Category: Eve the Helper

1 Peter 2:5 NIV
 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:22 NIV
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

“Just like Adam and Eve “fit together”, the body of Christ fits together just right. And we are altogether lovely. As Eve was a helper that was a partner, so we are partners with one another in the gospel. And we are being fitted together by God to be a dwelling where he lives by his Spirit. We too should burst out into a song or poem at the beauty of one another – the church – when we see each other and what God is doing among us!” (Adapted from Brenda’s message)

Let’s pray according to the heart of Sunday’s message for our churches: “May all women and men of God proclaim the salvation of the Lord Jesus and worship him.” Lord, may our churches proclaim your salvation and the gospel hope!

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for calling us to be a part of your beautiful church. We stand in awe of what you are doing and how you are leading us. We pray that everywhere we go, we will boldly proclaim your salvation and worship you! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s thank God for what he is doing among us as we sing “The Church” by Bethel (click here).

-DW

Romans 8:1-2 NIV
¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Genesis 3:15 NIV
“And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

“Eve experiences the consequences of her disobedience, including grief and dysfunction, but she does not let that paralyze her. She actively anticipates One who will be born through her, a seed who will crush the head of the serpent.” (Ingrid Faro and Joyce Koo Dalrymple, Redeeming Eden)

“In the wording of the NIV, the serpent will strike the heel of the seed of the woman, but he will crush the serpent’s head. The damage to the seed of the woman is significant, but pales in comparison to… the demise of the serpent.” (Tremper Longman III, Genesis: The Story of God Bible Commentary)

Our past disappointments, guilt and shame have no hold over us anymore because Jesus has set us free. Let’s turn from our inward thinking, to outward praise and worship as we look to the Lord who enables us to move forward in freedom and hope.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that our past does not determine our present and future. Thank you for your truth that declares that that we are set free. May we live in your freedom and hope today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In thanksgiving, let’s worship the Lord by singing “Jesus Paid It All” by Passion (click here).

-DW

Are you feeling worn down and tired? Hear the Lord speak his promises over you as you read aloud the following passage:

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

And as we are strengthened and renewed, let’s proclaim aloud the next passage:

Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We need the renewing of the Lord and to experience his hope overflowing from our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pray this for our own lives, let’s also pray this for those in our families, missional groups and our campuses.

Prayer: Lord, you are the God of hope that renews and strengthens us. We bring our weary hearts before you today, confessing just how much we need your Spirit’s empowering. We pray that as you fill us, that this living hope will overflow to those around us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Praise Him Again” (Psalm 42) by Worship Initiative (click here).

-DW

Genesis 2:18 NRSVUE
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 

“Why, then, does God call her the man’s ‘helper’? Because the man cannot fulfill his purpose alone. He lacks. He needs her. Humans are made for community. The rest of the Old Testament will use the same word ‘helper’ (ʿezer in Hebrew) in two main ways: (1) to refer to allied soldiers who assist in battle… and (2) to refer to God as Israel’s helper…  (The) ‘helper’ does not have a subservient role. If anything, it is the opposite. God supplies what Israel lacks. In fact, the word ʿezer occurs as a common noun over ninety times in the Old Testament but never refers to what servants or subordinates do for their masters. ʿEzer is primarily used in military contexts and is best translated ‘ally.’” (Carmen Joy Imes, Being God’s Image)

The Hebrew word for “helper” has no reference to inferiority, rather it signifies an ally with strength and power. This is who Eve is for Adam. She is his equal, created in the image of God. How beautiful it is that God created man and woman in perfect relationship with one another and with him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us in your image, both man and woman. We confess our wrong understandings of our own gender and the opposite gender. May your truth cleanse us so that we are aligned to how beautiful you have created us to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In thanksgiving, let’s sing unto the Lord “Wellspring” by Leeland (click here).

-DW

Let’s proclaim aloud the following passages:

Psalm 147:1,5,10-11 NRSVUE
¹ Praise the LORD!
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
⁵ Great is our Lord and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,
¹¹ but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Isaiah 44:1-4 NIV
¹“But now listen… my servant… whom I have chosen.
² This is what the LORD says—
he who made you, who formed you…
    and who will help you:
Do not be afraid…
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.

Our God is so great and abundant in power, yet he delights in those who put their hope in his love. Let’s bring all our uncertainties, fears, and doubts to him today, confessing that in the midst of all that we are going through, we will choose to put our hope in him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your promises that we do not need to be afraid because you will help us and pour out your Spirit on us. Would you fill us with greater faith today to trust in you and to hope in you alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship the Lord as we sing “Everlasting God” by House of Worship (click here).

-DW