Man, Woman, the Fall & the Church (Part 3 of 4)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part two of “Man, Woman, the Fall & the Church”

This week we’ll continue with our series pertaining to “The Great Women of the Bible”

The Great Women of the Bible

As we proceed with our topical study of this very important aspect of the Christian life, let’s first briefly recap the elements we’ve already considered on this Biblical journey of truth…

We first considered the Genesis chapter 2 account of “Origins” – Creation Mandate – God’s original plan for man and woman:

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them – Genesis 1:27

This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created – Genesis 5:1-2

From the very first book of the Bible we are taught that women, like men, bear the stamp of God's own image. Men and women were created equal to one another but have differing roles to play in God’s mandate of creation:

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God – 1 Corinthians 11:3

We also considered the Genesis chapter 3 account of “The Fall” – Original Sin – to remind us of why there is so much evil in the world, producing animosity between Man and Woman today.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings – Genesis 3:6-7

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel – Genesis 3:15

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you – Genesis 3:16

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life – Genesis 3:17

To achieve a proper Biblical Worldview as Christians, we must seek the Lord’s perspective through His Word in all things…

Wherever the true Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ has spread throughout the world, the social, legal and spiritual status of women has been elevated. Whenever the Gospel has been eclipsed – whether by repression, false religion, secularism, humanistic philosophy or spiritual decay within the church – the status of women has declined accordingly. Sadly, the latter is quite evident today in America – not to mention the church.

Throughout history, whenever secular movements have arisen claiming to be concerned with women's rights, their efforts have generally been detrimental to the status of women. The feminist movement of our generation, for example, is a case in point.

With the help of the feminist movement in the late 1960’s, divorce laws were also liberated. The resulting drastic increase in divorce began to break down the strength, respect, and permanency of the marriage covenant in the civil arena. No-fault divorce made separation fast and allowed couples to split up without admitting “fault” or accepting responsibility. Divorce and illegitimacy has undercut the institution of the family. What was to be the incubator for creating and nurturing self-governed offspring who, based on the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, would safeguard the republic is now relatively in shambles.

Feminism has devalued and defamed true femininity. Natural gender distinctions are usually downplayed, dismissed, despised and/or denied. As a result, women are now being sent into combat situations, subjected to grueling physical labor once reserved for men, exposed to all kinds of indignities in the workplace and otherwise encouraged to act and talk like men. Meanwhile, modern feminists heap scorn on women who want family and household to be their first priorities; in so doing they disparage the role of motherhood – the one calling that is most uniquely and exclusively feminine. Due to Godless feminist radicals such as Betty Friedan and her book titled “The Feminist Mystique,” the whole message of the feminist banter is that there is really nothing extraordinary about women.

That is certainly not the message of Scripture! The Word of God honors women and encourages them to seek honor in a uniquely feminine way – as created by God. This is the proper Biblical Worldview of a woman!

For one great example, consider the “Virtuous Wife” of Proverbs chapter 31. This wonderful poem offers a beautiful description of King Lemuel’s excellent wife:

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates – Proverbs 31:10-31

Question: Does this sound like a weak woman? Absolutely not!

She is defined as a loving wife and mother, setting forth the prayer of every mother for the future wife of her own son (verse 1). Spiritual and practical wisdom encompassed with moral virtues mark the character of this excellent woman in contrast to the immoral woman denoted in verse 3.

An interesting fact in closing: These Scriptures are also literally arranged with each of the 22 verses beginning with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, in consecutive order – Awesome!

With all of that said, thankfully we find a host of notable women introduced in the Bible – both Old and New Testaments. In fact, there are at least 158 of these women mentioned in total!

Here a few from the Old Testament:

Eve (Genesis 2)

Sarah (Genesis 11-23)

Hagar (Genesis 16)

Rebecca (Genesis 22)

Rachel (Genesis 29)

Miriam (Exodus 2)

Deborah (Judges 4-5)

Ruth & Naomi (Ruth)

Esther (Esther)

Here a few from the New Testament:

Mary (Gospels & Acts 1)

Mary Magdalene (Gospels)

Mary & Martha (Gospels)

Wife of Pontius Pilate (Matthew)

Tabitha (Acts 9)

Priscilla (Acts 18 & 1 Corinthians 16:19)

All of these women of God can be seen to be very important in their individual roles as directed by the Lord!

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we address ”The Role of Women in the New Testament Church” We’ll address this subject from various New Testament Scriptures to better understand the Lord’s will through the Apostle Paul.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Repetitive Listening

8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh. Exodus 11

Let me paraphrase the previous verses.  Moses told Pharaoh and his officials that the plague of the firstborn is coming.  It will kill the firstborn son of all Egyptians, but spare the Israelites.  After this plague, Pharaoh will let the Israelites go.

