WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
"Help, Lord for the godly man (woman) ceases to
be, for the
faithful disappear from among the sons (daughters)
of men"
Psalm 12:1
Introduction
In today’s society it is not hard for one to see Satan’s lies being accepted by mankind. One of those lies which has been most readily accepted by our society is that the godly woman’s role, as explained in the Bible, is demeaning, unchallenging, and basically unimportant. Many true Christians have been deceived and believe this lie. We have gotten ourselves so far away from the beauty, strength, and dignity of the Christian woman’s role, her behavior, clothing, and proper hair length.
God, in His word, has set guidelines for His daughters to follow. Hopefully, this booklet will help and encourage those individuals who are desiring to understand the Christian woman’s role and how very important, rewarding, and life-changing her position can be, if she follows the biblical principles He established.
“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through
the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3
The first step in becoming a godly woman is to get your relationship right with God. That is the EASY part.
Gospel Message
1. Recognize that you are lost--taking your place, right now, before God as a hell-deserving sinner. Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10; 3:23
2. Understand that the Bible teaches that there is a terrible consequence awaiting those who sin (broken God’s laws). Because of our sins (crimes) we deserve God’s punishment in His jail, which is hell. Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23; 2 Thess. 1:8,9; Luke 16:22-24
3. Recognize the deity of Jesus Christ and that He died on the cross for YOUR sins (crimes) against a HOLY GOD, and spent three days and three nights in God’s jail (hell) paying for your eternal crimes, so that you wouldn’t have to. HIS DEITY John 5:18; Col. 1:16; Phil. 2:6-8 HIS DEATH & RESURRECTION 1 Peter 1:18.19; Romans 5:8; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Acts 2:31,32
4. Galatians 2:16 tells us that, “. . . a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.” Eph. 2:8,9
5. Personally claim salvation. Claim by faith alone the free gift of eternal life which God promises you for placing your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Romans 4:21; 4:5; 5:9; 10:9
The moment you believe the gospel you are saved from the penalty of your sins and acquire ETERNAL LIFE, and it is ETERNAL, FOREVER. You cannot lose it! You have been “BORN AGAIN” according to God’s word, the Bible. This is the second birth and there are only TWO! You cannot become “unborn”. Yes, as a believer (a Christian) you will battle with sin, but sins can NEVER separate you from your Savior. Jesus died for ALL your sins--not “most,” but ALL. I John 5:11-13; John 3:18; Romans 4:5; Titus 3:5
The Bible says that when you become born-again, you have His Holy Spirit (God) indwelling you, Ephesians 1:13, and He (the Spirit) will never leave you. You are sealed. It is through the Holy Spirit that a believer grows and changes. Galatians 5:16-25
The second step is having a humble and teachable attitude, realizing that our natural self is usually wrong. We need to have a tender heart and an attentive ear to the Holy Spirit so that He may change our thinking to His thinking. Hebrews 4:7
The Weaker Vessel
To be ready for the attacks that Satan WILL throw at believers, the Christian woman needs to understand that she has a disadvantage. She was made weaker, both physically and judgmentally. “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow-heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 Peter is not referring to a mental weakness, but a judgmental and physical weakness. Why is there this weakness? Because God made the woman perfect for her role. She was created to be the helpmate and soul mate for the man, Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a HELPER suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 Sometimes we think that the job of helping someone is not so honorable, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Holy Spirit is called the Helper, and it is He that indwells every believer and guides us in truth. John 16:7-15 and John 14:16-17 God made the woman with more sensitive emotions. A patient, gentle, nurturing hand is needed in the everyday tasks of raising children; and the loving support a wife gives her husband is greatly needed in our ungodly society.
