in with Jesus, he does away. The Spirit of God leads you to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Romans 8, 13 and 14. And sons of God are led to the Spirit of God. Now, verse 4. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness. Now, is that the fellow we saw in Matthew 7? And sin is lawlessness. That's rebellion, practicing. Now, we use this phrase, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I want you to watch very closely what we're seeing there in verse 7. Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who practices righteousness, he is the one that's what? We kind of get back to this fruit thing again, don't you? Is it easy to tell who's practicing righteousness? Amen? Well, they're the one that's righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who practices sin is what? He's the devil because... Let me just put it to you this way. When you practice sin, you're going to be chastised. I mean, when you've got sin in your life. Then when you choose to practice and not give it up, then it becomes an idol in your heart because you're loving it more than you are the Lord. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Okay? Now, verse 9. No one who is born of God practices sin. Verse 10. By this, the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious. Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not a god. Is it there? Don't fit it in some box. This is it. We decided before we started, this is it. Is that right? Now, let's see what being in him is back up to 1 John 2. Being in Christ. Verse 3. When we use this phrase in Christ, we're going to see what we're talking about. And by this, we know that we have come to know Jesus. We know him if, if, if there's a condition, if we keep his commandments. The one who says, I've come to know him and doesn't keep his word right here is a liar. Is that plain? Now, the next verse, we're going to see about what this is a scripture about being in Christ. But whoever keeps his word. I hope you've marked that. Whoever keeps his word. In other words, whoever walks in covenant. That's another way to say this. In him, the love of God has truly been perfected. That means whoever keeps his word in him. By this, we know that we are what? We're in Christ if what? We keep his word. Now, do you see how far removed that is from a form of godliness? Do you see, are you already seeing that you know a form of godliness gives you a false security? Huh? Now, one more verse. The one who says he remains in him, remains in Jesus, ought himself to walk in the very same manner as the Lord Jesus Christ walked. Is that correct? Now, just go to verse 15. Your Bible tells... Now, see, folks, do you know there are people all over that... Let me just put it this way. There are deceived shepherds today. They're really not shepherds, but they think they are. And what they do, they pick and choose through the word of God the things that will make them look good. Because in their heart, they think they are bringing them home. Well, I'll tell you what, what he does, he feeds the word. The word is what brings them home. The Lord said in Ezekiel 14, he said, these people, Mr. Prophet, when these people come to you, these elders, if they've got idols in their heart, you're going to bring me to answer them. How do you bring the Lord to answer them? You bring the Lord to answer by saying what God says. And he said, you say what I say because I want to lay hold of the hearts of Israel. Amen? Now, God cannot lay hold of any hearts if you add a little water to what he's saying. You see what I mean? And so when you're in the flesh, and you've got personality involved and things like this, then you're going to say the things. You'll say some things, and you'll change the word of God. The powers of darkness tell you how to do it. They tell you, and they intimidate you and everything to make you look good. I tell you, that is a deception because if you notice, Paul and others, the disciples wasn't making themselves look good when they were making Jesus look good. There's no flesh reputation in it. That's what the deception is, that you can use flesh. Well, what happens is when you just take part of the word of God and you pick and choose through it, you're doing the very same thing that the Pharisees did when they gathered around part of the word of God. And that becomes a false security, and it becomes a form of godliness. Now, we look right there in verse 15. Your Bible says do not love the world. Now, if someone tells you to love the world, I suggest you don't. Is this plain? All right, now, what does it mean, do not love the world nor the things in the world? It doesn't get your heart. I'll give you an example you know about a red car. I've seen, you know, the powers of darkness talk to you all the time, pride, so forth. You get a red car, and you know, it's all right to have a red car, but the powers of darkness will build that up in your heart, and that red car can be an idol in your heart. You understand that? This red car can take the place of Jesus Christ in your heart, and they'll give you this little fantasy right there and show you, and I mean, it's just, you know, the whole town sees you in this red car or Sally or whatever, and they build these things up, and you might, and it becomes an idol. It's just going to, it makes you, it gets you puffed up in your pride and everything about the red car. It's all right to have a red car, right? Okay, but when you make it an idol, when it said do not love the world or the things in the world, you might, you get away from just everything is just blessings in the Bible. Tell me, or do you just want to hear about blessings? Huh? You just want to get your flesh blessed or you want to get it all? Well, unless you deal with this, you'll never know what the powers of darkness are doing and you'll never have peace. Never. Never know it. Never, never, never, ever why you're