Pharaoh doesn't speak in these verses.  What I find really interesting, is that whether Pharaoh said anything or not, Moses left angry.  In fact - hot with anger.  We don't know if Pharaoh said anything or made funny faces during Moses's latest declarations.  But let's assume that Pharaoh said nothing.  Moses came into the Pharaoh's presence, spouted off his prophecy, and turned around and left - angry.

So why, if Pharaoh didn't say anything, is Moses angry?  This is the tenth plague to come.  So Moses is probably tired of repeating himself.  Have you ever had to repeat yourself, saying the same thing over and over, and wondering why the person listening isn't getting it?  I have.  I get frustrated and start to wonder if I began speaking a different language without realizing it.

The resolution was clear to Moses.  Listen to what I'm saying!  Listen to what God's telling you!  And Pharaoh ignored it.  Over and over again.

Sometimes things don't sink in after hearing them the first time and we need to hear it two or three times.  God knows this, too.  There are times where he's trying to tell us something and we don't pay attention.  The difference is, God has the patience to keep telling us these things until we get it.

So try to listen a little harder, and find what God's been trying to tell you that you've been too hard headed to hear.

Thursday Devotional - Worry changed to Worship

Are you afraid of anything or anyone right now? Is something worrying you?

Last week, Joe and I were afraid. We were worried and sick to our stomachs over an attorney letter we received from a former renter’s lawyer. They were threatening a lawsuit because we hadn’t returned their deposit money (but, they had left several damages and hadn’t cleaned the place).

Joe and I prayed for help and direction and that we would learn what God might be teaching us through this experience. We knew God was already aware of the situation and would be with us, but it was still hard not to worry about the outcome.

The women that visited Jesus’ tomb had a similar combination of faith and fear. As we saw in previous weeks, they experienced a violent earthquake, watched a brilliantly shining angel roll the stone away, and witnessed the guards become like dead men in response! Who wouldn’t have been afraid! Yet, they heeded the angel’s direction to go quickly to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Matthew 28:8-10                ⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The women were immediately obedient, even in the midst of their fear. Jesus then appeared to them personally to reassure them and to reiterate what the angel had commanded. In response, the women didn’t ask Him any questions, but simply worshiped Him! They didn’t say a quick “thank you Lord,” but stopped, bowed down and worshiped. Is that your and my first response when God resolves a seemingly impossible situation?

In Joe’s and my situation, God gave Joe an opportunity four days later to meet with the renter and resolve the whole thing! Like the women, I couldn’t help but immediately praise God!!!

How has God changed an opportunity to worry into an opportunity to worship? In response, instead of a quick “thank you,” how can you and I intentionally take time to truly worship and praise God for who He is?

Alice

Road Warriors

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

"Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

"Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”  John 18:33-36

I love watching team sports. One team, the home team, has familiarity with their stadium, and their fans follow and cheer them on trying to inspire them to win the game.  The other team, the road team, has to deal with the discomfort of playing in an unfamiliar environment where the home team fans yell and scream hoping to distract them in their quest to win.  Experience has proven that the best teams always seem to win at home, and more importantly, they have an innate ability to go on the road and win consistently. They at times change the dynamics of the other team’s home environment with their presence and to some degree play the game as if it is their home.  Those teams sometimes earn the nickname ‘Road Warriors’ because they seem to play as well on the road as they do at home.

As servants of God, we are all called to be ‘Road Warriors.’  We know that while we were born of this world, this is not our home. We are challenged to live our lives as if we are in God’s house; our true home.  Jesus in his discussion with Pilate underlines a point that we are always to remember; the kingdom of God is not here on Earth.  We are personal representatives of Christ, and we are to be examples of that humbly but unashamedly.  It is not our concern whether others are uncomfortable because we say grace at meals or pray for others in our workplace.  As faithful servants, we must show our love for Christ freely and without fear.  After all, our home is as Jesus says, “From another place.”

Giving our life to Christ is the most fulfilling choice we can make.  While there may be times we struggle with sin or love some things of the world, our goal is to show God’s light so as to win others over.  That’s understanding where our home truly is. How can you joyfully represent Jesus Christ to others?  What situations can you be bolder in sharing your faith?  My prayer is that we remember to represent God as members of His team and become ‘Road Warriors.’  Amen.

