Seven Mistakes that Poison the Meaningfulness of Your Connections with God and Others

As discussed earlier this week, apothecaries or perfumers were people of wealth, honor, and influence in many ancient cultures because of their product’s value. Their sweet-smelling perfumes provided their civilizations, especially in Middle Eastern culture (where water was in short supply), the ability to mask unpleasant body odors. The apothecaries even belonged to notable guilds and sold their perfumes at special bazaars where they made their highly sought after products available. (1)

These apothecaries and their unique perfumes and ointments were in such demand that they often serviced entire regions, traveling from marketplace to marketplace. Obviously, in this period, transportation was a lot different than it is today. It wasn’t easy to get from one place to the next, especially when traveling with a precious product. So maneuvering from one marketplace to another, sometimes on a mass scale, was an arduous journey: wagons, camels, donkeys, oxen, and very rough terrain made for a genuine struggle. During the travel with these valuable fragrances, there was also a battle to protect the product from insects as dead flies could get into the perfumes and ruin them. Especially notorious were “flies of death” that carried bacteria from dead carcasses into society. The bacteria and poison within their systems were dangerous if the fly bit a person, but it could contaminate sweet-smelling perfumes, causing a horrible stench.

This experience bears weight with us spiritually as it can be our story. The journey of life can take a toll on us. We start on fire for God, so excited about being an authentic Jesus-follower! We want a holy life, a righteous life, we strive to obey the Word of God, but as we walk out step after step, the little flies start to creep in – sinful follies start to break the seals – and before we know it, our heart and soul are poisoned.

Solomon called these little follies “dead flies” in Ecclesiastes 10:1, “Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”

Do you have flies of death – sinful follies – poisoning your heart and soul?

Scripture tells us that there are some specific follies that we must watch out for in our lives. And in context, I believe the Bible implies that these things bring a stench to God’s nostrils:

1. SEXUAL IMMORALITY

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. -Gen. 34:7 KJV

2. DISOBEDIENCE

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. -Joshua 7:15

3. ANGER

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. -Proverbs 14:29

4. DECEIT

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. -Proverbs 14:8

5. DRUNKENNESS

I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. -Ecclesiastes 2:3-4

6. OPPOSING TRUTH

Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. -Ecclesiastes 3:8-9

7. UNFORGIVENESS

To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ… -2 Corinthians 2:10, 14

These follies can tip the scale against our wisdom! They outweigh otherwise decisions in your life and diminish the value of your reputation. Worse yet, they just stink spiritually – to God and those who know you best.

I asked you if you had any follies poisoning your heart and soul. Because the truth is that, just like everyone deals with flies in the natural, everyone deals with spiritual flies. Only through daily repentance can we find the suitable repellant and overcome our perpetual hurts, habits, and hang ups.

Allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. Get your hands clean, heart pure, and your mind renewed through God's grace. Because to become a light within the darkness, you’ll need to identify and remove the dead flies. So, with God’s help, get the stench out of your life, and let Heaven restore your sweet-smelling savor!

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/bybm_0IrRE8

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

---

1) Cambridge Bible for Schools & Colleges

How You Can Live a Meaningful Life and Overcome Self-Hate in 2022

So many people long to be a part of something that has meaning. Thankfully, Scripture aligns with this longing, setting us up perfectly to live a meaningful life.

So much has transpired in the past two years. A global pandemic, social justice issues, cultural unrest, and governmental discord, to name a few. Tension has filled all of us. But, I believe many are ready to set some things in order and put the enemy in his place! It’s time to step into meaning and purpose in 2022.

As we come into the first 100 days of 2022, let’s maximize our relationship with God, setting things in motion that will not only change this year but generations to come.

Do you have a sin that you struggle with over and over again?

Offense?

Anger?

Maybe it’s the lack of discipline to control your mouth, and gossip flows freely?

You are not alone if you answered “Yes,” to any of those questions. We all have sins we struggle with repeatedly. Even Paul, a pillar of faith, credited with penning two-thirds of the New Testament, struggled, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15 NLT)

Does that describe you sometimes? “I do what I hate.”

Of course, it does. It describes all of us, some of us more often than others. And, the more often it describes us, the more we struggle with shame, condemnation, and guilt. Why? Because of what sin is:

…sin is lawlessness.

- 1 John 3:4 (NKJV)

We sin when we break the law of God. Simply put, that law is found in the Old Testament and prioritized through the Ten Commandments. But, Jesus helps us understand which commandments are the greatest,

1. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy mind, and all thy soul.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Simply put, we sin when we do not love God or love people.

We feel shame because as soon as we break the Law of God, the enemy becomes the voice in our head, shaming and condemning us.

What a twisted creature. The enemy wants us to fail God’s law and does everything he can to get us to do so. Then he is there to celebrate our sins and make us feel awful the moment we become a law-breaker. He isolates us from God and then accuses us of distancing ourselves. This cycle repeatedly continues because we continue to do what we hate, sinning against God and His people and allowing the enemy to keep us buried in the conscience of guilt.

