Lesson 3: Eve - The First Sin (Disobedience)

Hello Everyone,

I pray that you all have had a blessed week. I would like to welcome the readers from Sweden.  It is so awesome that God is continuing to reach the masses across countries through this blog. His work is everlasting to everlasting.

I hope that you all spent this week truly committing to practicing vulnerability in Christ.  His grace is sufficient to sustain us through every vulnerable moment (2 Corinthians 12:9).  So many women emailed and texted about the power and blessings of vulnerability this week.  This is true evidence that God is at work through His divine design of womanhood of Eve.

This week we will tackle the sin that caused us such deep separation from God.  We acknowledge and take responsibility for the consistent sin that plagues us. We will also obtain knowledge and skills to better equip ourselves in the battle against sin.

RESOURCE

Genisis 3:1-13

1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which theLord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 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. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

Sin -  (n) Estrangement from God; (v) To violate a law of God or a moral law

Disobedience - (n) failure to obey and/or comply; (v) to disobey or dutifully disregard 
                               commands and/or instructions of those in authority

Pride - (n) A ballooned amount of satisfaction in oneself and one's own achievements; (v) to
               display unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem; superbia 

LESSON

The most obvious sin displayed initially is disobedience.  When the Holy Spirit that abides within us is warring with our flesh and we succumb to our flesh, we are practicing disobedience. If there was obedience, then warring wouldn't occur.  God requires immediate obedience because delayed obedience is still disobedience.  Warring also implies delayed obedience.

Eve's clear and visible sin is disobedience to God's command. However, the quiet sin that we often ignore in this scenario is her pride.  Eve yielded to her own pride when she doubted God's instructions not to eat.   She, through her own pride, believed that she was better equipped to decide for herself whether she could or could not eat from the tree of life.  God had already commanded her not to do so. Eve's pride (flesh) told her to do it anyway.

Then there is the sin of blame shifting which is a descendant of pride through lies.  Adam shifted the blame to Eve and Eve shifted the blame to the serpent.  We are too proud to admit when we are wrong and have done wrong.  True repentance requires remission of sin and taking responsibility; taking the blame.

After studying this portion of the bible, it is very apparent that the blame shifting is currently a major part of this incident.  It was the devil in the likeness of a serpent that beguiled and tempted Eve (Nelson 1997).  The majority of the commentaries are synonymous in stating that the serpent was to blame for the sin.  They yielded to the temptation and failed in the test (Mears 1999).  However, while the serpent provided the opportunity, Eve made the choice.  Adam then made the same choice in regards to Eve.  They both chose to sin.

God gave them His own presence and fellowship (Mears 1999).  Eve could have paused while the serpent was tempting her and called out to God.  She could have asked God herself about the serpent's words.  She had the opportunity, she was there in the garden with God.  Contrary to common belief, we have that same opportunity when we are tempted by sin.  We have the Holy Spirit that abides within us and we also can call out to God through prayer (Romans 8:26).  God has equipped us with the tools to fight against sin (John 14:26). 

God created people in His own image to have fellowship with Himself (Mears 1999).  We were created to honor and glorify God's image.  We are not fulfilling our general purpose when we are submitting to sin and ruining God's reputation.

APPLICATION

Consider Eve and the word definitions listed above; sin, disobedience, & pride.  Are you exhibiting any of the characteristics and/or behaviors explained through the definitions of these words?  Are you regularly tempted like Eve?  And do you succumb to the temptation as Eve did?

We need to take a closer look at ourselves and live moment by moment for Christ.  It is in the small quiet moments that we are losing the battle to sin, just like Eve.  Let's practice more self-control and self-discipline in serving God's general purpose for us.  We must deny our flesh, resist our prideful (sinful) nature, and practice obedience to God's word in order to protect God's reputation.  We are a direct representation of Him.  We are in His image.

This week we will look at the definitions listed above and assess ourselves.   In your daily prayer time ask God to reveal the areas in which you could possibly be exhibiting these behaviors.  Then ask Him to help you overcome them.  Also, continue to practice vulnerability.  These things will help us all draw nigh to God.

I pray that you all will have a blessed week!!!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

REFERENCES

All scripture notations were extracted from the New King James Version of the Bible. YouVersion (2013)

Mears, Henrietta (1999).  What the Bible is All About.  Regal Publishing.  Ventura, California

M-W.com (2013).  Merriam - Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from: App Store

Nelson, Thomas (1997).  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee

Lesson 2: Eve - The First Bride

Hello Everyone,

Are you discovering more about yourselves?  We have covered a lot of foundation information regarding Eve and biblical womanhood last week.  I hope that you were not overwhelmed by it.  I pray that you were enlightened and that it brought you a little closer to your divine purpose as a woman or man of God.

It isn't possible to understand the Bible's teaching on men and women without first understanding God's purpose in creating them (DeMoss & Kassian 2012).  Now that we have a better understanding of what God's intentions are for us as men and women, we can move forward to discover His specific roles for us.

To successfully live in today's society as a Godly man or woman, we must live counter-culturally to represent the true intentions of the Creator towards Adam and Eve.  This week will dissect that purpose and learn how to exhibit and practice those characteristics.

RESOURCE

Genesis 2:23-25

23 And Adam said:  "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

bride - a female (woman) participate in her own marriage ceremony; a woman recently married

wife - a man's partner in marriage

LESSON

Adam and Eve are the first example of marriage that we can draw from.  They were the first couple. They never had a chance to date, court, and/or be engaged.  God made them and they knew each other.  Verse 25 of Genesis suggests that they knew each other in the most intense case of vulnerability.  Their marriage and their relationship with the Creator represented God's original blueprint for both (Wolgemuth 2013).

This divine design exemplifies the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  They are three entities in one.  Through the earthly trinity of marriage; Christ, man, & woman, we learn how to better understand the Holy Trinity.  Each part is relational as the sum of its parts.  In marriage man and woman are a "we," not just a "me and you" (Allen, House, Radmacher 1999).  To dismiss or deny God's purposeful design of man and woman in marriage is to denounce the Creator and His divine plan. Anytime we fail to consult the Designer (Creator) and fail to follow the directions He has provided, we're going to end up with a mess (DeMoss & Kassian 2012).

One flesh suggests both a physical, sexual bonding and a lifelong relationship; meaning unity with diversity (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999).  We are physically different, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually the same; both made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).

Eve was the first wife ever.  She did not have all of the examples that we currently have to guide us in honoring God in our womanhood and wifely responsibilities.  She had to lean directly on the Creator to exemplify His purpose in design her.  Eve had to practice complete vulnerability with Adam and God in order to successfully live in the Creator's design for her; for us.

We must diligently seek to rekindle the illustrious fire that God created in the Garden of Eden.  The fire that unites us with the oneness He originally intended.  We must read His word for direction, seek His face for strength, and kneel before Him for His help.  Single woman, this does not exclude you, for we are all the bride for God! (Revelations 19:7-9)

APPLICATION

I pray that we all have a better understanding of God's intentions towards oneness, marriage, and the overall responsibilities of  being the bride of Christ.  The Creator's design of oneness requires completely vulnerability (nakedness) as metaphorically implied in Genesis 2:25.

We must become naked before God again and naked before our spouse to truly exhibit the earthly trinity as a reflection of the Holy Trinity.  God has purposed us all in His image for that reason.  When we do as God has intended we glorify Him.

This week we will choose to be vulnerable and trust God to guard and protect our hearts through it.  God did not promise a life without pain.  He did promise to keep us (2 Thessalonians 3:3).  Vulnerability does not imply pain, as we associate it.  Vulnerability actually creates a window for God's divinity to shine and bless.  When we close ourselves off, we are operating in our own might.  When we practice vulnerability, we are walking in His.

Have a blessed week!

Be blessed,

T. Carter


REFERENCES

All scripture notations were extracted from the New King James Version of the Bible.  YouVersion (2013).