Tues Devo: The example

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (NASB)

Hello,

You ever look at your children and wonder where they learned those awful habits? Both my 4 and 2 year old drink the milk out of their cereal bowl. Who taught them that? My son has started to not undo the velcro on his shoes when taking them off. I have been working hard on that one. Then, the other day I was carrying my daughter into the house while my son walked. I slipped my shoes off, and then told him to undo his velcro…..he then asked me why I didn’t undo my shoes before taking them off…….now we know where they learned all those terrible habits! I wanted to make the excuse of carrying his sister and not having a hand, but if he tried an equivalent excuse with me I would have told him to put his stuff down first, and then undo his shoes.

Our actions matter! We are being watched. We are watched by God- He knows what we do, but we are also watched by those around us who are working through their own relationship with God. And, as we claim to have a relationship with God how we choose to act has an impact on other impressions and choices as well.

Choose well - be ready to be imitated for the glory of God.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Man, Woman, the Fall & the Church (Part 2 of 4)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part two of “Man, Woman, the Fall & the Church”

This week we’ll continue with our series pertaining to “The Fall from Grace” – beginning “from the beginning” in Genesis!

The Fall from Grace: Sin & Consequences

Ever since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden – Original Sin – the serpent, Satan, deceived Eve with his deceitful cunning:

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1

Here’s another question for all of us to consider today: “Am I really that bad?”

If you are like me, you’ve probably at least thought about this question – and with good reason! After all, we can always find a much worse offender in someone who has violated God’s standards to a degree we’ve never approached! The fact is, there is probably a long list of sins you and I have never committed… Never will and would never think to commit. Right?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us – 1 John 1:8-10

But does God measure sin on a sliding scale? No! What are His expectations? Perfect Holiness! What are His requirements not just for our behavior but also our thoughts – whether or not we have ever acted on them? Jesus Christ and His Righteousness!

Those too are great questions and answers to ponder as we consider “The Fall from Grace: Sin & Consequences”

Of course Jesus Christ is the One who conquers Satan in the end and He has already delivered a death blow to Satan on the cross. This spiritual war’s end is already determined – we just have a few more battles to fight. Jesus’ resurrection sealed the devil’s fate. This was all prophesied in the third chapter of our Bible!

In fact, it is here we find the very FIRST Prophecy found in the Scriptures! God promises Satan that a Child – a “Seed” – would come to “bruise” the head of Satan:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel – Genesis 3:15   

The entire Old Testament is filled with stories of a people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Redeemer to save them from their greatest enemy – the devil.

The Bible describes in detail for us in the book of Romans an internal struggle that all Christians must face. While we want to do good, we fight a “sin” war with our “flesh” because of our fallen desires in our “members” – our “body of death” – yet to be glorified. This is an extremely important distinction in understanding the “sin” nature of the believer!

Even the Apostle Paul – who wrote half of the New Testament – struggled with his own sinful “flesh” and provides for us a masterful explanation of our “sin” battle:

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin – Romans 7:14-25

The Lord’s Word is perfect and will not return void! Jesus Christ will one day return to crush all rebellion of this cursed world, the flesh and the devil – to restore God’s perfect design. Until then, we too must continue to fight our fallen “flesh” and seek to honor the Lord Jesus with our lives by “faith” and “obedience” to His Word through a repentant heart and the sharing of the Gospel to a lost and dying world. This is the Christian mandate!     

In closing:

To continue your own personal journey through God’s Word pertaining to “The Fall from Grace: Sin & Consequences,” please consider these few foundational Scriptures as well as Genesis chapter 3 and the resulting “Curses” that are the foundation for all “sin,” “disobedience” & “rebellion” against the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word…

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:5

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we investigate The Great Women of the Bible from various Old and New Testament Scriptures to better understand the Lord’s perspective concerning His original intent for humanity… Man and Woman.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

 

Blessings!

Shane <><

Benchmarking

13 So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the Lord made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; 14 they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. 15 They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.  Exodus 10

Around 20 years ago, I was living in Texas and came up to Monroe to visit family over the summer.  My trip put me right in the middle of fish fly season.  That year was particularly horrible.  I remember that banks and car dealerships were hit the worst (because they were so well lit at night).  Any place that had a light on it at night would be covered an inch or more thick in fish flies come morning.  Ick!  And yes, it smelled quite atrocious, too.

I had never seen anything like that before in my life.  I was in awe that my family, and everyone else local to the area, thought this was just "worse than normal."  It wasn't out of the ordinary to have bugs descend on the town like they did, but just out of the ordinary that there were so many.  The magnitude of the situation made a much bigger impression on me than it did those who lived in the area, because I had never seen anything like it before.