How do we break free? How do we overcome self-hate associated with sinfulness? How do we overcome our hurts, habits, and hangups? Why do we keep doing what we do?

First, look at what James said:

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

-James 1:14 (NKJV)

The reason we sin, breaking the law of God, is because every single one of us fights against temptation. Our temptations arise due to our fleshly desires. We want something outside of God’s law and will. These desires that the enemy uses as bait to draw us away from God through acts of temptation always fit into one of three categories:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. - 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

1. LUST of the FLESH- I want a feeling that I don’t currently have.

We become sinful with our appetite in all areas of life, from gluttony to adultery. This is why we struggle with addiction. It’s a feeling – the lust of the flesh, the desire of the flesh – that pulls us away from God.

2. LUST of the EYES - I see something more that I want.

This is how we wind up in debt to the point we declare bankruptcy or with more than we can manage. We want everything we see and more too. The enemy keeps pointing out what we don’t have to blind us to the contentment available in what we do have.

3. PRIDE OF LIFE - I deserve something more, and I desire it because I am entitled to it.

We count ourselves worthy and deserving, and we take what we want when we want it. It’s why people cheat, steal, bend the rules and tell white lies. We struggle with a worldly mindset of entitlement that tells us we “deserve something more” than what we are presently getting.

But, there is good news!

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. -1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

You are not the only one facing these three categories of temptation – everyone faces them! But here’s the good news, there is a way of escape. We just need to learn how to talk like Jesus! To break free of sin and lawlessness and free yourself from temptation and ungodly desires… you are going to have to tell the enemy to get behind you! Learn to talk back to the devil:

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” - Luke 4:8 (NKJV)

You don’t have to live in a perpetual cycle of defeat.

It's time to live a meaningful life, putting Hell in its place. It's time to start walking out the purpose God has for us, and as we come into the first 100 days of 2022, set things in motion that will not only change this year but generations to come. Start telling the enemy to get behind us! Inform the enemy, he can no longer block God’s vision for your life. And, you are going to be hearing more about this in the days and posts to come, but my challenge to you, going into the first 100 days of this new year: Live a more meaningful life by intensifying your pursuit of God through prayer, fasting, and studying God’s Word.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/HvAtVLLroEM

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.
   

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.
   

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin
   

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

People Of The Bible: Adam & Eve

Book: Genesis 1-3

Genesis 1:1 begins by saying “In the beginning, God created… ” From the start of the Bible to the end, we see God’s love, His plan for His people, and so many details about His story. The Bible is God’s story and it is a true treasure for each of us. It begins with the details of how He created Earth, everything in it, and the first two people, Adam & Eve.

Who was Adam?

• Adam was the first person God created on Earth. God formed him from the dust of the Earth.

• He lived in the Garden of Eden.

• God placed him in the garden to watch over the plants and animals. God even gave Adam the job of naming all the animals.

• Adam is the first of all generations to come, including Jacob and his sons.

Who was Eve?

• Adam was lonely in the garden so God made Eve to be his companion.

• God formed Eve by taking a rib from Adam and forming it into a woman.

• She decides to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil after being tempted by the enemy

What was life in the Garden of Eden like?

• The Garden of Eden was a glorious place, Adam and Eve had everything they wanted and needed.

• They took care of all the plants and animals.

• God would come to the garden to walk and talk with them every day.

• They ate from the tree of life, giving them the ability to live forever.

• God gave them one rule, don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Fall

The devil took the form of a serpent and started talking to Eve. The serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It only took two sentences for the enemy to talk Eve into disobeying God’s command. She ate the fruit and gave some to Adam and he ate as well. This is how sin and shame slipped into our world. God had forbidden Adam and Eve from eating the fruit from that tree, they deliberately disobeyed God! They knew they had sinned so they tried to hide from God. But we know, God is omnipresent, He is everywhere, and we can not hide from Him.

Where there is sin, there is separation from God, and all sin has consequences. God punished the serpent for tempting Eve -making it crawl on its belly and eat dust for all eternity. God punished Adam and Eve by making them leave the garden and making life hard on them. Because they were kicked out of the garden, they could no longer eat from the tree of life which meant they would eventually die.

The moment Adam and Eve sinned, shame, and evil entered the world. All bad things that happen are tied back to the Fall, but God had a plan for redemption. Jesus, the new Adam entered the world and took all this sin upon Himself. Jesus died at the cross so that all who believe in Him can have everlasting life.

We read about this more in the New Testament of God’s Word. From the beginning, God had a plan for His people & His plan is perfect.

Key Takeaways:

• Adam and Eve were the first people on Earth

• The serpent tempted them to disobey God, and sin and shame entered the world.

• God had a redemption plan in place from the beginning: Jesus!

• You will be tempted by the enemy just like Adam and Eve, but through accepting Jesus into your life, all your sins will be forgiven.

Parents, 3treesKIDS will be covering “Adam & Eve”, both in-person and online this week.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.