Allen Th.D., Ronald B., House Th.D., J.D., H. Wayne, & Radmacher Th.D., Earl D. (1999).  Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishers.  Nashville, Tennessee

DeMoss, NancyLeigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101: Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois

Wolgemuth, Barbara J., & Wolgemuth, Robert D. (2013).  Couples of the Bible.  Zondervan Publishing.  Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Lesson 1: Eve - Thee Firstlady

Hello Everyone,

I pray that all is well with everyone.  I am so thankful for your faithfulness in reading my blog. Your consistency increases my hope for the lost world that we reside in.  Also, I would remiss if I did not acknowledge our international readers and their commitment to plug-in every week as well. 

I hope that you all enjoyed the sneak peek of Eve last week.  Additionally, I hope that you spent some time in the scriptures getting to know Eve.  Spending the time to get to know Eve allows us time to get to know ourselves.

This lesson will lay the foundation for the purpose of Eve and womanhood.  There is a sizable amount of resource and text to work through, but stay with me.  I assure you that all this information will give us a better understanding of Eve, womanhood, and our purpose as women.  We must lay a sturdy foundation in order to build this assured house of womanhood. 

So, let's dive right in!

RESOURCE

Genesis 2:21-25

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Woman - a female person who has a significant role in life, particularly the life of a man; the glory of creation; a female person

Companion - an accompaniment, support, benefit to another; familiar person

LESSON

In current church culture there is an order of leadership.  Sometimes there is a Pastor, who is the earthly head of the physical church.  His wife would be considered the "Firstlady".  Well Eve is "Thee Firstlady", literally.  She is the firstlady of all firstladies because she is the first lady, woman.

Eve, being the first lady, establishes the significance and importance of being a woman. Gender matters (DeMoss & Kassian 2012)!

In chapter 2 of the book of Genesis we see God toil over His creations.  The garden was perfectly prepared for man to tend and keep; even biblical paradise required work (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999).   As God travailed over His creations He decided to make man to tend, experience, and appreciate His creations.  God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself (Mears 1997).  God made man for His companionship and woman for man's companionship.  Knowing that God created man for companionship and that because He is the all knowing powerful God that He is, why this dynamic?  God could have created two men and not one man and one woman.  

Womanhood is not a biological accident; it is an intentional design by God (DeMoss & Kassian 2012).  God was purposeful in His design of creating woman as a companion to man (Genesis 2:23).  

Woman is described above as a female who has a specific role.  Man needed a helper comparable to him; he needed a companion (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999).  That role is depicted as a companion.  We see that a companion is a supporter and a help (Genesis 2:18).   God's design of woman is of equal footing to man, just in a different form. She is his companion, just like him, not a servant, as we serve unto God, but having intelligence, personality, ethical and moral sensitivity, and spirituality (Allen, House & Radmacher 1999).  She was taken from his side to signify one flesh, but also to denote equality; not from his head lest she rule over him and not from his feet lest he tyrannize her, but a species of equality that subsist in the state of marriage (Easton 1894).  God's woman is designed both strong and vulnerable; powerful yet tender; capable, but willing to yield; equal in worth, secure in her God given role (Shirer 2011).

The magnitude of God's earnest design towards woman.  God performing the first surgery, in His kindness administered an anesthetic to Adam, removed his rib and made Eve; the first evidence of DNA and support of the molecular structure (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999).   Ladies, can you see how important and necessary we are to God's design!!!  We must honor and operate in His purpose for us in order to give credence to His plan!  The Bible teaches us that it's not up to us to decide what womanhood is all about; God created male and female for a vital, specific purpose, His design is not arbitrary, unimportant, or expendable (DeMoss & Kassian 2012).

After reading and studying this overload of information about womanhood, I AM EXCITED!!!  I feel very blessed to be a woman.  A God designed woman!!  His glory is shown through His design, woman!!!  I am empowered by the Godly design of woman, not the world's depiction that emasculates my man and denounces God's plan.  I am empowered by being God's woman; romantically designed in His image for His glory!

APPLICATION

We have covered a lot of information today.  I pray that it isn't too overwhelming.  However, I urge you to dig deep into the word of God and develop a better understanding of God's purpose for women and you as a woman.

