God’s Woman

God’s WomanExemplary Conduct

ToYounger Women

AFTER HER HUSBAND’S DEATH, RUTH CHOSE TO SERVE NAOMI

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

God Honored Ruthfor Her Choice

“And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David”(Ruth 4:17).“And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David” (Ruth 4:22).

ESTHER WAS CHOSEN TO BE QUEEN OF PERSIA

“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Est. 2:17).

MORDECAI WARNED ESTHER“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this”

(Est. 4:13-14)?

POSITIONS IN THE CHURCHCHOSEN BY GODVALUED BY GOD FOR FAITHFUL SERVICEDIFFERENT FROM THE MENMUST USE POSITIONS FOR GOD’S GLORYARE GIVEN TALENTS AND POSITIONS OF SERVICEDOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICEINFLUENCE FOR GOOD—GREAT OR SMALLFOR THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN OURSELVES

POSITIONS IN THE CHURCHCHOSEN BY GODVALUED BY GOD FOR FAITHFUL SERVICEDIFFERENT FROM THE MENMUST USE POSITIONS FOR GOD’S GLORYARE GIVEN TALENTS AND POSITIONS OF SERVICEDOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICEINFLUENCE FOR GOOD—GREAT OR SMALLFOR THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN OURSELVES

OUR POSITIONS OF SERVICE

“Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.”

“But God is the judge: he

putteth down one, and setteth

up another”(Psa. 75:5-7).

THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN US

“And we know that all things work

together for good to them that love God, to them who

are the called according to his

purpose.”

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:28-29)

• TO MATURE IN CHRIST• TO TEACH • AND TO SET AN EXAMPLE

THAT OTHERS MAY FOLLOW

EVERY WOMAN’S OBLIGATION

HOLINESS FIRST NOT FALSE ACCUSER NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE TEACHER OF GOOD THINGS

WE CAN FOSTER THESE QUALITIES IN OTHERS DIRECTLY AND BY EXAMPLE

THE AGED WOMAN’S FIRST DUTY

UNDERSTANDING AND ATTAINING EXEMPLARY CONDUCT

a: serving as a pattern b: deserving imitation: COMMENDABLE <his courage was exemplary>; also: deserving imitation because of excellence <they serve exemplary pastries — G. V. Higgins> ("exemplary." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commendable

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (1 Pet. 3:1-2).



Note: 1 Peter 3:1-2 is about a woman whose chaste behavior mixed with fear leads her husband to Christ. She does not have to say a word. Her godly life and her subjection to him are the teachers. What a glory to God!


Note especially the list of the faithful in Hebrews chapter 11, beginning from vs. 1 to the end. Finally in vs. 37 the testimony is:


“They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Heb. 11:37-38).

ATTAINING EXEMPLARY CONDUCT

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”


…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb. 12:1-3 KJV).


“…For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Cor. 10:4-5 KJV).


We must use examples from scripture to learn how to grow spiritually.These passages will give us hope to attain to the same standards.Then we can have courage to run the race, or to win the fight.


What do we use to fight Satan?“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).


“PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL” (EPH. 6:11).


HOPE OF WINNING WITH GOD’S ARMOR1. PUT ON (VS. 11)2. TAKE UP (VS. 13)


Hope in his precious promises…

WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES:

(2 PETER 1:4).


Hope in his precious promises…

THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST”

(2 PETER 1:4).

ATTAINING EXEMPLARY CONDUCTPOSITIONS IN THE BODY:

“BUT UNTO EVERY ONE OF US IS GIVEN GRACE ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST” (EPH. 4:7).


“AND HE GAVE SOME, APOSTLES; AND SOME, PROPHETS; AND SOME, EVANGELISTS; AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS;


FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST:


TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST:


THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO, AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, AND CUNNING CRAFTINESS, WHEREBY THEY LIE IN WAIT TO DECEIVE;


BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST” (EPH. 4:11-15).


CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A SOLO RELIGIONFROM WHOM THE WHOLE BODY FITLY JOINED TOGETHER AND COMPACTED BY THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH,

ATTAINING EXEMPLARY CONDUCTCHRISTIANITY IS NOT A SOLO RELIGION

ACCORDING TO THE EFFECTUAL WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART, MAKETH INCREASE OF THE BODY UNTO THE EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE” (EPH. 4:16).


MEMBERS IMPORTANT TO EACH OTHER1 COR. 12:12-27

IMPACT OF A DAILY EXAMPLE• THINK OF THE GOOD WOMEN

YOU HAVE ADMIRED• THINK HOW THEY INFLUENCED

YOU• CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN BE

AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS AFTER YOU HAVE GROWN SPIRITUALLY

PREPARING TO DO THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN

PREPARING OUR HEARTS LIKE EZRA (EZRA 7:10)• SEEKING THE LAW TO OBEY IT• QUALIFYING TO BE USED BY GOD

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).

PREPARING TO DO THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN

Older women will seek to grow spiritually To be better examples To be better teachersYoung women will strive to prepare for their role as wives and mothers

CLEANSING THE INSIDE FIRST

VALUING EVERY SOUL IN THE CHURCH

LEARNING TO LOVE THE MEMBERS MORE

GUARDING OUR PRIORITIES


BUT NOTICE THAT WHAT WE ACTUALLY DELIGHT IN WILL ALWAYS COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS . NOTICE ALSO HOW OUR INNER JOYS INFLUENCE OTHERS.

“O GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YE, BEING EVIL, SPEAK GOOD THINGS? FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH.


BUT NOTICE THAT WHAT WE ACTUALLY DELIGHT IN WILL ALWAYS COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS . NOTICE ALSO HOW OUR INNER JOYS INFLUENCE OTHERS.

A GOOD MAN OUT OF THE GOOD TREASURE OF THE HEART BRINGETH FORTH GOOD THINGS: AND AN EVIL MAN OUT OF THE EVIL TREASURE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL THINGS” (MATT. 12:34-35).


If we delight in God's word and in teaching, our light will naturally shine.

If we delight in loving our husbands and children the way God directs, our light will shine.


If we delight in helping the poor and needy, our light will shine.

If we delight in building in others' hearts (edification Rom. 15:2 KJV), our light will shine.


If we delight in, and value, the Lord's body and our place in it, (Rom. 12:3-8; Eph. 4:11-15; 1 Cor. 12:14-22) we will serve with all our might, and our light will naturally shine.


If we delight in forgiveness (Matt. 6:12-15; Matt. 18:32-35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37; Luke 11:4; Luke 17:3-4; Eph. 4:32), our light will naturally shine.

CLEANSING THE INSIDE FIRST WE HAVE HOPE OF ATTAINING EXEMPLARY

CONDUCT BY CLEANSING OUR OWN HEARTS FIRST

WE MUST NOT BE LIKE THE PHARISEES WHO VALUED THE PRAISE OF MEN (Matt. 23:3).

WE MUST FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND THEN OUR OUTSIDE WILL BE CLEAN ALSO (Matt. 23:26).

CLEANSING THE HEARTHATING EVIL AND LOVING THE GOOD

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Heb. 1:8-9).

CLEANSING THE HEART

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good (Rom. 12:9).

CLEANSING THE HEARTUNDERSTANDING THE INFLUENCE THAT EVIL CAN HAVE ON US

STUDY SCRIPTURES ABOUT INFLUENCE“AND HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRINGETH FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON; HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; AND WHATSOEVER HE DOETH SHALL PROSPER” (PSA. 1:3).


EVIL COMMUNICAIONS

“BE NOT DECEIVED: EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPT GOOD MANNERS” (1 COR. 15:33).


KEEPING OUR HEARTS AND SOULS

“KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE” (PRO. 4:23).


WHAT IS OUR DAILY EXPOSURE?DO WE SEEK GOOD OR TOLERATE EVIL?

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Pro. 4:14-15).

CLEANSING THE HEART

DELIGHTING IN THE LAW OF THE LORD

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psa. 1:2).

CLEANSING THE HEART

GROWING REQUIRES FOOD“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour” (Pro. 21:21).