The sensitive emotions God instilled into a woman were given to help her fulfill her role perfectly. The drawback is that sensitive emotions can cloud one’s judgment. Emotions are usually what Satan attacks to deceive both men and women. So, if a woman has more sensitive emotions, she may be more susceptible to Satan’s attacks. The Bible teaches us that Satan is the great deceiver and the father of lies. John 8:44, Rev. 20:10 His description in 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Nature shows us that the lion usually goes after the “weaker” animal so it is very important for a woman to understand this weakness that she has, because Satan is also extremely intelligent. Ezekiel 28:12-19 When we refer back to the Garden of Eden, who did Satan, as he spoke through the serpent, approach to deceive? Eve! Why didn’t he go to Adam? Because he knew he couldn’t deceive Adam. Even when Eve presented Adam with the fruit, and told him that she enjoyed it, he was not deceived. “. . . and it WAS NOT Adam who was deceived, but the woman BEING QUITE DECEIVED, fell into transgression.” 1 Tim. 2:14
If we carefully go through Gen. 3:1-13, we will find a very important lesson to learn from Adam and Eve’s disobedience. The only reason Adam ate from the forbidden tree was because he wanted to please Eve, instead of his Creator. Eve based her decision on emotions, “. . . when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a “delight” to the eyes, and that the tree was “desirable” to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate.” vs. 6. Now had she based her decision on what God told her, and reasoned rationally, she would have had victory over Satan’s lies, by simply saying, “God said NO!”
The main reason a Christian woman fails is because she bases her judgments on emotional-clouded thinking, rather than being rational. A good example of a woman failing because of her emotions is Lot’s wife. Gen. 19:12-17, tells us that she was told to not look back at the destruction of the cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of the sins of the people, God was going to destroy these cities. Gen. 19:26 tells us that she did look back and she became a pillar of salt. Whether she looked back out of sympathy or curiosity, her feelings or emotions caused her to disobey God, which cost her, her life. The only way a Christian woman can succeed is to base her judgments on the FACTS (commands) and promises found in God’s Word, and obey and believe them. For instance, the Bible says to pray, and meditate on God’s Word daily, without ceasing. Psalm 1:2; 1 Thess. 5:17 We know our flesh doesn’t want to pray or take time to read God’s Word, because the Bible tells us that, “. . . the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.” Rom. 8:7 Now if we wait for some special feeling or emotion, before we pray or witness or read God’s Word or submit to our leaders, the flesh will be given time to war with the Spirit, Gal. 5:17. That is why the best thing to do is OBEY the commands of God’s Word. “Good” feelings ALWAYS flow from good (obedient) actions. Because Satan can deceive her more easily, a woman’s role is not that of leadership in the church or in the home, where it is so important to have sound decision-making. Again, God has made her PERFECT for her role, just as He created the man perfect for his role. But God has provided protection for His daughters’ weakness. For the married woman this protection is her godly husband. For the single woman it is a godly father or a godly Christian pastor. Hopefully, her leadership is a godly, spiritual, Christian man, but if not, once again God has provided the right steps for her to take. We will see these further into this study.
Man Leading
As was shared, God’s protection for a woman is the authority He has placed over her. That authority is always going to be male. Even a single woman or a single mother or a widow left to raise her children alone should seek counsel from the male leadership of the church and perhaps a godly Christian father. It is the man’s role and responsibility to lead the family and the church. If a woman has some good ideas or spiritual thoughts, she should be sharing them with her authority because she is to be the helper, both to her husband and to the church. But the final “yes” or “no” is left to the man and, right or wrong, the decision-making is his responsibility. Her responsibility is to follow. Our gracious God has wisely set up this authority system so that there is no chaos, and so that His sons and daughters can live in joy, harmony, and order with each other.
“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of
every man, and the
man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
I Corinthians 11:3
Ephesians 5:22-23 states, “Wives be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” We read in Ephesians 4:8-12 that men are gifted to be teachers, pastors, and evangelists in the church. Paul also writes in 1Timothy 2:11,12, “Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness; but I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” The apostle Paul knew the importance that God places on sound doctrine and strong uncompromised leadership in the church. God certainly is not a chauvinist; The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:20,21, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Read also 2 Timothy 3:16.
