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Now the\xa0Lord\xa0God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden;\xa0and there he put the man he had formed.\xa0The\xa0Lord\xa0God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground\u2014trees\xa0that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life\xa0and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil\u2026 Genesis 2:8-9 (NIV)

And the\xa0Lord\xa0God commanded the man, \u201cYou are free to eat from any tree in the garden;\xa0but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,\xa0for when you eat from it you will certainly die\u2026\u201d Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV)

The Tree\u2026 reveals KNOWLEDGE.

The desire to know is in direct opposition to the desire to trust.

Now the serpent\xa0was more crafty than any of the wild animals the\xa0Lord\xa0God had made. He said to the woman, \u201cDid God really say, \u2018You must not eat from any tree in the garden\u2019?\u201d The woman said to the serpent, \u201cWe may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, \u2018You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.\u2019\u201d \u201cYou will not certainly die,\u201d the serpent said to the woman.\xa0\u201cFor God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,\xa0knowing good and evil.\u201d Genesis 3:1-5 (NIV)

1. The Tree\u2026 brings DEATH.

When tempted, no one should say, \u201cGod is tempting me.\u201d For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own\xa0evil desire and enticed.\xa0Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;\xa0and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death\u2026 Romans 6:23 (NIV)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable\xa0for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband,\xa0who was with her, and he ate it.\xa0Genesis 3:6 (NIV)

1. The Tree\u2026 is APPEALING.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;\xa0so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the\xa0Lord\xa0God as he was walking\xa0in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid\xa0from the\xa0Lord\xa0God among the trees of the garden.\xa0But the\xa0Lord\xa0God called to the man, \u201cWhere are you?\u201d He answered, \u201cI heard you in the garden, and I was afraid\xa0because I was naked; so I hid.\u201d Genesis 3:7-10 (NIV)

1. The Tree\u2026 produces SHAME.

And he said, \u201cWho told you that you were naked?\xa0Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?\u201d The man said, \u201cThe woman you put here with me\u2014she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.\u201d Then the\xa0Lord\xa0God said to the woman, \u201cWhat is this you have done?\u201d The woman said, \u201cThe serpent deceived me,\xa0and I ate.\u201d Genesis 3:11-13 (NIV)

1. The Tree\u2026 LEADS TO VICTIMIZATION.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)

Jesus didn\u2019t come to fix our BEHAVIOR PROBLEM\u2026 He came to fix our SIN PROBLEM.

Jesus answered,\xa0\u201cI am\xa0the way\xa0and the truth\xa0and the life.\xa0No one comes to the Father except through me.\xa0If you really know me, you will know\xa0my Father as well.\xa0From now on, you do know him and have seen him.\u201d John 14:6-7\xa0 (NIV)

\u201cIf you\xa0[really]\xa0love Me, you will keep\xa0and\xa0obey My commandments. John 14:15 (AMP)