getting your flesh blessed. Is that plain? Now, do not love the world or the things in the world. Anyone that loves the world, the love of the Father is not in me. It doesn't get to your heart, the world nor the things in the world. For all that's in the world, here's what's in the world, the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but it's from the world. That's how the powers of darkness are controlling this whole world right now. That's how the powers of darkness, how do they control it? Because they've got the hearts of people. The people cannot turn to God because they've got the world and the things in the world. Men and in religion, theology, intellect, and they've made them idols in the people's heart. This is what the powers of darkness prevent and that's their job and that's what they're doing right now to get your heart, to get idols in your heart. The next verse. Now, did we see over in Matthew 7, 21, that not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord's going to enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of God. It's the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. May I ask you something? Does that cover all the rebellion of God? Shake your head. It does. Now, the next verse we see about the will of God and this is just the first time. And the world is passing away and also it's, mark that, it's lust, rebellion. But the one who, there it is, who does the will of God remains forever. Now, I want you to see, folks, that doing the will of God is the exact object of doing, walking after the lust of flesh. It's a totally different fruit. Are you seeing what I'm saying? Amen? Okay, now, I might have jumped away over too far. I probably should have started back in Genesis, but let's just go over it just a minute. Come back over there. We'll go to Genesis and then we'll go to Revelation. Genesis 1. I got into a few of these verses because I wanted you to see something important over there about that the first Adam, he goes through the same temptation and the trials. Let me ask you something. In Luke 4, who was it that led Jesus into the wilderness to have his heart tested? It was a spirit of God. Who's going to lead you to have your heart tested? Who is going to test your heart? Satan is going to test your heart. He's going to test it the same way he did Adam, Eve, and the same way he did Jesus. Amen? Is that right? Genesis 1, verse 26. We see that God made man in his image according to his likeness. Now, I'm going to tell you something. The Lord said at one point, He who shall ascend unto the heel of the Lord, he that has clean hands and a pure heart. I'm going to tell you that right here that Adam is created and he has a pure heart, his motives are pure, he is innocent, he is holy, and he is blameless. This is where you're supposed to go back to where he was at the very beginning. Are you following me? All right? All right, now, let's just go over in chapter 2, verse 8. May I ask you something? Are we in a vineyard today as a church of Jesus Christ supposed to be a vineyard of the Lord? Are there seed planted? Is there fruit supposed to grow? Amen? Okay, verse 8. And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east in Eden, and there he placed man whom he had formed. May I ask you, are we in a garden? Amen? Now, verse 9. And now the ground the Lord God calls to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food. Now, I want you to see the two trees. There is a tree of life also in the midst of the garden. There's a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, let me ask you something. Is everyone here in the world today a tree in the field? They absolutely are. And you're going to know them by their what? And everyone that's in the first Adam is going to be a tree of death. And everyone that's in the last Adam is going to be a tree of life. Is that correct? We know in Proverbs 11, 30, the fruit of righteousness is a tree of life. The right things, the fruit coming out of your mouth, this is how you become a tree of life. Is that correct? Now, so he... God has this for a purpose because everything he's ever created, he tests the heart of it. Amen? He built a hell for many angels because they won't agree with Satan in their heart. Is that correct? Okay. Now, we see in verse 10. A river flowed out of the evening to water the garden. We have the river today to water the garden. Verse 15. Then the Lord God took the man. He put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. For in the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die. Now, I want you to mark that. He didn't say maybe, perhaps, or could be. Did he say you surely shall die? Amen? Is that there? Now, let me ask you something. Let's get back to a false teacher. Do you take the Word of God and you take it to heart? Is that right? That's the Word implanted. Isn't that right? Aren't we supposed to be born again by the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever? Is that right? We're born again by the Word of God because we receive the Word and it performs its work in us. Is that correct? We take it to heart. You know, religion analyzes it. But we receive the Word and it performs its work in us. Now, let me ask you something. What would be the opposite of that? A teacher, a false teacher, did it? Talk about that over in Matthew 7? Let me ask you something. Have you considered what kind of gifts might be working through that man in Matthew 7? He prophesied in the name of Jesus. He did miracles. I want you to see how important what we're seeing right here. God wants us to know the difference. There is a difference. Everything that's true, God has a... I mean, everything that God has a real thing, Satan has a counterfeit of. This man committed... He practiced sin. He did not have a pure heart. He did miracles in the name of Jesus. He prophesied in the name of Jesus. And he cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Now, may I ask you something? Was the gift of the Spirit of God working through this man? I was hoping you'd say no. Absolutely not. Well, we're told in Matthew 24 that in the last days, you know, we got to consider this. In the last days, are there going to be false prophets? And because of them, lawlessness and sin is going to increase, right? And then people's love is going to wax cold because they let people just... I mean, you just use part of the Bible and let people walk in rebellion to God and then when you're living for your cursed nature, when you're living for yourself, you can't love anybody else, so you love a wax cold. In the same chapter, Matthew 24, it says, "...there shall be false signs and wonders." Do you have any problem knowing you in the last days? Could this happen today? Are there going to be virgins who are foolish in the last days or are there going to be some who are wise? Is that right? There is a difference. All right, you can know the difference. Now, this is the gospel right here. He said, "...when you eat of this tree, you shall surely die." Amen? Is that right? All right, now let's go to chapter 3. Now, the test comes, the heart to be tested of Eve. Now, the serpent, verse 1, "...was more crafty than any of the beasts of the field which the Lord God had made, and he said to the woman, Indeed, hath God said." He said that to you all the time. Me too. "...you shall not eat from any tree of the garden." We know right there, without going into detail about it, that he's twisted the Word of God. That's not what God said at all. And that's what he's doing today, to twist the Word of God. "...And the woman said to the serpent, From the fruit of the trees of the field we may eat, and from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die." God didn't say, lest you die. He said, you'd surely die. Now, we saw that this was a doctrine, this was the gospel of the Lord, that you will surely die. Now, we're going to see another doctrine, and you're going to look at another gospel in verse 4. It's always a direct contradiction of the Word of God. In verse 4, "...And the serpent said to the woman, You surely shall not die." Amen? Now, let me ask you something. It's 4.30, and everyone here, I'm going to be here about a half an hour longer, and anyone having jobs and things, many of you understand at 4.30, it has some places you need to go to, and so if you'd like to go, you just have freedom to right now. Praise the Lord. If you haven't got a job, sit back down. Well, amen. Okay. Now, folks, I'm going to tie verse 4 into the New Testament before I finish this week to show you doctrines of demons. I think we all should know what doctrines of demons are, right? Well, did the serpent say something directly, a direct contradiction to the Word of God? Is that correct? He said, You surely shall not die. Now, God's gospel, he said, You'd surely die. Satan says, You surely shall not die. Now, for God knows that in the day that you eat from it your eyes will be opened, you'll be like God, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw... Now, what's on this tree that Satan's trying to lead Eve to? The lust of flesh, the lusty eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Is that right? All right, now, let me ask you something. It's a tree of death, isn't it? It's rebellion to God, isn't it? All right, now, let me ask you something. What with the powers of darkness, are there any trees of death today? There are? And it would all be in the lust of flesh, the lusty eyes, the boastful pride of life. When did it change? Rebellion to God. All right, now, Satan has led her to the tree right here, and he's telling her to eat off of it, right? Okay? Now, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, there's the lust of flesh. Amen? And that it was a delight to the eyes. There is a lust of the eyes. Now, this is very important. And that the tree was desirable to make one wise, there is the pride of life. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. She took of its fruit and ate. She gave also to her husband there, and he ate. And then we know that she gave to Adam, he ate, and then we know that the curse came, and that you and I received. Now, let me just explain this curse nature. Just look at me, please. This curse came on Adam and Eve. They chose in their hearts to agree with Satan. And this curse came to you and I, the fact that you received the nature of Satan. When you come into this world, your heart will live for pride, ego, and rebellion. So is Satan. You have the nature, and you're in a manifestation. The world walks, talks, and acts like Satan. Their deeds are like Satan. They're in darkness. Selfishness, hate, and anger is part of that nature that you live for. This is the way you walk because your heart is issued. With a heart, man believes into righteousness, and with a heart, man believes into unrighteousness. But your heart is believing into unrighteousness. You think you're a pretty good fellow. You're in darkness. And your heart is living for hate. And anger. Selfishness. Your heart is living for murder, temper, and unforgiveness. Your heart is living for gossip, slander, and jealousy, and envy, and strife. Your heart is living for criticism, and immorality, and lying. You do things like this because all of these things are I, me, my. You're living for yourself, your whole heart. And you do some things which in your eyes are pretty good, but they're detestable in the sight of God. Because in the world, we compare ourself among ourself and measure ourself by ourself. And when you do that, you do not have understanding. Because, see, that's not measuring up to the yardstick. Now, see, that's what the Pharisees did. That's what many people do today. They compare theirself among herself in religious circles, and you're without understanding right here. See, that's the falling away, the fall away from the Word there.