Many Bible verses praise the godly woman, not to mention a whole chapter (Prov. 31). Verses such as Proverbs 12:4 “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband;” Proverbs 19:14 “House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord;” and Proverbs 31:10 “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.” Many women in the Old and New Testaments were mentioned for upholding God’s principles and being used in a tremendous way for the Lord. Women whom the Bible says in Hebrews 11, “..the world was not worthy of.” Some of these faithful women’s testimonies will be shared further on. Now if God made the woman “perfect” for her role as described in Genesis 3:16-18, what went wrong? Why is the divorce rate so high? The answer can be found in Genesis 3:16-19. Sin is the answer. Mankind now has the knowledge of good and evil (a sin prone nature). In Genesis 3:16-19 God is dealing out the consequences of sinning to Adam and Eve. In verse 16, God speaks to Eve and says, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire (to control), shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” What once was easy will now be difficult because of our sin nature wanting to put ourselves first. A good verse to compare the word desire is found in Genesis 4:6-7, “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? And if you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its DESIRE is for you, but you must master it.’” In Genesis 3:16, when we finish the last part of the verse, we see that the woman’s “desire” will be to master her husband. This is made very clear when God answers in contrast, “And he shall rule over you.” Remember that these were the consequences of her choice to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If the desire for her husband is a positive desire, then what is the curse? This desire, as seen with Cain, is a domineering controlling desire. Knowing that this “desire” for her husband is to “rule” him should help a godly woman to be on guard and MASTER her urge or “need” to lead; as well as to be aware of her tendency to be emotionally led.
Disobedient Leadership
In the Old and New Testaments, we see that at times leadership fails or is disobedient. For the married Christian woman, God has given steps for her to follow that are found in 1 Peter 3:1-6, “In the same way, you wives be submissive to your husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. And let not your adornment be merely external, braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” The gentle and quiet spirit shows a spirit of confidence--that she is in a correct walk with God, doing what is right, being conscious of nothing against her. Jesus said of Himself, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am GENTLE and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matt. 11:29,30 When the Christian married woman is faced with the “test” of a husband who is disobedient to the Word, whether he is saved or unsaved, her relationship with God should not change! A godly Christian wife should not be placing her hope of inner peace, joy, and happiness on her husband, because all mankind fails at times, and if her husband is unsaved, she should expect disobedience to God. Her hope should be in God, and ALL that He has done for her, like spending three days and three nights in Hell, paying the penalty for her crimes against God. This should help her to not react sinfully, towards her husband’s sin. Her reaction towards her husband’s disobedience should be that of gentleness, quietness, not nagging, being hard for him to bear up with her grumbling. “Let your ‘light’ shine before men, (which would include a disobedient husband), in such a way that they may ‘see’ (observe) your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16
The Christian woman who understands authority is the woman who sees that submitting to her husband is the same as submitting to God, since He is the One who commanded it. Jesus marveled at the centurion’s understanding of authority, and associated it with GREAT FAITH. Matt. 8:8-10. Heb. 13:17 says, “OBEY your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” The Christian wife’s saved husband, whether obedient or disobedient, will give an account for HER actions and responses towards his words and behavior, at the Judgment Seat. The rest of 1 Peter 3:5-6 says, “For in this way in former times the “holy” women also, WHO HOPED IN GOD, used to adorn themselves, being submissive, 1 (having or showing a tendency to submit without resistance; docile; yielding) to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him “lord”, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.” To “not be frightened by any fear” means she is presently sin-confessed, having a clear conscience before God, and also that she is trusting that God is working with the heart of her disobedient leader. If a person under authority has a concern or some thoughts that they believe would help their disobedient leader, they need to share them with an attitude of respect. No one likes to be treated without respect, and how much more respect should be given to one in a God-given position of authority, an authority that the Christian wife chose when she said “I do.” Whenever a Christian wife talks with her husband, or anyone, but especially her husband, it should ALWAYS be with a kind, gracious voice. Gal. 5:14 says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” As you dialogue with someone you should ask yourself, “In what manner would I like to be talked to?”