This week we will choose one area in our lives where we struggle to honor God's design of woman.  In your quiet time and/or prayer time ask God to reveal to you an area where you need the most work.  Seek the Lord for His specified design for you as a woman. Refer to the bible for specific descriptions or areas of womanhood that honors God; scriptures on what to do and what not to do.  I will list some verses to get us started.

Genesis 2:18

Genesis 2:24

Genesis 3:16

Proverbs 11:22

Proverbs 14:1

Proverbs 19:14

Proverbs 31:10-31

1 Corinthians 11:3

Ephesians 5:22-24

Philippians 4:4-9

Titus 2:3-5

These are just a few to get you started.

I pray that God will reveal to us all our purposeful design of womanhood in His glory.

Have a blessed week!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

REFERENCES

All scripture notations were extracted from the New King James Version of the bible. YouVersion (2013)

Allen Th.D, Ronald B., House Th.D. J.D., H. Wayne, Radmacher Th.D., Earl D. (1999). New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee

DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary A. (2012). True Woman 101; Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois

Easton, Matthew George (1897).  Easton Bible Dictionary. Thomas Nelson Publishing

Mears, Henrietta (1999). What the Bible is All About. Regal Books Publishing. Ventura, CA

Shirer, Priscilla (2011). The Resolution for Women. B&H Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee

Introducing Eve

Happy New Year Everyone!!

By now in every nation and on every continent we are well into the New Year.  God has truly blessed us to walk with Him in another year of our lives. What an awesome testimony it is to faithfully walk in God's word for 365 days! That is a triumph in itself!! Give God some glory for His faithfulness and pat yourselves on the back for your achievements. God is so awesome!

This year we will focus more heavily on the importance of gender.  We will study the women of the bible as I previously stated and deeply examine God's purpose in His design for women and womanhood.  We, as women gravitate towards designer labels because they are high quality, are in high demand, and of the highest authenticity, however we fail to acknowledge the ultimate designer of the most authentic prize, women (Demoss & Kassian 2012).

God does not make mistakes.  There is a purpose for Him creating man and WOMAN.  He could have created two men or two women, but He chose to create one man and one WOMAN.  Its great to be a girl (woman), God's design of the most joyful, vulnerable, tender, yet strong and powerful creation; purposefully feminine (Shirer 2011).

We have an obligation to honor God's design.  We hold dear many worldly treasures and possessions that we are not entitled to, but the God given treasures we squander.  We glorify God best through our specific genders because that's what He created in His image (Demoss & Kassian 2012).  God was very specific in His design.  He intentionally addresses the importance of gender throughout the bible in order to provide definition and direction for us.  God's design is for our good and to reject God's design is to invite unnecessary pain and brokenness into our lives (Demoss & Kassian 2012).

In exploring God's divine design of womanhood; we will dive right into the new year with the first woman of the bible, Eve.  She is most greatly known for her actions that allegedly caused the fall of man.  We are going to learn so much more about her.

As I studied her and the history of her story over our break, I became more and more excited about what she has to offer us through her testimony shared in God's word. She is dynamic!  She carries many burdens as the first woman ever and offers many blessings to us as her descendants.

Well, I hope that you have enjoyed our break. I also hope that you all have been practicing the principles of the women that we have already studied.  Most of the principles of the women of the bible overlap, so we should definitely take heed and ask God to help us fulfill these principles. 

In preparation for the study of Eve, I would ask that you get to know Eve. Considering that life starts at conception, Eve's story begins in Genesis 2:21.  I urge that you get to know her. To know more about Eve is to know more about you.

Prepare yourselves for a magnificent journey as we dive into exploring more women of the bible in this New Year. Starting with Eve, God has an illustrious journey for us all.

Application

Read Genesis 2:21-25, 3:1-24, 4:1-26


Have a blessed week!

Be blessed,

T. Carter

References

All scripture notations were extracted from the New King James Version of the bible. YouVersion (2013)

DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary A. (2012). True Woman 101; Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois

Shirer, Priscilla (2011). The Resolution for Women. B&H Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee