Being a Woman of Excellence: Lesson 5

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Discuss James 1

The blessings of obedience

The Worlds View:

Obedience, or submissive compliance, is the act of obeying orders from others. This differs from compliance, which is behavior influenced by peers. This is in turn different from conformity, which is behavior intended to match that of the majority. Obedience is often associated with social dominance and submission. Some animals can easily be trained to be obedient by employing operant conditioning that places the human being in the role of a dominant animal. Obedience schools exist to condition dogs into obeying the orders of human owners. Obedience training seems to be particularly effective on social animals, a category which includes human beings. Other animals do not respond well to such training. Humans have been shown to be surprisingly obedient in the presence of perceived legitimate authority figures, as demonstrated by the Milgram experiment in the 1960s. Milgram carried out his experiments to discover how the Nazis had managed to get ordinary people to take part in the mass murder of the Holocaust. The experiment showed that compliance to authority was the norm, not the exception. A similar effect was found in the Stanford prison experiment.

God’s view

The bible is the instruction manual for life.  (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) 😉 But instructions do absolutely no good unless they are followed.  People can hear the Word of God; read the Word of God; believe the Word of God and even love the Word of God.  But their lives will not change and they will not walk in victory unless they apply the Word of God.  Obedience to the Word of God is crucial in order to be a woman of excellence.  Let’s take a look at what the word teaches about being obedient.  Remember that there’s power in the Word itself.  If you will let Him, the Holy Spirit will work through the Word and strengthen you in order for you to be obedient to what you are reading. Don’t forget to ask for His help.  God loves it when His children ask for His help in areas that they are struggling in.

The original sin of Adam and Eve were sins of disobedience to God.  Disobedience is a result of pride.  We think we know better than God and therefore exalt ourselves above God on the throne of our hearts, and make our own choices.  The Word of God teaches that pride comes before a fall and humility causes a person to be honored, as we see with Yeshua…The same spiritual laws exists today!

1. Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way; and the perverted mouth, I hate.
2. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.
3. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
4. Proverbs 21:24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” ” Scoffer,” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.
5. Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
6. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
7. Colossians 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
8. James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
9. 1 Peter 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Life Application

The devil has tricked people to view obedience as weakness.  His motive in doing this is to rob them of the blessings that God’s spiritual laws afford those who are obedient, humble and submissive. Don’t believe the devil’s lies.  Resist him and be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may know what the perfect will of God is – that which is good, acceptable and perfect! 😉

Memory Verse:  Proverbs 11:2

Scripture reading – Colossians 2 – Questions to answer:

1. What is God’s mystery that brings women of excellence true wealth? (v. 2)

• What is hidden in that mystery? (v. 3)
• What makes Paul rejoice? (v. 5)
• Verse 6 instructs women of excellence this way: “Therefore as you have received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, so walk in Him” How do you do that?
• How do you become firmly rooted in your faith? (v. 7)
• What kinds of things does verse 8 teach can take us captive that oppose our obedience and submission to Messiah?
• What do Verses 9-14 teach you about your status as a woman of excellence?
• Verse 15 is an amazing verse to really understand and wrap your brain around. In ancient times whenever there was victory in war, the winning army would shackle the losers in chains and lead them through the city streets displaying their defeat, and the winner’s victory over them. This was called a triumph! How does a woman of excellence triumph over the authority of the enemy in her own life?
• What is God’s purpose for food laws, festivals, new moons and Shabbat? (v. 16-17) What does this mean to you?
• What are some characteristics of false prophets and teachers that verse 18 teaches us?
• How does a woman of excellence grow? (v. 19)
• What does verse 23 teach us is our biggest goal to overcome as women of excellence?

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