Even in times of verbal or physical abuse in the home, the “godly” Christian wife, during times of her afflictions, can draw a peaceful and quiet strength from within by following in her Lord’s example. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.” Is. 53:7 The abused wife’s attitude of not reviling in return, is showing her husband her great faith and strength in the Lord, which he does not have. “For what credit is there if, when YOU SIN and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But, if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you PATIENTLY endure it, this finds favor with God.” 1 Peter 2:20 In an abusive situation the Christian wife should hold to God’s promises, “Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have compassion on His afflicted.” Is. 49:13; 2 Cor. 1:3,4 Remember the sufferings of Job, who, in all that he suffered, never did he curse or blame God. Also keeping in mind that the godly Christian woman’s husband, saved or unsaved, might not change his behavior, or might not become a believer for the rest of their married life. Her goal and ambition is to be pleasing to God. 2 Cor. 5:9 If he chooses to stay in disobedience, that disobedient husband is God’s problem. Leave it to God.
We see in 1 Sam. 25:1-38 how God dealt with Abigail’s disobedient husband. Nabal was a wealthy but greedy man. In contrast, his wife was gracious. David and his army were traveling to Paran and had journeyed onto Nabal’s estate. After helping Nabal’s shepherds guard his flocks, King David requested some provisions for his men, but Nabal refused. King David and his 400 men were going to kill Nabal and every male servant he had. Abigail heard this, and she hurried and took much provisions to them. David spared Nabal and his servants on account of his wise wife (vss. 32, 33). Abigail probably had the same opinion of her husband as everyone else did. He was a harsh, evil, and worthless man. She could have done nothing and allowed David to kill him, but she saved his life. Ten days later, God struck Nabal dead. The opposite example is a wife dealing incorrectly with her authority. This is found in 2 Samuel 6:11-23. Michal, King Saul’s daughter and King David’s wife had despised her husband David in her heart when she looked out the palace window and saw him dancing before the Lord with all his might, wearing a linen ephod, when he and ALL Israel brought the ark of the Lord from Obed-edom into the city of David. After King David blessed ALL the people of Israel, where was Michal? She was inside. Then she came out to David and said to him, “How the King uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” God closed her womb and Michal had no child to the day of her death because of her arrogance towards her husband, David. Michal was the disobedient one, and God dealt with her.
What God Expects From A Godly Woman
1. To be sensible and reverent, teaching what is good to younger Christian women--to be pure and kind to their children and husband, not gossiping about others, a hard worker in the home, not an idle busy-body, living a quiet life. 1 Tim. 2:2,3; 5:15; Titus 2:3-5
2. To show hospitality to strangers, assisting those in the body of Christ, and those in distress; having a gentle, feminine disposition. To have a good reputation and be devoted to good works. Matt. 20:28; Phil. 2:3; 1 Tim. 5:10; 1 Peter 3:4
3. To have her hope fixed on God, praying faithfully, taking her thoughts captive and setting her mind on the things above; to have hidden the Word in her heart, meditating on it daily. Deut. 6:5-9; Psalm 1:2,3; Acts 17:11; Col. 3:2; 2 Cor. 10:5; Tim. 5:5; 1 John 1:9
4. To be trusted by her husband in everything. To be submissive to her husband, as Sarah called Abraham lord. Encouraging, edifying, being the body and soul mate God wants her to be, understanding she is his helper until death. Under no circumstances can she leave or desert her husband. She made a vow to God. The Bible says, PAY WHAT YOU VOW! Eccl. 5:2-6; Gen. 2:18-25; Prov. 31:10-12; Malachi 2:13-16; Romans 12:10; 14:19; 1 Cor. 7:2-5
5. To have her head covered with long hair, hanging down, covering the ears and neck. This is a symbol to the angels, showing them (and others) that she has a proper and correct understanding of male authority over her, in the home and church, so that they have no accusation against her. For a woman to have short hair would be disgraceful, and she is one and the same with one who has her head shaved. Job 1:6,7; 1 Cor. 11:1-16; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; Rev. 9:7,8; 12:10
6. To be properly clothed and arranged. She is not wearing men’s garments, such as pants and jeans. She is dressed in her clothing--dresses and skirts. Pants are men’s clothing and she would be an abomination before the Lord if she wore them. Dresses should be modest; not revealing or tight-fitting. Deut. 22:5; 1 Tim. 2:9
7. The Christian mother is to be
a worker at home--training, disciplining, and instructing
her children, not giving them to someone else to raise. Many Christian
mothers have believed the lie, “You’ve come a long way baby,” and feel
that they “NEED” to work. Today we have weekend mothers, and during
the week day-cares and public schools are raising their children.