Now, just last winter, the Michigan area (and many others) got hammered.  Snowmageddon.  I live just outside of Toledo and we hit record snowfalls, and the record for most snow in one season with over a hundred inches.  However, now I was one of the locals.  I was used to heavy snowfall, so the event didn't have the same impact on me as it would have had on someone who had never seen snow before.  Years from now (or just this upcoming winter if the predictions are true), I'll probably use it as a benchmark to compare future winters.  But I won't spend more time thinking on the magnitude of it all.

In Egypt, they had plague after plague hit them.  This chapter describes the locusts and darkness plagues.  The Egyptians had seen locusts before, and surely they had seen darkness at night.  But these were extreme situations.  Everything was covered in locusts, and everything that could be eaten was eaten by the locusts.  They were absolutely destructive on what remained.  As for the darkness, have you ever noticed how much darker it is in your house when the power goes out and there's absolutely no light?  That's what they experienced, for three days!

These are all out of the ordinary situations, but they were directly from God.  More importantly, throughout the later chapters, the Israelites are called to remember these events and to tell their children about them.  It's not as a benchmarking tool, "Hey, the locusts this season aren't as bad as they were that time before we left Egypt!"  It's to remember the locusts (and other plagues) were sent by God, and God removed and saved the Israelites.  

When things happen out of the ordinary for you, take the time to ask yourself: Is this just an abnormal event, or is this something directly from God?  Is it something so profound that he had to make a big statement to me to make me remember his power and glory, and remember this day?

Thursday Devotional - Visual and Verbal Variety

Are you more of a visual or verbal learner? For the most part, I’m a verbal (or auditory-sequential) learner and Joe is a visual/spatial learner. We will experience, see, hear or read the same thing and remember different aspects of it.

What kind of learners were the disciples or the women who went to the empty tomb? I’m guessing there were some of both. God took care to cover both types! Not only did God send an angel to sit on the stone to visibly confirm that the empty tomb and violent earthquake were God’s doing (as we saw last week), but God had the angel also verbally confirm this truth.
Matthew 28:5-7          ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

God reminded the women and the disciples (and us today) that all this happened just as planned and just as Jesus said! God offered the proof visually and verbally.

God teaches us today both visually and verbally. We can visually read His Word and verbally hear it taught. We can visually see His hand in creation around us and verbally interact with Him in prayer. Through His Word He gives us the big picture (spatial) of His redemptive plan for the whole world and He also gives us specific practical details (sequential) for everyday life.

God does not have just one way of teaching.
He is the ultimate creative teacher with unlimited variety!
How has God used various ways to teach you His truths?

Alice

Speaking to the Enemy

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”  Matthew 5:38-42

I had someone in my life that one might call an 'enemy.'  As in most cases, this person is someone who you befriend and do all you can to help them.  Then at some point, they do something that is not at all like a friend.  Being honest, there are times it still bothers me. To  give so much only to have them tear you down behind your back is disheartening.  There has never been an opportunity for me to say anything to them since finding out this was happening, but if it does, what would I say?  More importantly, what should I say?

God’s gift of grace is a shining example of how we are to give grace to others.  When I read these verses as a young child, I took it to mean to avoid fighting when possible.  Today, I realize that was a narrow view of them.  Jesus’ point here is for us to be bigger than the transgressions against us.  It is about showing the face of God to one who may have never seen what true grace is. Thus when the pain seems unbearable or anger is greater than we can handle, Jesus encourages us through His teachings that we can indeed be above all of it.

Jesus always speaks the truth!  When the moment of conflict comes and every fiber in us says to react with either anger or vengeance, focus on Jesus for guidance.  Not only will He give you peace but He will also give you the victory in the end for as He teaches us in prayer:

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12)

What emotional scar can you give to God today?  Who can you show grace toward as God has to you?  My prayer is that we can trust Jesus to take away pain and replace it with His love when speaking to the enemy.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Night and Day

Hello,

Think of the common sayings which try to communicate things that are opposite. Two of the most common are “night and day” and “black and white”. The starkness of these leaves no room for moving one to the other or having belonging to both – they are opposite from one another. John uses this comparative when talking about Jesus.

John 1:3-5 “All things came into being by Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that come into being. In His was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (NASB)

It struck me talking about this with some other folks this last week how this opposite of light and darkness is not just reflective of our need for Christ, but that as believers when we sin it is direct/full/polar opposite to His nature and all that is Him. We need to remember this in the middle of decision making, but also as we seek Him to restore the fellowship when we sin. It should motivate us to do it faster and make sure that our seeking of forgiveness is not ritual/mechanical but true and sincere because of His nature.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill