Amanda preached on the garden of Eden outlining the fall from grace of Adam and Eve. She asked us the question “How are we tempted, how are we influenced?”
She quoted a Christian rapper who’s lyrics talk about forced to put on a mask to get through the day.
We need to stand up for what we believe to be right. We should not bow down to external pressure from our employers or from influencers. The serpent was the earliest wrong influencer, twisting words and omitting the key message. “Don’t touch the tree in the middle, the tree of life”
Amanda recounted the situation where she sold a car, and then passed the money to the church. there was a moment of temptation to keep the money but the promise needed to be kept.
Amanda outlined that we need to tell people when we are struggling. Sometime temptation to cover up something can be compelling but reaching out gets help from teachers, or from others around us.
Matty had outlined the parable of the prodigal son earlier in the service. Amanda used the example of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, saying that even though his brother the King has been adamant that the law has to follow it’s proper course, she is also sure the King will be praying for his brother and all those affected.
Social media has a lot influence.. But different countries are starting to realise that young people need protection from false information, from manipulation and lack of protection from accessing inappropriate materials.
How can we resist these temptations? How do we protect our young people? \how do we use Scripture in an appropriate way?
Matthew 24:24 warns against false prophets. We need to test everything. Terry had given an example of AI offering something as an absolute fact, and it was only when the finding were challenged that AI admitted it had mixed up the records of 3 different people.
Similarly 2 Timothy 3 !:5 warns of terrible times in the last days.
Remember god forgives us and rewards us through his resurrection power.