These are organizations that almost always have different moral
standards than Christians. Children’s minds are so impressionable
and the foolishness that is bound up in children
when they are together can lead to trouble. That is why their
home is their safe ground, being disciplined
and taught by their parents. Deut.
4:10; 6:6,7; Proverbs 4:14,15; 31:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14;
Eph. 6:4; 1 Tim. 2:15; 5:8-10; Titus 2:5
8. Christian women who desire to be godly must keep the second greatest commandment according to God, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” You cannot love your neighbor or your fellow man if you do not share the gospel message--a message that will save your neighbor from an eternity in hell, if they believe it. Matt. 22:34-40; 1 Cor. 1:17; 9:16-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Eph. 6:19,20
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing
us to deny ungodliness
and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in
this present age.”
Titus 2:11,12
The Wise Woman
“A wise man will hear and increase in learning; and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5
“A gracious woman attains honor, and violent men attain riches.” Proverbs 11:16
“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
“The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host.” Psalm 68:11 (see also Psalm 96:2 )
In the Old and New Testaments there are numerous godly women mentioned because of their value and great importance to the body of Christ, and their godly example to their children. Their lives, as we read in the Bible, and in persecuted times, were extremely eventful and useful in God’s plan for mankind.
1. Sarah Her acts of faith are mentioned in Genesis, Chapters 12 through 23. She was mentioned as one of the people whom the world was not worthy of. Heb. 11:11; 11:38
2. Poor widow She, out of her poverty, gave all she possessed and had to live on, to God. Mark 12:41-44
3. Queen Esther During the reign of Xerxes, Esther saved her people, the Jews, by putting her life on the line. To this day, Jews celebrate the feast of Purim in honor of Queen Esther on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. Book of Esther
4. Ruth A Moabite converted to Judaism. The Bible calls Ruth a “woman of excellence.” She was King David’s great-grandmother. Christ came from this lineage. Book of Ruth, Matthew 1:5
5. Rahab A Gentile harlot who chose to fear God and put her faith in Him. Rahab protected the Jewish spies in her house from the King of Jericho, who was seeking to kill them. She was Christ’s great-great-grandmother. Jesus had two Gentile God-fearing women in his lineage. Joshua 2:1-24; Heb. 11:31; James 2:25
6. Priscilla Paul refers to Priscilla and her husband, Aquilla, as “fellow workers.” They risked their own lives to save the apostle Paul. Acts 18:2; 18:26; Rom16:34; 2 Tim. 4:19; I Cor. 16:19
7. Anna She was a prophetess and a witness to all those who were seeking Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. She stayed in the temple night and day, serving the Lord. Luke 2:36-38
8. Romans 16:1-15 Women Paul mentions several women here as servants of the church, fellow hard-workers for the Lord.
9. Syrophoenician Woman Jesus said she was a woman of great faith, a compliment He did not give to His own disciples. In fact, He told them they were lacking in faith. Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
10. Eulalia A young Christian lady who was known for her good temperament and sober mind. Being apprehended for being a Christian, the magistrate attempted to bring her over to paganism, but she ridiculed the pagan deities with such boldness that the judge, so enraged at her behavior, ordered her to be tortured. Her sides were torn by hooks and her breasts burnt in the most shocking manner, until she expired by the violence of the flames in Dec. A.D. 303. 2
11. Sarah Vignes A woman who, at the age of 60, upon refusing to go to “Mass”, was seized and ordered to say a prayer to saints. When she refused that as well, they thrusted a sickle into her belly, ripped her apart, and then cut off her head.3
12. Annie Askew (1521?-1546) She denied that the real body and blood of Jesus was present in the sacrament, insisting that God was not present in the wafer and wine itself. She also said she would rather read just five lines in the Bible than hear five masses in the temple. Her Catholic husband Thomas Kyme turned her out of her home because of her religious beliefs. When brought before the Lord Mayor of London, who asked, “Thou foolish woman, sayest thou that the priests cannot make the body of Christ?” And she answered, “I say so, my Lord; for I have read that God made man; but that man can make God, I never yet read, nor, I suppose, ever shall read.” Then the Lord Mayor questioned her: “After the words of consecration, is it not the Lord’s body?” And she answered this time: “No, but it is consecrated bread.” Because of her stand, she was stretched on a torture rack, and having been stretched so badly, she was chained in the middle to a chair and burned alive at Smithfield, July 16, 1546.Many others had been strengthened by her martrydom.4
Songs & Poems
Women have written the lyrics to some of the churches most stirring hymns, such as: “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” by Sarah Flower Adams; “Rescue the Perishing” and “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny J. Crosby; and Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Songs like these have encouraged Christians when they gather together.
Poem by Mme. Guyon 5
My Lord, how full of sweet content, I pass my years of banishment!
Where’er I dwell, I dwell with Thee, In heaven, in earth, or on the
sea.
To me remains nor place nor time: My country is in every clime:
I can be calm and free from care On any shore, since God is there.
While place we seek, or place we shun, The soul finds happiness in none!
But with a God to guide our way, Tis equal joy, to go or stay.
Could I be cast where Thou art not, That were indeed a dreadful lot:
But regions none remote I call Secure of finding God in all.
The Foolish Woman
“As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” Proverbs 11:22
“The woman of folly is boisterous; She is naive and knows nothing.” Proverbs 9:13-18
“A foolish son is a destruction to his father, and the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.” Proverbs 19:13
“It is better to live in a corner of a roof (Jewish patio), than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” Proverbs 21:9
Some women in the Bible did not follow Godly principles, these are examples that the godly Christian woman should not follow:
1. Jobs’ wife Satan had been given permission by God, to TEST Job to see if Job worshipped God for nothing (since God had multiplied his possessions). Satan’s first sift (Luke 22:31), was on ALL that he had. Job’s oxen, donkeys, sheep, camel, and his servants, were either consumed with fire, or were attacked and killed by raiders. Job’s sons and daughters were struck by wind; the house they were in collapsed on them, and they died. Through all of this Job did not sin, nor did he blame God. Satan persisted that Job’s worship was because of personal well-being. “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Thy hand, now, and touch his bone, and his flesh; he will curse Thee to Thy face.” So the Lord gave Satan permission to sift him with the ultimate test, afflicting his body. Satan smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. When Job’s friends came to comfort him, they wept, for they could not even recognize him. For seven days and seven nights no one spoke a word to him for they saw that his pain was very great. Job said of his suffering, “Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul; who long for death, but there is none, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; who rejoice greatly, they exult when they find the grave?” “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?” “For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, and my cries pour out like water.” Job 3:20-24 “So am I allotted months of vanity, and nights of trouble are appointed me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’” “But the night continues, and I am continually tossing until dawn. My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt; my skin hardens and runs.” Job 7:3-5 Job in his despair, was pressured by his uncompassionate wife to curse God, “And Job took a potsherd to scrape himself, then his wife said, do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” Job’s skin was turning black on him, and he went about mourning, with no comfort, Job 30:28-30, comforted not even by his wife. Job 2:8-10
2. Queen Vashti King Ahasuerus(Xerxes), the King of the Persian Empire and all the Ancient lands at that time, had displayed his riches and royal glory for seven days. On the last day he wanted to show the public his beautiful queen, Vashti. She refused. Her rebellion caused Xerxes to remove her from the honorable position as queen in his harem and gave that role to a beautiful and humble woman named Esther. This was done so that every man was treated as master in his house. Xerxes’ harem was not an example of God’s marital plan. The example given here is to show what happens when a woman is arrogant towards authority. Esther 1:1-22
3. Sapphira She lied to Peter along with her husband, Ananias, about the property they had sold. The apostle Peter onfronted her and said, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well.” Acts 5:1-11
The Next Generation
For the Christian mother, there is no greater way to change society than to raise God-fearing children. One reason for the collapse of morality and discipline in our present society, is because of a lack of God-fearing parents. Most Christian families today have joined the world of entertainment. Quality time with a child today is watching television and playing sports. That is why we have a society of grown Christian men who act like boys and Christian women who act like girls and dress like men! The Christian’s example to follow is Jesus Christ. Who at the age of twelve spent three days in the temple, amazing the teachers with His questions and understanding, which started at an early age, Luke 2:39-52. And other young men, such as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, and David, who as young men, demonstrated great faith in God, when their adult examples showed none. When America was founded, we had very young men with the insight and maturity to be ambassadors to other countries. Imagine a young man today representing our nation--quite a scary thought! In most cases, if a young man or woman is sober-minded today, he or she was probably home-schooled. Home-schooling is the only biblical way to educate. If you are not aware of the propaganda, lies, and moral decay in the public schools, and even in Christian schools, you need to wake up. How grievous it is to many of us who know the depravity that is going on in these “herd-mentality” schools. Homosexuality is taught, condoms are distributed, and condom use is demonstrated to the youngest of ages, usually without parents’ knowledge or consent. “Safe sex” is promoted instead of godly morality. The religion of evolution is taught as a fact, not a theory, and the TRUTH of creation is mocked. Where the only “naughty” word is “BIBLE” and the only mean, bad person is the godly Christian who is trying to follow the Bible whole-heartedly. Guns and illegal drugs are sold, and the “sophisticated” street/psych. drug Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is widely distributed to large numbers of students by school nurses, and then sold by the children to other students. Ritalin is a class 2 drug in the same category as morphine and opium. If you know of a child who is on this amphetamine, for that child’s’ sake, please study the damaging effects of this toxic drug and all psychiatric drugs. No Christian should be involved in any form of psychiatry. God’s Word is all we need. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work,” 2 Tim. 3:16,17. Excellent books to read on this subject are: “The Tranquilizing of America” by Dr. Hughes and Brewin; 6 “Psychiatric Drugs: Hazards to the Brain” by Peter Roger Breggin Md.; 7 and “Psychoheresy” by Martin and Deidre Bobgan. 8 A Christian family cannot educate a child in godless surroundings, without some repercussions. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” I Cor. 15:3
The other guideline in the Bible, that was also mentioned in #7 is disciplining. Disciplining correctly as shared in God’s Word produces a fear of God and of doing wrong things. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but FOOLS despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Indeed they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck,” Proverbs 1:7-9. No discipline is why our prison cells are packed full. “He who spares his rod HATES his son, but he who LOVES him disciplines him DILIGENTLY,” Proverbs 13:24. To put it more pointedly, Proverbs 23:13,14 says, “Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you beat him with the rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Sheol, (death).” Other verses on the importance of rearing and disciplining in the Christian home are: Prov. 15:10; 19:18; 19:27; 20:20; 20:30; 22:6. Corporal discipline with the rod (switch) is not only Biblical, but was the foundation of this and many other countries for many centuries. It is NOT child abuse, but child love. The purpose is to bring a stinging pain which is the consequence of wrong-doing. This was not only for children, but for adults also. Today you can see the results, in the public schools, of the lack of discipline and respect children have toward other children, adults, and all those in authority over them. Many of today’s children have not had any form of self-restraint taught and corporal discipline applied and have been allowed to let their sin natures rule them. We now have children, sometimes even before their teenage years, raping young girls, bombing schools, killing other schoolmates and their teachers. This was not happening forty years ago. Why? Because parents did not believe the insane and ridiculous idea that spanking was child abuse. Discipline does not always have to be with a rod. Taking privileges away is another. Without discipline the child has no fear of sin, and if he/she is not disciplined for their wrong-doings, and is allowed to get away with things, this could lead to a flippant attitude towards authority. Flippancy towards God, the ultimate authority, might send he/she straight to an eternity in hell. The verses regarding discipline are God’s words. When discipline is administered correctly there is no child abuse, because correct discipline is done under complete control, with no anger involved. Always keeping in mind that until a child is an adult, they are in training, and foolishness can be expected, Prov. 22:15. Everyone wants to know that they are loved and appreciated, so much more so a child. When a child does well they should be complimented to encourage more good deeds. Our gracious Father encourages us on even when we fail, and when we do what is right He is an awesome rewarder, Hebrews 11:6.
