Adam and Eve took from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil instead of the Tree of Life.
Sometimes on a healing journey it’s easy to unconsciously follow suit (metophically speaking), but this is the wrong foundation and could keep us battling illness. You see, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents the Law.
Today we’re going to look at 4 things that happen when we partake from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and how they keep us bound in sickness.
We become:
- naturally minded
- self-conscious
- self-righteous
- fearful of God
The following post I write in response to a teaching by the amazing Barry Bennet from Charis Bible College. I’ve interpreted his teaching in relation to healing, I hope this blesses you today.
When Adam and Eve took from the wrong tree, 4 things happened as a consequence. (The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents the Law.)
THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Gen. 3:7
THEIR EYES WERE OPENED TO:
1. NATURAL THINKING
Adam and Eve became more aware of the natural realm than the spiritual one.
When we eat from the wrong tree so to speak, we become more aware of what the doctors say and the symptoms. Keeping our eyes on the natural realm keeps us powerless; there are no miracles here.
Abraham “considered not his own body” Romans 4:19 He took his eyes off the natural and onto the spiritual realm where all things are possible.
He didn’t even consider his age or what others may have said; the impossible was more credible to him. The legalistic thinking that results from us partaking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil is worldly and natural, but Godly thinking is higher.
2. THEIR WEAKNESSES
Adam and Eve realised they were naked, even though they had been naked all along. Taking from the wrong tree caused them to be self conscious, focusing on their weaknesses.
If you’re believing God for healing, I personally believe that God heals in spite of all our weaknesses.
If you think that God won’t heal you because you’ve made plenty of mistakes or because you think there are too many flaws in your life, this is legalistic thinking. You’ve just taken from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Do you think God won’t heal you because you don’t consider yourself to be ‘super spiritual’ or that you have too many things in your life to sort out with too many hindrances blocking your healing?
When Jesus healed people, he never told them to repent first. He healed the multitudes and all who came to him. There’s no way these people were all perfect!
3. THEIR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
Adam and Eve tried to atone for their own sin by sewing fig leaves together. Fig leaves in the Bible speaks of self-righteousness.
If you think that reading more of the Bible, praying or fasting more will convince God to heal you, or serving more in church, giving funds to charity and so on, will stand you a better chance of healing, then this is self-righteousness.
I’ve come across a few people who increase their serving in church the moment they’re ill. The Lord is healing you via His Spirit; all because He loves you and because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Oftentimes we behave unconsciously. How would you feel towards God, if you don’t receive your healing?
I say this, because if you think God should heal you because you’ve been fasting, praying, serving etc etc, then somewhere along the lines, you’ve partook from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Think of the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son story. He thought that his father ‘should’ bless him for his obedience.
4. THE FEAR OF GOD
So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:10
When Adam and Eve took from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, they no longer saw God as a God of love and were scared of him.
Not all Christians know the love of God.
Spending time with him is a chore or a duty. They find the Christian walk a massive struggle as they’re in their own strength. What they know of God in their heads hasn’t reached their hearts.
I know this is true because I was one of them; my revelation of God’s love was limited. I seemed to be continually striving and even thought I had to please God for him to bless me.
The name David means ‘beloved’. We have to know the love of God before we can knock down any giant of sickness. How crucial for anyone diagnosed with something that is long-term.
See RECEIVE THE FATHER’S HEART: STEP 1 IN HEALING
The tree of knowledge of good and evil will never give you the revelation of who God really is, His love and His goodness towards you. God instructed Adam and Eve to take from the tree of Life which, of course, speaks of Jesus.
Imagine the difference in the church today if we all did this. If we all allowed the Holy Spirit to continually reveal the love of God and the power of His grace.
Our focus would be on Him and not our own shortcomings. We would learn to rest in the finished work and give up our own efforts of trying to fix all that we think is wrong with us.
No more striving or lack of authenticity. No more legalistic thinking.
We’d be far more hopeful and expectant for our miracles not to mention freer and more content.
May this encourage you today.
Lorna x
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