CLEANSING THE HEARTGROWING REQUIRES FOOD

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Tim. 6:11).

CLEANSING THE HEARTWE MUST KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

GOOD AND EVIL

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14).

CLEANSING THE HEART

SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND CLEANSING THE HEART BRINGS OUT THE INNER

BEAUTY

KNOWING WHAT AND HOW TO TEACH

“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

KNOWING WHAT AND HOW TO TEACH

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed (Titus 2:2-5).

HOLINESS FIRST NOT FALSE ACCUSER NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE TEACHER OF GOOD THINGS

WE CAN FOSTER THESE QUALITIES IN OTHERS DIRECTLY AND BY EXAMPLE



BEHAVIOR THAT BECOMES HOLINESS1. SANCTIFIED OR SET APART2. RESERVED FOR GOD’S USE

a. Belshazzar and the temple vessels (Dan. 5:2-28)

b. God’s rebuke (Dan. 5:23b)3. SERVANT OF THE CHURCH LIKE PHOEBE

(Rom. 16:1-2)


NOT FALSE ACCUSER1. Not like Jezebel who accused Naboth

of blasphemy only to take his vineyard.2. Not like Athaliah who accused God’s

high priests of treason3. Not like the one whose name means

accuser (Jude 9)


NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE What would wise woman in Proverbs 31

do? 1 Timothy 3:8 is not approval for coveting

a little illicit money Romans 6:12 is not approval for moderate

sinning Titus 2:3 is not approval for a little drinking


TEACHER OF GOOD THINGS Lois and Eunice taught Timothy the

scriptures By example, Dorcas taught humility

and compassion while she sewed for the poor

THE AGED WOMAN’S SECOND DUTY

THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNGER WOMEN…


THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNGER WOMEN…

To be sober—sound mind—focused on God’s work To love their husbands—doing him good and not ill,

obeying always To love their children—Sarah, Jochebed, Hannah,

Lois and Eunice To be discreet like Abigail, Joseph in Genesis 41:39

and the wise virgins in Matthew


THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNGER WOMEN TO BE…

Chaste—modest or pure—where our thoughts lieKeepers at home—watchers or guards, stayers at

homeGood—bearing good fruit (Matt. 7:17-20).Obedient to their husbandsThat the word of God be not blasphemed

KEEPING OUR PART OF THE COVENANT BECAUSE WE BELONG TO CHRIST

Assuming older women have more experienceCannot happen without effort on her partSome remaining foolish (1 Tim. 5:6 KJV) Faithful to the covenant (2 Cor. 6:17-18)Putting Christ first or all (2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 2:20)Everything for Him (Col. 3:17)Not God’s time and my time (2 Cor. 6:17-18)

BEING TRAINED AS GOS’S CHILD:HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR PLACE IN THE CHURCH

Earthly training ground for heavenly purpose (2 Tim. 2:12)

Filling our place now; forming our hearts Korah not happy with his place of honor (Num. 16:9-

10) Wanted highest place (Num. 16:3) Much trouble for his ambition (Num. 16:19-21; 32-33) Miriam and Aaron learned the same thing (Num. 12:1-10)

Our position subordinate but valued by God (1 Pet. 3:1-6).

DOING GOOD WORKS THAT OTHERS MAY FOLLOW

Timothy a pattern of good works (Titus 2:7)

Women preparing for eternal work (Matt. 6:33; 2 Cor. 4:18)

JOBS WOMEN MAY DOWomen sometimes send flowers or cook food for the sick or grieving.

JOBS WOMEN MAY DOOthers send cards and visit the elderly shut-in members.

JOBS WOMEN MAY DOYou see here that one young girl took on the responsibility of recording and mailing all Bible correspondence courses.

JOBS WOMEN MAY DOMany ladies get together to make clothing and blankets for the poor. They may also make stuffed animals for the children in the hospital.

JOBS WOMEN MAY DO

Women may make Bible class pictures and “take home” materials for busy teachers.

JOBS WOMEN MAY DO

Young and old may work together to help each other with special projects

THE END

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God’s Woman