The Bible says in 1 Tim. 2:15 that; “...women shall be preserved through the bearing of children IF they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” The word “preserved” is defined as “saved.” “Shall be preserved”, is speaking specifically of the Judgment Seat of Christ, where the godly woman shall be saved from the loss of rewards. The words, “bearing of children”, comes from the words “tekno” and “gonia”. “Tekno” means child, “gonia” means corner, area, or place. The Lord is telling us that the woman’s place is with children, not just bearing them but teaching, guiding, and raising them. This is consistent with 1Tim.5:10,14, “Continuing in faith, love, and sanctity with self-restraint”, can only be done if she is obedient to her God-given role as designed by her Maker and is fulfilling this role joyfully, as God ordained it. Keep in mind verses such as, I John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome;” and John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.” This is what will save her at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Jesus & His Bride
In closing, God does not want either sex to be arrogant towards the
other, as both have equal honor before God. Just because the man is the “stronger vessel” does not mean that he is better or
more spiritual than the woman. It simply means he is stronger, for
the purpose of him being obedient to his God-given role. When both
man and woman are obedient to their roles there is beautiful harmony.
The symbol of God with His wife, Israel, and His compassion and desire
for her as He comforts her in Hosea 14:1-8 when she returns back
to Him, and is being His faithful wife, is how God wants the married Christian
relationship to be. She loves him in totality and gives no other
person that love. He, in turn, loves her as Christ loved His bride, the church, and gave Himself up for her. To have the Lord say
to the Christian married couple, what the He said to Zacharias, the priest,
and his wife Elizabeth--that they were both righteous in
the sight of God, walking blamelessly in
all the commandments and requirements of the Lord, Luke 1:5,6--should
be the desire of every married Christian couple. Likewise, the model for
the single Christian woman is to be devoted to her heavenly husband, Jesus
Christ, as Anna, the widow, was. Luke 2:36-38
“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning,
let him know them. For the ways
of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but
transgressors will stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and We will
come to him, and make Our abode with him.”
John 14:23
NOTES
1. “Submissive” definition taken from Webster’s New World Dictionary
Third College Edition Simon & Schuster,
Inc. c1994, 1991, 1998
2. Eulalia Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
by John Foxe
Page 28 c1926 by John C. Winston (renewed
1954 by Holt, Rinehart
& Winston) (Zondervan Publishing
House 1967)
3. Sarah Vignes Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
by John Foxe
Page 109 c1926 by John C. Winston (renewal 1954 Holt,
Rinehart &
Winston) (Zondervan
Publishing House 1967)
4. Annie Askew Great Women of the Christian Faith
by Edith Deen
Page 329 c1959 by Edith Deen
(Published by Barbour & Company 1959)
5. Mme Jeanne Guyon Great Women
of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen
Page 139 c1959 by Edith Deen
( Published by Barbour & Company 1959)
6. Hughes R. Brewin R. The Tranquilizing of
America New York, Harcourt,
Brace, Jovanovich c1979
7. Peter Roger Breggin M.D. Psychiatric
Drugs: Hazards to the Brain
Springer Publishing Co. Inc. c1983
8. Martin & Deidre Bobgan Psychoheresy Eastgate Publishers
c1987