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* Hello to you! Welcome to the Body Temple study. If you are just joining us and you would like to start from the beginning look to the right and you will notice under Blog Map the words "Body Temple" click on that and it will take you all of the Body Temple entries. Go to the very bottom and work your way up. May the Lord bless you in your journey!
* Hello to you! Welcome to the Body Temple study. If you are just joining us and you would like to start from the beginning look to the right and you will notice under Blog Map the words "Body Temple" click on that and it will take you all of the Body Temple entries. Go to the very bottom and work your way up. May the Lord bless you in your journey!
This lesson took a little longer to put together and the homework is a little more involved so I have broken it up into five days. This study continues to challenge me in so many ways. I would love to hear your feedback so don't hesitate to email! Blessings
I was recently at a planning meeting for a women's get together for our church. So there we sat at our favorite coffee spot. Comfortable chairs, faux fireplace and steaming hot lattes with whip cream and chocolate sauce. We had covered several items on our list like activities, who was going to do devotions, the cost of the event. We were somewhat engaged making sure we checked off all the important items. Then someone asked about menu. Suddenly we were sitting forward in our chairs, there was a new light in our eyes we were captivated, enthralled, and completely absorbed in the task. O.k. so I got carried away with the synonyms. You can thank the online thesaurus for that. But you get the idea. Women and food there is something about that relationship that is special. But it is more than the food isn't it? It is about the combinations of colors and tastes about having the right assortments and smells. It's about having things just right for the people we care about. With food we are able to bring a little heaven to earth. Among other things we celebrate birthdays, weddings, and babies with it we extend sympathy and comfort to those who have suffered a loss.
And this is nothing new, back through the ages right to the beginning of time food has been an integral part of daily life. In the Garden of Eden God created "all kinds of trees...that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." And then later God organized great parties for His people and food played a major role in those celebrations. Food was used as symbols to point the people to an all loving God who had delivered them from slavery and starvation. So God created food to be good. And He meant for us to enjoy it and to use it to nourish and strengthen our bodies.
God's perfect plan for Adam and Eve was a simple, loving relationship with each other and with Him. He created everything they would need, gave them responsibilities. He created each person with the ability to choose between right and wrong and he warned them that choosing wrong would have consequences. There was not a lot of complexity to God's directive. Genesis chapters 2 and 3 tell the story.
You would think that God would have written a list of do's and dont's for Adam and Even but He didn't. His command was to obey in one thing but when they chose to disobey the consequences were complicated and far reaching, affecting all of humanity. Paul wrote in Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-" From that time on mankind has had to deal with separation from God - but thanks to Jesus we have a way to be victorious over sin! What an amazing gift God has given us. So we no longer have to live in defeat. Later in that same passage Paul writes, "But the gift is not like the trespass (disobedient act). For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!"
The enemy wants you to believe that you will feel better when you eat this or look that way. It is a lie. In God you will have every need filled. Just like in the garden God is seeking relationship with you dear sisters. He wants you to run to Him when you are lonely or sad or disappointed or hurt. His word is filled with the longings of His heart for intimacy with you. He wishes to heal you. So what will you choose?
Homework
When I started doing this comparison study through Genesis chapters 2 and 3 I realized there was just no way that we would be able to do them all in just one day. Therefore I have broken them down into days. Take your time with the reading and please write, write, write in your journals! You will be amazed at what truths the Holy Spirit will lead you into and what you will learn both about yourself and about our heavenly Father. Day 15 we will evaluate and talk about the lessons of this week and I will review some of the answers to the questions below. Take your time with the reading. Allow the verses to seep into the very innermost parts of your being. Before you begin read in its entirety Genesis 2-3.
Day 10
1. Read Genesis 2:8-15
-What are just a few of the things that God provided for
Adam and Even in the garden?
-What did God provide for you in your situation? List some of the
things God has blessed you with - a home, resources...etc.
Read Philippians 4:19
-What do you think it means when it says "all"
-List in your journal your needs - whatever you need
not wants but needs - spend some time in prayer
asking God to supply these needs.
Day 11
2. Read Genesis 2:16
-What command did God give Adam? ch. 2 v .15
Read Proverbs 24:13-14
-To what does the poet compare the honey - what practical applications
can you make for yourself?
-What would you say are some commands that God would give you
regarding food?
Read Psalm 34:8 - why do you think God uses these particular words?
Read the rest of that Psalm - allow the words to reach the innermost
parts of your being - Pray these verses to God aloud - you will be
amazed at how powerful it is to pray the scriptures to the Father.
Day 12
3. Read Genesis 3:1-5
-What are the lies that the enemy told Eve - how did he trick her?
-What do you think was happening in her heart when she went ahead
ate?
-What are your temptations when it comes to food?
-What do you think the enemy whispers to you during these
times of temptations?
Read I Corinthians 10:12-13
-What are these verses saying? What is the promise here?
- List some examples or times that you have acted out on or fallen into
your temptation. Identify each sin that you committed and write them down.
Be specific - and see if there is a pattern - are you falling into the same sin
over and over?
-Now look up I John 1:9 - and confess to God. He is faithful my friends
He will help you to have victory over these! Don't let the enemy fool you!
Day 13
4. Read Genesis 3:6-7
-What part of the body did the enemy use to add weight to his temptation? v. 6
-What part of the mind did the enemy use to tempt her?
-What happened after they disobeyed?
-What part(s) of your body are used by the enemy to tempt you?
-What part of your mind is tempted?
-What happens after you act on that temptation - what are your
thoughts or actions?
Read James 1:13-15
-According to James where else does temptation come from?
-What are the steps to sin according to James?
Day 14
Read Genesis 3:8-19
-After Adam and Even sinned - what was immediately affected?
-What were the consequences of their disobedience?
-What/who is affected when you sin - specifically in the area of food?
-What are the long reaching consequences of addictive sin in your life?
Read James 1:1-5
-We are facing a trial my sisters but what is the promise from God's word? Read and journal specifically what we will have when we persevere in the face of our trials.
Spend some time in prayer today for others that you know who are facing trials - pray these verses over them and ask for wisdom. You can believe God because He is trustworthy!
If you have any questions about how to become a Jesus follower please email us and we would be glad to talk to you. Email us at lifestreamwomen@lifestreamweb.org May the Lord bless you and keep you, May He make His face to smile upon you and give you peace.
