I decided a few years ago, if you have a Bible, turn to Genesis chapter 3.
Genesis chapter 3, I decided a few years ago that I was going to try a casserole.
And I started mixing up the ingredients and getting them together.
And it called for paprika, two teaspoons of paprika.
So I reached in the spice rack and grabbed the red stuff.
And I like, you know, paprika don't have much of a flavor, so you need a heaping.
So I made them heaping, teaspoon, tablespoon, something like that.
Put them in there and mixed it up.
And found out that the red stuff was not paprika.
It was cayenne pepper.
And that dog never begged for food again.
So...
One thing good about recipes, if you go by them, it will work out good.
If you don't, well, it may not.
And when God made the earth, he made it right.
He made it perfect.
And he backed up day after day and looked at what he had done that day and said, it's good.
When he created us to interact with each other, as well as in this world, it was a right mix.
He did it right.
I mean, when the Lord does something, he does it right.
The problem wasn't until we came into the picture.
And when we came into the picture, the minute we came in, maybe not the minute, but shortly thereafter, we tried to do it our way.
And not his way.
And that's when problems arose.
And that's what Adam and Eve did.
And I said we did that because we do the same things when we choose our way over his way.
And the ramifications of that are tremendous.
Sin always causes a lot more damage than you think it will.
It always will.
And in our passage today, the Lord is continuing to deliver the curses or the ramifications of sin.
Continuing to tell them what would happen to them because they've sinned.
It does not only affect the snake, and we talked about that last week.
It affects all of us.
And it's a horrible ripple effect that takes place.
Not only when sin started, but as it continues.
And I want you to see some of that today.
It's in Genesis chapter 3, beginning in verse 16.
It says this.
To the woman, he said, this is the Lord speaking.
I will surely multiply your pain in childbirth.
In pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband.
And he shall rule over you.
And to Adam, he said, because you've listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,
you shall not eat of it.
Cursed is the ground because of you.
In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.
Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you.
And you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.
Till you return to the ground.
For out of it you were taken.
For you are dust.
And to dust you shall return.
God intended for a shameless couple
to live in a perfect garden
and procreate
and manage that garden
and to be blessed.
Freedom
and contentment
were to mark
their lives.
And with a right relationship with God
all other relationships
will be good
but sin got mixed in.
And when sin got mixed in
unnecessary difficulties
come along the way with that.
These curses that we look at
beginning in verse 14
that we talked about last week
through 19
explain
what now has taken place.
We talked about the curse of the serpent last week
and the fact that there will always be a battle
between those influenced by Satan
and the people of God.
We will always have a battle
between evil forces
and
people of God.
There's always going to be that struggle.
There will be many battles lost
along the way
and there will be many battles won.
But be assured that the war
has been won by Christ.
And we can claim victory
and we can live victoriously
if we claim that victory.
And if we live as God instructed us to live.
However, not only do we have
an eternal victory in Christ
we can also have daily victory
in the spiritual battles that we face.
And we need to be victorious in those things.
Losing sinful battles
staying entrenched in
unnecessary sinful struggles
being chained down to
spiritual strongholds
that we have the ability in Christ
if you're a Christian today
if you've surrendered your life
to the Lord Jesus Christ
you have the ability
in Christ
and by the Spirit of God
to walk away
from sin
that is
completely uncalled for
in your life
and that cause
a mess
and the ramifications
that enter into our lives
when sin is mixed in
are huge.
The effects of our sins
saturate all of our lives
and those curses
are examples
that encompass
much more
than we first notice
when we read them.
And so I want you to see
how it affects us.
When sin
whether it be our sin
or whether it be
somebody else's sin
when sin enters in
when it gets mixed in
our blessings
will come
with burdens.
Our blessings
will become some burdens.
To the woman
he said
I will surely
multiply your pain
in childbirth
in pain
you shall bring forth
children.
The birth of a child
is a glorious experience.
The anticipation
of that child
fills us with joy
and yet
what should be
a glorious experience
is instead one
of agonizing pain
for mom.
a new mother
still grateful
when that child
comes
for a child
is a blessing
of God
yet
with that blessing
the burden
of delivery
can be horrifying
pain.
The scripture
does not say
that pain
comes from sin
that particular
pain comes from sin.
It's obvious
why it hurts.
it does say
that that pain
will be greatly
increased
and that speaks
of a couple
of things.
No doubt about it
it speaks to an
increase
of physical
pain
that should serve
as a reminder
to us
of how our burdens
come with blessings
due to sin.
however
it also
surely speaks
of pain
that comes
well after
the delivery.
I was told
when Abby
was born
our first child
you will never
sleep soundly
again.
I went
what?
And I thought
they were talking
about sleepless
nights of a baby
is what I thought
they were talking
about.
And we were
blessed that our
children slept
through the night
early on
both of them.
We thought it was
excellent parenting
until they woke up
and then we realized
it wasn't that.
But anyway
but we were
blessed with that
however
that's not what
they were talking
about.
I got a child
on the road
right now.
I checked
their location
right before
I got up.
and I'll be
honest with you
while somebody
walks up here
for the closing
prayer and I'm
standing in the
back I'll probably
check and see
where she is
again.
I'll never
sleep soundly
again.
How can you
ever fully
rest again
with children
with grandchildren
in your life?
I mean you're
to raise them
protect them
guide them
provide for them
all the while
they are
to put it
nicely
individuals
you know
the burden
of raising
a child
the right
way
the godly
way
is an
awesome
and imperfect
responsibility.
The necessity
of disciplining
a child
prudently
is weighty
and it's
tough
we live
in a more
permissive
society
today
and one
that somewhat
condemns
discipline
in that
way
and so it
makes it
that much
more difficult
when scripture
tells us
to make sure
that we raise
a child
where they know
where they're
supposed to go
in the way
that they
ought to go
the leading
of a child
properly
is daily
and it is
sometimes
difficult
there's no
doubt about
that
most of the
pain of
parenthood
will come
later in
life
and it
will well
surpass
any previous
felt
physical
pain
and that's
easier for
me to say
than over
half the
room
I understand
that
but why
is that
because of
sin
the pain
of Genesis
3 verse
16
that first
part
speaks of
an injuring
or a grieving
type pain
it speaks
of a nagging
pain
that continues
it is in
fact the pain
of mixed
blessings
there are
wonderful
highlights
in life
but due
to sin
due to
our sin
due to
other people's
sin
we'll never
be free
from the
hindering
that sin
causes
and I thank
God for the
blessings in
life
I believe
that if we
took the time
and we opened
up that we
could have a
testimony time
this morning
speaking of the
goodness of God
that could
absolutely amaze
us if people
would open up
and share
the goodness
of God
and how God
has blessed
our lives
and given
us so much
at the same
time
I promise
you
there is
pain
on every
pew
every pew
has got
something
they're dealing
with
always keep
that in mind
when you walk
in this room
and we're
blessed to have
the opportunity
to worship
together
we put on
our best
face
man we
even took
a bath
you know
either last
night or this
morning to
come to church
you know
tried to get
the wrinkles
out of our
clothes and
do the best
we could
to get here
but the reality
is
there's pain
on every
pew
there is
and we need
to be gracious
to one another
we need to be
welcoming to
one another
we need to be
helpful to
one another
I believe
that's some
of the struggle
that is talked
about
in this passage
we have
burdens
and rather
directly or
indirectly
those burdens
come back
to sin
they come back
to sin
now I want to
correct what I
put on that
screen a few
moments ago
if you'll go
back
it says our
blessings
will become
burdens
I didn't mean
that
our blessings
will come
with burdens
you'll still
have blessings
and those
blessings
won't be
burdens
but with
those blessings
will come
burdens
second thing
is this
when sin
whether it's
our sin
or other
sin
but let's
be real
it's both
of them
when that
gets mixed
in together
our relationships
will be
marked
with rivalry
it says
in the
second part
of verse
16
your desire
shall be
contrary
to your
husband
but he
shall rule
over you
the second
part of
this verse
is
difficult
and it
speaks to
the difficulty
that comes
in marriage
due to
individual
sin
this verse
is often
either
misunderstood
or ignored
so what is
it saying
it is saying
that the
cohesive
complementarian
nature of
women made
for man
excuse me
women made
from man
and for
man
cleaving to
each other
as Genesis 2
points out
letting nothing
come interrupt
that at all
is going to be
difficult
that's what this
passage says
that's going to
be difficult
God's saying
that now
that relationship
is going to be
strained
she will love
him and he
will lead her
but it's not
going to be
smooth
because sin
has entered
into that
dumb stuff
is going to
come into
it
because of
sin
we're going to
listen to the
world
for one
and we're
going to
value our
own opinion
number two
and sometimes
we listen to
the world
more than we
do God
and sometimes
we value
our opinion
more than
we do God
and the
desire
that is
spoken of
here
will become
distorted
the lead
of men
will lack
the lordship
of Christ
and they
will attempt
to lord
themselves
which will
not go well
at the house
men
it won't
she will
steal the
bliss
excuse me
sin will
steal the
bliss
y'all are
pitiful
y'all are
pitiful
that's the
sin I'm
talking about
you know
how many
times I've
prayed over
this lord
just let me
through this
thing
okay
lord just get
me through
it and y'all
ain't a bit
of help
so much for
praying for
you pastor
but anyway
sin will
steal the
bliss and
sometimes that
comes from
her and
sometimes that
comes from
him
it'll steal
the mutuality
of that
marriage
listen God
made us to
work together
and selfish
sin
destroys that
that
that can be
wrong toward
each other
and that
obviously causes
difficulty
however what
is often
missed is
when there is
sin in our
individual lives
we often
think that
there's sin
in our
life that
we can
somehow
compartmentalize
and not let
that sin
affect anybody
else
it's just
my deal
it's just
something I
got to deal
with
and friend
that's not
true
yes you have
to deal
with your
sin but
don't ever
think that
it's so
separated and
compartmentalized
away from
everything else
that it
don't affect
other people
because it
does
first John
describes the
common sins
as the
desires of
the flesh
the desires
of the eyes
and the
pride of
life
and when
we fall
for those
it affects
other people
it affects
especially
affects those
in our own
home
it especially
of those
in the home
it especially
affects
our mate
and there's a
strain that
comes with
that
and that's
what this
passage is
talking about
on one
side you
have love
and desire
on the other
side you
have authority
and I want
to be clear
about something
okay
when it
says your
desire shall
be contrary
to your
husband but
he shall
rule over
you
this is
not
ordaining
a marital
order here
this speaks
of a curse
this is a
result of
sin
somehow
leadership
can become
some kind
of ruling
and that's
not the same
thing
you can lead
a family
without ruling
over a family
but when sin
enters in
that's going
to happen
there's going
to be
conflict
that comes
along the
way
and that
combo
of
love
and desire
and authority
issues
all those
things
is not
good
and it's
real
there's a
rivalry
that takes
place
and husband
and wife
start looking
out for
themselves
instead of
looking out
for each
other
and that
does not
work
and marital
bliss
will leave
you fast
I want
you to
understand
that in
Genesis
chapter 2
they went
from being
naked
and ashamed
to in
Genesis
chapter 3
they are
covered
and pointing
fingers
at each
other
that quickly
because of
sin
and God
says
this ain't
going to be
easy
marriage
is not
easy
it's much
more difficult
when our
individual
sins of
pride
and selfishness
are mixed
into that
a successful
marriage
is when
two are
in it
together
committing
to each
other
forgiving
one another
looking past
the other's
actions
in the
difficult
times
and listening
to their
hearts
and the
constrained
times
the apostle
Paul said
it's a
mystery
he said
it's a
mystery
and he said
it's a
profound
mystery
and then
he speaks
of doing
it the
right way
he says
in Ephesians
chapter 5
verse 33
he says
let each
one of you
love his
wife as
himself
and let
the wife
see that
she respects
her husband
that's not
always easy
because our
relationship
will be
marked
by rivalry
and right
here in
the third
chapter of
a very
large book
with 66
books in
it
it's already
telling us
that
folks
so what
do we
do
we become
well aware
of the
challenge
that is
upon us
and number
two
we respond
correctly
do we
get it done
100% of the
time
by no means
we don't
so be
reminded
that there
will be
difficulty
along the
way
and that
we're to
work at
that difficulty
and make
it better
not only
that
but he
says this
when sin
gets mixed
in
our
prosperity
will be
accompanied
with pain
he says
in verse
17 through
19
and Adam
he said
because you
have listened
to the voice
of your
wife
and have
eaten of
the tree
of which
I commanded
you
you shall
not eat
of it
cursed
is the
ground
because
of you
in pain
you shall
eat
of it
all the
days of
your life
thorns
and thistles
it shall
bring forth
for you
and you
shall eat
the plants
of the
field
by the
sweat
of your
face
you shall
eat
bread
till you
return
to the
ground
for out
of it
you were
taken
for you
are dust
and the
dust
you shall
return
we have
an opportunity
in our
lives
to be
productive
prosperous
people
I'm not
talking about
fame or
glory
I'm talking
about lives
of purpose
lives of
meaning
lives of
direction
we have
that opportunity
but nothing
interrupts our
productivity
nothing hurts
our potential
nothing hinders
our purpose
more than
individual sin
can
nothing will
come in the
way much
more than
that
verse 17
and 18
speaks of
the most
basic example
of productivity
it really
applies to
all that we
do however
because when
sin enters
in
opportunities
are lost
when sin
enters in
productivity
is slowed
vitality
is
struggling
and the
prosperity
is restricted
this garden
of vibrance
and vitality
is gone
and now
thorns
cause toil
and thistles
cause turmoil
in our lives
we're now
at odds
with the
ground
the very
place that
man came
from
we're now
at odds
with it
because of
sin
thorns
and thistles
here serve
as God's
illustration
to us
of the pain
and the toil
that sin
causes
and now
due to sin
life will be
lived
by what he
says in
verse 19
by the sweat
of our face
I want you
to think
about this
our mistakes
make our
rose bushes
have thorns
and I mean
that both
physically
from what he
said
but I mean
that much
more spiritually
the things
that ought to
be rosy
in our life
become thorny
because of
sin
our sin
makes our
lives more
difficult
why is life
such a struggle
of sinfulness
is what it is
it invades
all of our
lives
every part
of it
it invades
our soul
and there's
a spiritual
battle that
takes place
and the
serpent
is ever
pursuing
he didn't
stop in the
garden
he's ever
pursuing
they're now
relational
battles
sin even
invades
how we
survive
we face
struggles
until we
turn to the
ground
but I want
you to be
clear about
something
we will
never be
able to
live our
lives
to what
God
intended
for us
to be
if we
are sinful
if we
are selfish
if we
have
hindering
strongholds
in our
lives
and that's
what this
warns us
of
so what
can we
do about
it
stop
living our
own
lives
stop
leading
our
own
lives
you can't
handle it
I can't
handle it
we gotta let
the Lord
lead our
lives
we've got
to submit
ourselves
to God
and let
him lead
we'll never
be sufficient
we'll always
have
difficulties
and that
would really
stink
if that's
where I
had to
end today
but thank
God
we don't
stop there
because God
knew all
of our
sin
God knows
the messes
they cause
he knew
all of that
when Christ
went to the
cross
and when
Christ died
for our sins
and because
of Christ
thank God
this is not
all there
is
and because
of Christ
we don't
have to
stay in
sinful
patterns
we don't
have to
continue to
live like
that
we're still
gonna feel
some junk
that comes
from it
because we're
surrounded by
it folks
I mean
we're
surrounded
by it
if you
win victory
over a
stronghold
in your
life
and you
walk away
from something
that you
need to
walk away
from
you'll
still have
difficulty
in your
life
because
you're
surrounded
by folks
if not
with that
problem
some other
problem
we can
be surrounded
by it
but we
don't have
to be
guilty
of it
we don't
have to
fall for
it
we don't
have to
stay
in sinful
patterns
that hurt
we don't
have to
stay in
sinful
patterns
that strain
we don't
have to
stay in
sinful
patterns
that cause
difficulty
and because
of Christ
we can
now have
harmony
those thorns
of our
those thorns
that our
sin caused
let me tell you
what else
those thorns
did
it was
those thorns
that he
brought about
in a curse
of sin
that they
made
the Lord's
crown out
of
and placed
it on
his head
as he
went to
the cross
what does
that have
to do
with it
because he
went because
of our
sin
he died
for our
sins
he died
to take
the ramifications
of all those
things away
from us
to help
us to walk
away from
that
we're free
from all
of that
we're only
free from
that in
him
we're only
free from
that if we
continue to
surrender our
lives to
him
and I
believe that's
a daily
deal and
Jesus agrees
with me on
that
we got to
deny ourselves
daily
we can walk
free from
that we
have hope
even when
sin is mixed
in we have
hope because
of him
and so let's
live our lives
for him
let's ease
the difficulty
that we face
in this
sin torn
world
the world
needs
Jesus
folks
have you
picked up
on that
yet
we're in
desperate
need of
the Lord
but you
know what
you know
who needs
Jesus
it ain't
all those
folks out
there
I mean
it is
but it's
not just
them
it's right
here
we all
need
Christ
in our
lives
and if
you've
never
asked the
Lord
Jesus
to forgive
you of
your sins
and to
come into
your life
and to
cleanse
you
and to
change
you
I got
news for
you
you're
missing
out
on the
best
thing
that you
could ever
have
is the
forgiveness
of God
the eternal
life that he
gives
the way that he
changes our
lives
is powerful
if you will
bow your heads
and close your
eyes for just a
moment
you may be
here and you
know you're
a Christian
but the reality
is there's sinful
strongholds in your
life that you need
to give over to
the Lord
let's first look
inside ourselves
and see what's
going on with us
what do we need
to deal with
and then when we
do that
let's think
about those
others that
we have burdens
for that struggle
that we need
to have a
prayer commitment
to pray
for them
God would
strengthen
them
God would
give them
all they
need
maybe you're
here and you
got a sinful
burden you need
to lay before
the Lord
you can do
that where you
are you can do
it at this
altar
maybe you're
here and God's
drawing you to
this church you
feel like this
is the place
where God would
have you to
plant your life
and I encourage
you to come
I'll be happy to
guide you in that
process
maybe you've made
a private decision
for the Lord but
you've never been
baptized as a believer
you've never
surrendered publicly
let others know
what God's done
in your heart
privately
we'd love to
guide you in that
too
I have no way
of knowing what
God's doing in
your heart and
life right now
I don't know
but I'll tell
you you can
trust him
you can trust
him
he'll save
you
he'll cleanse
you
he'll lead
you
he'll guide
you
if you'll
just follow
him
Lord Jesus
I ask
that you'll
lead us
today
to simply
be obedient
to do
exactly what
you'd have
us to do
right now
oh God
I pray
in Jesus
precious name
amen