“Back

to the Altar” – Day 1 of 10 Days of Prayer for the SSD

“Where are you?”
January 11, 2023

Activity: Write in the chat the things that make you feel most connected or close to someone?

Praying for a Reconnected Heart with God!
• We can talk freely! Trust! No shame! God answers our prayer! Loving close connection!

Pray and then Open Bible to Genesis 3:1-13 – Context for “Where are You!”

- Vs. 1
o Looking at temptation!
o Listening to the Serpent, “Did God say you shouldn’t eat?”
- Vs. 2-3
o Defending herself instead of running to God!
o Gen. 2:16-17 – God said don’t eat
o Eve added to God’s Word, “He said don’t eat and don’t touch.”
- Vs. 4-5
o Serpent probably hands Eve fruit. “You won’t die!”
o God’s holding out on you! He has something better He’s not giving you!
o “GOD IS NOT ENOUGH!”
- Vs. 6
o Women saw tree good for food (lust of the flesh)
§ Imagine if she said… “Yeah… that looks soo yummy! But I shouldn’t live by
my appetite but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matt.
4:4
o Pleasant to eyes (lust of the eyes)
§ This is a trophy piece of fruit… but Satan, I’m not going to listen to your lies!
Don’t tempt me! God knows best, and He sees what I cannot see!
o Desirable to make one wise (pride of life)
§ You say God is holding out on me, that eating this fruit will make me like my
own God! But I’m actually bowing down to you if I listen to your words above
God’s Word. And His Word is the only Word I should listen to! He is Enough!!
And I will not worship you!
o Compare with temptations Jesus faced… Matthew 4
o 1 John 2:16-17: “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. And the
world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of
God abideth for ever.”
o Matt 6:25-33 – Things God tells us not to worry about are the main things we worry
about! “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and all these things will be added
unto you!”
o Sin did not occur until first bite! (Eyes not opened until she gave to Adam!)

1
 - Vs. 7
o Eyes Opened – Covering lost – Naked – shame – Self works
o Making our own self-coverings ever since
- Vs. 8-9
o God calls – WHERE are YOU?? Did God not know? He knew!
o He’s asking IF THEY KNOW where they are!
- Vs. 10-13
o Results of sin: Fear, Naked, Hiding
o Blame – Women, God, Snake
- Vs. 14-15
o Praise God for a solution! The story doesn’t end here—We have the promise of a
Savior!
o Adam and Eve looked forward --- we NOW look back!! He came, He died, He won the
victory!!

But how many of us are LIVING IN THAT VICTORY??
How many of us are staying connected to the source of power?
Or are we, just like EVE entering temptation in our own strength?
Are we like Eve and Adam, covering ourselves with our own Self-righteousness??

I want to stop and ask some HEART QUESTIONS!!

WHERE ARE YOU??

1. If you died today, do you have assurance that you will go to heaven?
2. Are you having daily meaningful UNRUSHED time with Jesus in the study of His Word?
3. Are you having daily meaningful connected UNRUSHED time with Jesus in prayer?
4. Do you daily ask and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
5. Are you sacrificially loving and serving your family as God has called you to do?
6. Are you FREE from anything that would make you a slave (phone, computer, pornography,
appetite, pride, lies of the enemy etc)

Satan is still seeking to lead us away from God’s Word the same way He led Eve! He’s trying to
break the connection! That’s why we need to get BACK to the ALTAR!

STEPS TO OUR DOWNFALL
- Satan leads us away from watchfulness and prayer! (Make time for Word/Prayer)
- Draws us away from obedience by spiritual compromise? (Live/Obey the Word)
- Then he gives us self-confidence in our own strength and wisdom. And he leads us to think,
“That’s no big deal. God will overlook this!” (Self-righteousness vs. Christ righteousness?)

“It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. He came “to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18. But “they that are whole need not a physician.” Luke
5:31. We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ's help. We must
understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or
we should not desire healing.” Christ Object Lessons, p. 178

2

Let me share this truth about our battle! (Get someone to read verses)
- At the Cross the Salvation’s Victory was WON! (Justification purchased!) Titus 3:5-7
- At the Cross power to walk a new life! (Power for Sanctification) Col. 1:27-28
- At the Cross our final deliverance was promised (Glorification to come!) Rom. 8:24-25

But I ask again—WHERE ARE YOU??
- How many of us are living in that victory? How many of us are living IN CHRIST?
- Or are we cowering in fear or obedience to Satan in his guerilla style warfare?

Testimony – My Personal Story – Trusting God with my Battle!

Encouragement for the Soul!

“You who are tempted and tried and discouraged, look up. Let no weary, halting, sin-
oppressed soul become faint-hearted, and lose hope. The promises of God come
sounding down along the lines to us, assuring us that we may reach heaven if we will abide in
Christ. Look up; it is fatal to look down. Looking down, the earth reels and sways beneath you,
and nothing is sure. A divine hand is reached toward you. The hand of the Infinite is stretched over
the battlements of heaven to grasp your hand in its embrace. The mighty Helper is nigh to help the
most erring, the most sinful and despairing. Look up by faith, and the light of the glory of
God will shine upon you. Do not be discouraged because you see that your
character is defective. The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your
own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in distinct
contrast with his perfect character. Be not discouraged; this is an evidence that Satan's
delusions are losing their power, that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you,
and that your indifference and ignorance are passing away. Whatever may have been your past
experience, however discouraging may be your present circumstances, if
you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate
Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you his arms of love and his
robe of righteousness. Let your faith lay hold of the precious promises of God, and if clouds have
encompassed you, the mists will roll back; for the angels of God are ever ready to help in every
trial and emergency. We are not left to battle unaided against the prince of darkness. As we realize
the attacks of the enemy, we shall feel the need of fleeing to the stronghold, we shall learn to lean
upon the Mighty One. He will be to us as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, as a covert
from the tempest. Deep and fervent will be the gratitude of him who experiences the help of God
in times of temptation and trial.” Bible Echo, Dec. 1, 1892, par. 6

Back to the Altar – re-establishing the lost connection! Putting away all distractions!

WHERE ARE YOU? If you are running to Jesus – you are going to be okay! John 6:37