Biblical Perspective on the Christian Woman

Well, good morning, everyone. It's good to see you all. Thank you for the special music. That was really beautiful. It is certainly heartening to know that God cares about us, and we need to return that love as well. So, we really appreciate the effort that went in the special music. Thank you very, very much. It is humbling and honoring to be here today. A wonderful opportunity to see all of you ladies. What a wonderful weekend that you've got planned. It's already been kicked off, and things sound like they're going very, very well. And so, here I am to try to talk to you about women. The most difficult subject in the world.

Well, at least for men to talk about, I think. Maybe not for women. But maybe you've thought, who am I? Why did God make me a woman? Now, I've never asked myself that, but perhaps some of you have done that.

One lady explained the difference between men and women to me one time. They said, it's really simple. They said, you've heard the phrase, diamonds are a girl's best friend. And then, of course, on the other hand, dogs are man's best friend. So, who's the smarter sex?

Well, I'm not sure if it's that simple or not, but it is interesting how we look at things a little differently just because of who we are. You may have heard the story about the college professor he got up in front of his English class, and he wanted to have a little quick quiz on punctuation. And so, he put several words up on the board, and he put the words, a woman without her man is nothing. So, he said to the class, all right, I want you to punctuate that.

And so, the men seemed to finish very quickly, and they wrote, a woman without her man is nothing. You put all the commas right in the right spot. Well, do you know what the ladies did? They wrote, a woman without her man is nothing. So, you see, sometimes it's all just a matter of where you put the commas, isn't it? But maybe you have asked yourself, what has God got in mind for me? You know, what is womanhood all about, and where do we draw our identity?

Now, I'm not going to get into what it's all about, but I think it's very important, because God spells out so specifically where we need to draw our identity from. Where do we receive our value from? One of the amazing things is that Christ had a lot to say about it, even though much of what He said, we might just read over and not even notice what His perspective on women was all about. The first thing that we need to take note of is the fact that Jesus Christ never treats women as inferior. He never does.

You can look throughout the New Testament. You'll never find that. He'll never point to the thought that they might be a second-class, second-rate citizen. Never says that. Now, we can read the Bible. We can read over these things, and we might say, well, yeah, that seems normal.

But that's looking at things from our perspective right here in the 21st century, where things are quite different than they were back in the 1st century. There was never a time when He expressed a negative attitude toward women. Why is that remarkable? That is amazing because of the 1st century attitudes toward women. We take it for granted. But even the historian Josephus, who we all love to quote, we'll look at the wonderful historical things he has to say about the Jews and the times that they lived in and their historical aspects of what life was about.

But did you know that Josephus says, and it's a quote, the woman, says the law is in all things inferior to the man. Can you imagine that? That was his perspective. There was a rabbi that lived around this time, Rabbi Eliezer, quite a famous teacher of the 1st century, and he said, rather should the words of the Torah, the law, be burned, than entrusted to a woman. That's the way women were looked at.

And even Jewish men, they followed the Greek tradition. They prayed and thanked God every day that God had not made them a woman. You think it was a little bit different perspective back then?

Boy, amazingly different. In fact, tradition of the day said no man should be even touched by a woman in public. That was their perspective. That's the kind of a world that Jesus Christ was born into. But you know, he was different. He was a man with a totally different attitude, a totally different perspective toward women. He preached the good news. He preached the gospel.

He preached God's plan. He talked about salvation. And amazing as it would have been in that day, he extended that to women. There's an interesting example that's found over in the book of Luke. If you want to turn over to Luke, chapter 20, beginning in verse 27, there's an amazing example with Jesus Christ and the Sadducees.

Of course, the Sadducees, they were the upper crust. They were the bigwigs of the day. They were the social, they were the economic echelon of Judah society at that time. So they were the important ones, politically, socially. They even had religious roles in a way of maintaining the temple. And so as Christ faced off with them, he understood their perspective. They didn't believe in angels. They didn't believe in the resurrection. And they wanted to trap Jesus Christ.

It was kind of an old ruse that they brought up to Christ. They loved to trap those who believed in angels, who believed in the resurrection. And so they had a standard way that they would do it.

And the way they would do it is they would go back and imagine what Deuteronomy chapter 25, verse 5 meant. And that passage you don't need to turn there. But that particular section of the law said that a man, if his brother died, should take his brother's wife, his brother's widow, and they should have children so that the dead brother would have an inheritance.

So based on that teaching and the law, these Sadducees tried to trap anybody that believed in a resurrection. And this is the story that they would use in order to trap them. They'd done it many times over, many, many times. This wasn't something new to them. So they wanted to see if they could trap this one who was the Christ. Verse 27, it says, "...some of the Sadducees who deny there's a resurrection came to him," they came to Christ, "...and asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies having a wife and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother." Now, there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife and died without children.

And guess what happens? The second took her as wife. He died childless. And the third and the fourth and the fifth, all the way down to the seventh, all died and no children. Verse 32, "...last of all, the woman died also." And here's the catch, "...therefore in the resurrection whose wife does she become?" All seven had her as a wife. Now, we've got him. We tied that rope around him seven times, and he's not going to be able to answer. They were sure they had Christ just like they had so many others before him.

But did you ever notice their question is as revealing as Christ's answer? So many times we'll jump right to the answer that Christ gave and not even recognize the significance of what they're saying.

What's the implication of what they're saying here? Well, they're saying, the woman belonged to the man. She was his property. She was an object to be had. They didn't see her as an individual. They saw her as a thing, a possession that the man would have. That's why Jesus' answer is so amazing. Not just the truth that he shows, but his whole approach. Notice what he says down to verse 34. Jesus answered and said, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, to attain the kingdom and the resurrection from the dead, He said they neither marry nor are given in marriage. Nor can they die anymore, for they're equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. Now if we just read that really quickly, well, we could see that we're going to be like the angels in the resurrection. And there's no marrying. We're going to be spirit.

But you see the impact of what the Sadducees premise was all about. Who does this woman belong to? Christ rejects it. He says that's not right thinking. That's a wrong assumption to begin with. And so according to Jesus Christ Himself, He says women are equal as children of God with men in the resurrection. There's an equality. There isn't one above the other. Women and women are equal in God's plan of salvation. Now to a 21st century mind, that may not seem like such a big deal, but at that time that was shocking.

A woman's existence, Christ is saying, is not totally defined by a relationship to a man. It's not totally defined that way. In some ways it can be, should be, but He's saying no, it's not totally dependent on a man or a husband. And if you say it differently, do you have to be someone's wife to have value? Do I have to be someone's wife to have an identity?

Do I have to be a mother or a sister or a daughter or a widow to have the identity that God sees as most important? Christ says, no. He says as women, as men, as individuals, we all have personal access to God and His kingdom equally. And so when you think about it, our value has to come from God, doesn't it?

Our value is from God. And so over and over again through His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ points to the dignity of women in many of His parables, in some of the stories that He tells. But I don't know if you've ever noticed and compared some of those parables that He told, there was something that was missing in those stories. Well He talks about unjust judges, He talks about cruel masters, He talks about wicked servants, lazy servants, but He never says anything harsh or degrading to women. Every image of a woman is positive. Now saying that, you'd say, well, wait a second. No, there's some bad stuff He says about the ladies. But it seems to, seeing, I think there is, that seems to come to mind.

There must be something here. Well, actually, if you start to compare them, Jesus constantly and consistently upholds the dignity of women. We can look at an example. Luke 18, verse 2, just over a couple of pages. Luke 18, chapter, or Luke 18, verse 2. Sometimes this is called the parable of the unjust judge, focuses on this harsh man in the situation.

Because it pits this poor woman, this poor widow, against a powerful, unfair, unjust, biased male judge. Doesn't make us look so good, guys, does it? But that's the situation. That's the setup here to the story. And of course, in every city throughout Israel, they had a Sanhedrin, or a court, a judicial court that would judge certain situations. Oftentimes throughout Scripture, we think of the Sanhedrin. That would be like the Supreme Court that was in Jerusalem. They had 71 men that would judge the most important of situations. But every city that had 120 men would have a court. They would be lesser Sanhedrins, and there would be 23 men that would judge situations that would come up on the local level. Now, if you didn't have 120 men, then they would normally have three judges. But when you really got down to it once in a great while, there might be just one judge that would be the one who made those decisions in difficult situations. And of course, in this situation, we find one. Now, in all of those Sanhedrins, they were supposed to be judges that were wise. They were supposed to be humble. They were supposed to be fearful of God. They were supposed to not love money. They had all these rules and regulations on who could be a judge. They were supposed to have a good name. They were supposed to love people. But we run into a problem when we read Luke 18, because this guy didn't seem to have any of those traits. He didn't have any of those traits as we begin to read what his perspective on this particular widow, especially, what that was all about. So let's take a notice of what he had to say. Here's Christ speaking the parable and saying in verse 2, there was a certain city, there was a judge who didn't fear God nor regard man. He didn't live up to the standards of what a judge was to be all about. And in verse 3, he says, now there was a widow in that city. She came to him saying, get justice for me from my adversary. He was in a bad situation and she needed justice. The judge looks the other way. For a while he would not. But afterward he said within himself, though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I'll avenge her, lest by her continual coming to me she wearies me. Now, it's interesting. Is he motivated by justice? Is he motivated by doing the right thing? No, he's motivated. I just want this woman off my back. I'm tired of her. I don't want to hear her anymore. And so maybe better said than the parable of the unjust judge, maybe better to think of it as the parable of the persistent widow. Because I think if Christ had to give a title to this story, I think he'd tend to title it that because it changes the whole focus of the lesson of what this story is all about. Because Jesus, not by any accident, upholds the dignity of women. And he lived in an age when not very many people would do that. He felt it important to make an important point about his attitude and his perspective on women. And notice what he says. Does he condemn the woman for being an egg? No, he doesn't. Verse 6, he says, here with the unjust judge said, And shall God not avenge his own elect, who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them. So the lesson about this persistent widow is there's a connection to God in all of this. There's a connection to you and I, men and women, who continually, persistently call out to God. The lesson is about prayer, isn't it?

Isn't the lesson about persistence in prayer? Not so much an evil judge. Yeah, that kind of set up the story. But this widow, this woman on the very opposite end of the scale is not an egg. He's not a whiner or a complainer. Like, we might get this idea. Like, oh, get away from me, you bother me. Okay, fine. I'll give it to you. That's not the lesson. The lesson is this widow was persistent with the judge in the same way we need to be persistent with God in prayer. And so Christ saw this in a very positive light. He didn't get locked into these cultural limitations of the day. He didn't see it that way. He noticed women. He saw their examples. In fact, he was supported by women in an amazing way, in an unusual way. And so he was merciful. He was empathetic with women. You could say he was the protector of women's rights. He gave them responsibilities. He protected womanhood throughout his ministry. And so we see over and over again that's the case, that he does this consistently throughout his ministry.

Maybe we can look at another example because not only did he uphold the dignity of women, not only did he go contrary to the society of the day, but he pointed to the fact over and over again that women can exemplify love and faith. Throughout the examples that he uses, over and over again, he points to a woman's remarkable capacity to love and have faith, have insight, have a confidence in God, oftentimes where men might stumble. This is a good example over staying here in the book of Luke, Luke chapter 7. Think about how women are amazing examples of love and faith. I'd heard the story about a man who was a very, very rich man. He was a man who had pretty high status in the world. He was a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. One day he was out with his wife. They were heading over to another town for a visit. He stopped to get some gas, went inside to pay. His wife came in to get a cup of coffee with him, and suddenly he realized she's engaged in this deep conversation with the gas station attendant. It turned out that she went to high school with this guy and used to date him. Here he's working in this gas station. So they were talking in a friendly conversation. Of course, the CEO was feeling pretty good about himself. After all, I'm CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and he's just a gas station attendant.

So they pay for the Vegas. She concludes the conversation. They get in the car. They head back down the road again. After a while, it was kind of quiet for a moment, but then the husband couldn't resist. He had to say, honey, I know what you're thinking. I bet you're thinking, you're glad you married me, a Fortune 500 CEO, and that you didn't marry that gas station attendant. Aren't you glad? His wife said, no, actually, I wasn't thinking that. I was thinking if I'd marry him, he'd be a Fortune 500 CEO, and you'd be a gas station attendant.

Okay, sorry, guys. Sometimes attitude is everything, isn't it? But it is amazing. Christ oftentimes turns the whole perspective of the world at that time totally around, citing a woman as an example of love, citing a woman as an example of faith. Today, we'd say, well, yeah, that makes sense. But then, that was really offensive, even, at that day. And in this particular situation, in Luke 7, Christ is invited to dinner. He's invited to the home of a Pharisee. And of course, the Pharisees, they were the religious uppity-ups. They were the interpreters of the law. They maintained themselves separate. So none of those terrible Greek influences would infest our true beliefs.

So you can imagine how black and white they looked at the world. That's the kind of individual that invited Jesus Christ over. And of course, He does come. That was an amazing thing to begin with. And as Jesus is eating here in Luke 7, it says that He's reclined at the table. Of course, that's how they would have enjoyed their meal at that day. And so here's Christ with this Pharisee.

And this scene is really more remarkable as we keep in mind the society of the day. So notice verse 36. It says, one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with Him. Christ went to the house and sat down to eat. Verse 37, Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew Jesus sat at the table at the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. Ah ha! I knew we'd get to this lousy woman.

Is that what we're doing here? Finally going to get to that sinful, awful, low-life woman. Christ is going to get her. Well, wait a second. Let's notice what the story has to say. So this woman has this fragrant oil. Verse 38, stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and she began to wash His feet.

And she wiped them with the hair of her head. She kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now, that's amazing. You think about tradition of the day. That is remarkable. When we understand a man didn't even publicly speak to a woman, not even speak to his wife in public, that this would happen. A strange woman would come to him, especially a woman who was a sinner, an obvious sinner, would have been unheard of for a Jew, a rabbi, especially, to be seen even in the presence of a woman of her class. And yet what did Christ do? He let her touch Him and kiss Him and pour oil on Him. Well, it was a scandalous thing for a woman even to let her hair down in public. You see, that's what it was like in that day. Not only did she let it down, she loosed it and wiped Christ's feet with it. And Christ was moved by this whole event.

Of course, the Pharisee's reaction was to be expected. He was highly and thoroughly offended, totally offended by that. Verse 39, when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, He spoke to Himself saying, this man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who's touching Him, for she is a sinner. And so He just blasts her.

Was Christ going to agree with that? Was that what was most important to notice in this situation? Is Christ going to agree with what His summary judgment was all about? Well, verse 40, Jesus answered and said to Him, Simon, I have something to say to you. He said, teachers, say it.

He uses it as a little example. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors, one owed 500, the other 50. They had nothing which to repay. He freely forgave them both.

Tell me therefore which of them will love Him more? And He answered, verse 43, I suppose the one whom He forgave more. And He said to Him, now you're thinking, now you've judged it right.

So what happens? Christ turns to the woman in verse 44. He says, do you see this woman?

I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet. He had broken tradition. There should have been water there for the guests to wash their feet with. But He didn't. He says, you gave me no water, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

So the lesson says, you didn't give me a kiss, verse 45. This woman hasn't ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in. And that might seem kind of weird, but it shows a humble attitude. It shows her heart. He says, verse 47, therefore I say to you, her sins which are many, He says, they are forgiven. For she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.

Christ was contrasting this terrible, sinful woman who was so broken, so humbled, so repentant with the Pharisee himself, who didn't even see his own sin. It is such an amazing reminder that when we kneel before God, and in a sense when we're kissing His feet, we realize that no matter how sinful, no matter how wretched, no matter how we've missed the mark, God has utter and complete forgiveness, and it's made possible through Jesus Christ. And Christ saw her faith and her love, and if it hadn't been for a sinful woman who had repented in tears and in sorrow, we might have missed it. We might have missed that amazing lesson. And so over and over again, when Christ comes into contact with a woman who was a sinner, what was his attitude?

A repentant one, it was always total forgiveness. Total forgiveness. And he points to how Jesus is this wonderful example of love. And so Christ exhibited an un-condemning attitude, even to the most desperate of sinners right there in His own society. It was bad enough just to be a woman alone, let alone a sinful woman. And so it should provide an amazing confidence, an amazing encouragement through the example that Christ cited, a real-life example. And so I think it would be fair to say not only does Christ exemplify women as an example of love and faith, but can't we say that Christ was a champion for women? I mean, He came to set the blind at sight, give them sight, set them free, those who were locked into sin. He came for the oppressed.

And of course, He couldn't neglect the most oppressed class of the day. And that was women.

And so Christ set an amazing example for all of us, that we can take heart, that God loves us and forgives us, that that's the kind of example that we need to be. When we sin, we need to go to God in a humble attitude. So we, too, can be forgiven and follow that example of love and faith so we can have the mercy of God on us. It is amazing sometimes how much Christ has to say about it and how much there really is in our perspective sometimes. Sometimes we miss that perspective and we take people for granted, we overlook them, and sometimes we tend to think of people less than what God sees them as. I was reminded of this when I heard the story about a young man who was walking through the grocery store. And he was just buying the things that he needed. He just needed a couple of things. He was picking them up at the supermarket. And after a while, he noticed an old lady that was kind of following him. Kind of felt like she was stalking him a little bit. Well, he tried to ignore it and kept walking through the store to get all the things, you know, that he wanted. And finally, he just couldn't ignore her anymore. And the lady was right there at his side and she said, oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I'm staring at you. He said, she told him, she said, you know, I couldn't help but notice you because you remind me of my son. I think you look just like him. And recently I lost him. And, you know, I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but, you know, I just noticed that you just looked like my son. And the man was touched by that. And as they got up to the counter to check out, he said, you know, is there anything I can do for you?

And she said, well, yeah, I guess you could. Would you mind just calling me mom? You know, maybe when I leave, if you would just say goodbye, mom. It would just remind me of my son. I would just feel so much better. So the lady finished at the checkout line and started walking out the door and the man so touched by it all just couldn't help just yelling out, bye, mom! Can't wait to see you again. And so he walked up to the checkout line and the lady checked out the couple things he had and she said, that'll be $327.55. He goes, what? You've got to be kidding me! I've just got a few things! And the checkout clerk said, well, that's okay because your mom said you'd cover for her. You've got to be careful where you have compassion, huh? You might be set up.

Well, one of the interesting things is oftentimes we have this comparison between the stories and parables, lessons, situations that Christ dealt with. And as things progress then to the church, to the apostles, to the disciples in that New Testament church. Because sometimes people will say, well, there's kind of a disconnect between what Christ taught and then the examples of the apostles. Because you get to Acts and chapter 6, they choose these deacons to help with the church. And guess what? Not a woman among them. They chose seven men. So were the disciples some kind of male chauvinist then? Or was there a part that women have to play in the work of the church?

Well, the answer is yes, there is a part to play. There is a work to be done. There is a work for women in the church. Because over and over again, we didn't stop at Acts chapter 6 with just the appointment of men to serve the church. There's a great example of this in Romans chapter 16.

If you turn over to Romans chapter 16 at the beginning of the chapter, we'll find the apostle Paul citing women as an amazing example of accomplishing the work of God's church. Romans chapter 16 verse 1, Paul mentions the woman Phoebe. Phoebe is the woman the woman that he draws our attention to in Romans chapter 16. And here he begins this chapter by reminding the Romans. And Phoebe is an interesting example. He says, I commend to you, Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in Centuria. And that was one of the suburbs of Corinth. And so he's commending her to God's church in Rome. And he says she's a servant.

She's a servant. Now if you were to look up that word for servant, that's the Greek word for deacon, or minister, or servant could be translated in this context. Obviously, it's a female, and obviously she is a deaconess. She doubtless was a servant of the church. But what's interesting about this is he draws special attention that she's an official servant. Not just someone that serves, not someone that just helped out once in a while, but she was a deaconess, an official servant of the church. And he commends her to the Romans, to God's people in Rome, because most likely she's the one that's delivering this letter.

Now imagine that in the first century. A woman is carrying official correspondence between the apostle of God and the church. I think she had a high level of responsibility here.

He's commending her to them as a servant. In fact, in verse 2, he says, receive her in the Lord.

Receive her, it says, in a manner worthy of the saints and a sister in whatever business she has need of you. For indeed she's been a helper of many and of myself also. Now we're not told about her official business is. Did she have some kind of case maybe to bring to Rome?

Maybe since, seems like maybe she was a businesswoman. Was the business more something related to the church? We don't know. We're not told enough information here to know exactly what it is.

But it's amazing that whatever that business was, he commends her, he tells them to assist her, and he points to the fact of the kind of individual she was. Not only did she have a responsibility officially as a deaconess, but there was a work that she had to do as a helper. Not just a helper of the local church, but she was a helper of the one who was the apostle to the Gentiles, the apostle Paul. She was a helper of Paul himself. And he says, so whatever she needs, he says, helper. She has been a helper of many. Now that is an amazing word there in the Greek, the helper. It's called the prostatus. The prostatus is the helper, the helper of many, and of Paul himself. What's interesting about that word is most of the translations you'll read seem to kind of sidestep what that definition of the Greek word is all about as a helper. Most say helper. Some will say a benefactor. One of the translations says a good friend, or maybe a sponsor in one of the translations. The reason for that is oftentimes when there's a word that's used only once in the Bible, it's kind of hard to zero in on exactly what that word means. And so that was what they kind of, was their default. They went to a helper, a helper of many.

But a prostatus that's from the Greek was a well-known word in Greek vocabulary. It wasn't like, well, we don't know exactly what this means. The Greeks would use that to mean someone that's over something. Someone that is a superintendent, or someone who presides over something. Now, we know that's not authority over men when we put all the other passages in the Bible for.

It can mean to care for or give attention to, caring for others, which certainly is part of what Paul was referring to. But if you were to look that up in the classic Greek, it is a woman set over others, which would take on the meaning of a guardian, or a protector, or a patron. Someone that is set over others. So Phoebe, obviously, was a highly responsible woman in the heart and soul of the first century church. There was no doubt she was rich. She had blessing. She supported Paul. She was not only rich, but she was a good example of someone who was rich. She was generous. She was giving. And when you put this with the meaning of what that Greek word is all about, she was a guardian. She was a protectress. She was a patron to Paul. She was responsible. She was one who was a protector of the poor, a defender of the needy, a guardian of the truth. Even in the first century, women had tremendous responsibilities, didn't they? In fact, Paul, he doesn't stop there.

If you go on to verse 3, it might be parts of the Bible we kind of quickly read over because he's wrapping it up here at the end of Romans. But keeping that in mind, the defender, the protector, the guardian, Priscilla and Aquila couldn't help but come to mind. Now, it's also very interesting.

He uses the word fellow workers. Fellow workers in Christ, not that they were just any old workers, not that they were just serving, but he says they were fellow workers. They were, we'd say today, co-workers. They're co-workers with Christ. They were companions in accomplishing the work of preaching the gospel with Paul. And did you notice whose name got mentioned first?

Priscillas. In fact, look through your Bible. Six times you'll find Priscilla and Aquila mentioned. Half of the time, her name is first. Was there an equality in the sense of the value of men and women? Yeah, the Apostle Paul got it. He got it. He understood that. It wasn't just Aquila who expounded the word of God more perfectly to Apollos. If we went to Acts 18, she was involved in that as well. This powerful, amazing orator, Apollos, didn't quite have all the facts when it came to the truth. And Priscilla had a part to play in expounding more perfectly God's word. I wasn't in services. That wasn't when that was happening. There was no authority exhibited over a man. But she helped in that way as well. Together, the Apostle Paul says, the two of them, Priscilla and Aquila, risk their lives for the sake of Paul. That's just a little bit farther on here. Look at verse 4. They risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the gentle. Well, why would all the churches be thankful for Priscilla and Aquila? Well, they were serving them. They had to. Obviously, she had a part to play in the work of the church. And so, Paul took great pains to salute and honor women. All of these ladies in Rome who had labored, he says, in the Lord. They labored not that they just worked or they just served, but it was all in the Lord. Skipping down to verse 12, he talks about a couple of them. Agreed, Trifina and Trifosa, who have labored in the Lord. Then he mentions Persus, another lady, who labored much in the Lord, serving God, serving his people, and by extension, serving God as well. So, Paul salutes them. He recognizes them. He honors them. And over and over through Paul's writings, he comes back to women who do the work of God. So, he saw the value of women, not just as a possession, but he saw them that they could function in a powerful way. They could contribute in an excellent way. And so, he encourages and expects women to be involved in the work of the church. He recognizes how influential they can be. He recognizes they have an exceptional role. They have great responsibility in the work of God. Now, you might say, well, wait a second.

Doesn't it talk a lot about women? They're supposed to be submissive, and they're not supposed to talk at church? What's the deal about all that?

Let's think about that for a minute. Just a little side point. If you want to flip over to 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3, we find Peter giving instructions. And in 1 Peter chapter 3, he says that women are to be in submission to their own husbands. To their own husbands, they're supposed to be in submission. So, as we look at 1 Peter chapter 3, beginning of that verse, chapter 3 verse 1, be submissive to your own husbands and obey that word. There is no doubt, as Peter is upholding here, and certainly as Paul did, the New Testament church, that God ordained the husband as the head of the family. So, we don't want to get that out of line.

That's what the Bible says. That is the God-ordained structure. We could say the divine structure of the family. But, you know, as we read through this, we find it's leadership that's given to men in the family, but it's leadership among equals. It's important to know. It's leadership among equals. We have the equal opportunity for eternal life. Differing responsibilities, different functions, but equal in the amazing spiritual potential that God has given to us.

The lesson of this section of Scripture, Paul shows this divine order of the family, gives a lesson that we're to be like Christ in the church in our relationship. If you skip down to verse 7, he says, husbands likewise dwell with them with understanding. Understanding, he says, dwell with them in that way, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel, as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. So, oftentimes we'll read this and say, yeah, men, we're in charge. Women submit.

Well, it's interesting, though, the way that Peter concludes this little lesson. Yes, is there a divine order of the family? Absolutely. Our husband's a head or wife? Yes, absolutely. It's leadership among equals, no doubt. But he says husbands are to be understanding, and he emphasizes, there's a sense of mutual submission in marriage, because when it comes to Christ in the church, was Christ submissive to the needs of the church?

Or did he just lord it over the church? No, he died. He sacrificed his life for the... I'd say that's being a little submissive, wouldn't you? Yeah, he sacrificed his life for the church. Should the church then, as well, sacrifice for Jesus Christ? Absolutely. In the same way, husbands and wives should work together. That's the greater point that he's making here. What's interesting, when you compare that to what Peter's really getting at here, I think one of the points is here that is, can the church be blessed if we subjugate women? If we put down women? If we denigrate women? If we humiliate women, can the church be blessed? Can a marriage really reach its potential if that's what a husband does to his wife? What was the example of Christ in the church?

You see, that's an important lesson for us. How can the church be blessed if we don't follow that? How can a marriage be blessed? Because he says failure to respect women as heirs equal of the kingdom of God does what? What does Peter conclude there? What does it do?

He says, it interferes with our relationship with God. Men, that's what he's saying here.

If we don't respect women and the proper godly role that he's given them, Peter says, our prayers will be hindered. Or in other words, you're not going to have a right relationship with God if you don't understand the relationship between men and women. It's going to hinder your spiritual growth. That's pretty powerful. Now we can read over that really quickly.

We might say, yeah, those women, they're supposed to shut up at church. Wait a second.

What's the context of how that's given to us? It's a pretty amazing context when you think of it. You've got to flip over to 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians 12, 14, verse 34 is that particular passage that says, let your women keep silent in the churches. Just like the family, God ordained men to be the head of the household. In the church, that same role and responsibility continues for men. They're going to be in charge of the congregation. That's the way that it is. That's the way that God ordained it. We're going to argue with God. Well, if we get things out of context, we might look at that particular passage in the wrong way. Is this saying that somehow women are diminished because they're not called to preach? They're not called to teach up at the podium every Sabbath? Is that somehow that means women are lesser beings because of that?

Well, wait a second. Are all men called to get up and preach?

No, that's not happening either. So it doesn't work. It doesn't say everybody. Not everyone in the church is given all the gifts of God. Right? We don't have all of them.

God gives his gifts as he pleases. In fact, if you flip back a couple of chapters to chapter 12, look at 1 Corinthians 12, 14. I think this begins to map out some amazing instruction in the importance of women in the church. Not women specifically, but for all of us. But I think women can especially take heart in this because not everyone has the opportunity or the willingness or the desire or even the ability to preach at church. So women shouldn't feel like they're put down because this isn't one of the responsibilities because there are so many things that God expects of each and every one of us. 1 Corinthians 12, 4, he starts out by saying, there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. There are many kinds. It's like a beautiful diamond.

There are so many facets of how the church can be served, how the gospel can be preached, the responsibilities that each of us have, and especially women have. And he says that's a gift.

It's a gift from God. This word gift is an amazing word. It's a word that comes from the word we think of when we say charisma. There are many favors, many gifts that God gives to us that we don't deserve because a gift you don't earn it, you're just given it. So we haven't earned these things. God's blessed us, had mercy on us, had favor and gave us a gift, at least one gift. And so he says there's all kinds of different gifts that God gives. Then he goes on in verse 5, he says there are differences of ministries. And that ministries word right there, that's that same base word that you get the word deacon or deaconess from.

Many ways it says to minister, but the same Lord. Maybe better translated, there are so many ways to serve. There are so many ways to serve, but we serve the same God. And then he goes there are diversities of activities. All kinds of different, some translations say workings. The word there is the Greek word that we get our word energy from. There are many ways that we can energetically serve God and the church. But you know it's the same God who works all in all. So in each one of us, each one of us can have the workings of the energy, you might say, of God's Holy Spirit. Verse 7, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the prophet of all. Now we can read over that really quickly, but did you notice something amazing there? Well, do I have a gift? Doesn't seem like I don't know how I could serve or help or be part of the work of the church. That's way beyond me. I couldn't pot. Wait a second. It does say the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one. Each and every one of us have received a gift. And he says we should manifest that gift. Or in other words, we should demonstrate that gift. There should be evidence of that gift.

The NIRV says God has given us his Spirit to each of us in a special way. So we can do and serve and work and give in a special way as someone who is called by God. And so it's to profit all. So each of us. Every one of us. So we should never say, well, I'm just a widow. Or I'm just a kid. Or I'm just a woman. No, that's not what the Apostle Paul is saying here at all. Notice then, if we didn't get it through those couple of passages there, he has to expound on it. All right, let's talk about some of these amazing gifts that God pours out to each and every one of us. Verse 8, to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit. So can you counsel someone? Can you help someone? Can you exhibit wisdom? Why is counsel? Boy, if you've been a mother and children, I'll bet you probably have some pretty amazing nuggets of truth that can help. No doubt. Can we help and serve and counsel in that way? Absolutely. Do you need an office to be able to do that? Do you need a title to be able to do that? Of course not. And so he goes on to another the word of knowledge to the same Spirit. Do you have a clear understanding of things? Boy, if you have an expertise in a certain area, absolutely you do. And can you help and share that with others when it's necessary? Yes, we should. He says, verse 9, to another faith by the same Spirit. Boy, when you're around someone that has a confidence, a quiet assurance that they know God's plan, they understand His will, maybe they've gone through amazing trials, difficult tribulations, lost children, lost mates, dealt with terrible diseases. And yet here is this amazing exhibit of confidence and faith and assurance. Does that help build us up? Does that help encourage us, comfort us? Absolutely it does. Paul says, use that gift. That's an amazing, diverse gift that God has poured out on you.

So use it. And then he says there's also the gifts of healings. And of course, we often will think then, well, lay my hands on someone, anoint them with oil, and they could be healed. And I'm not discounting that he might be referring to some of that here, but that's only a little part of the gift of healings. Can a word bring comfort and encouragement in healing? Absolutely. Absolutely. Are there special people who can work with those who are going through difficult trials, who may be in hospice? And while someone just could not possibly face that, wouldn't have the wherewithal to deal with that, there are certain special people that are amazing in those kinds of situations. There are those that could work at a nursing home, and could help people. That is a gift of healing. Those that could work at a hospital. Those that can share among the congregation in a healing way, not just limited to a physical healing even, but also that emotional healing, and in a sense, a spiritual healing. What an amazing gift that is. We should never shortchange that. Paul also talks about, verse 10, the working of miracles. That's miracles, is the word dunamis, which is literally power. It's the word we get dynamite from. Dunamis. The workings of power, acts of power. That doesn't necessarily mean it has to be visual, and it has to be big, and it has to be obvious. But you know, there are miraculous, powerful things that happen quietly, that maybe just a couple of people know about. You know, a phone call sometimes can be a miraculous act of power, encouraging word at the right time. Those are very powerful things. And God says that's a special gift that we can put to work. Yes, He talks about prophesying in the middle of that verse, not just speaking prophetic events of things that are going to come in the future, but just fourth telling, talking about God's love and His plan and His way. Speaking in an inspired way. That should happen every Sabbath, that we come here and we fellowship and we speak, inspired things to each other. And those are comfort in encouraging things. And it doesn't have to just be limited to the Sabbath. We can do that every day to speak in amazing, encouraging ways. And God's given some of you that special gift. And so He says, use it. Some have another gift, He says, a gift of discerning of spirits, the ability to distinguish things, the ability to recognize the presence of God, to be cognizant of those things. He says that that is another gift. And He talks about the ability to talk. He says different kinds of languages, different tongues, the ability to speak, the ability to interpret. Where would the church be without those that can do that? I mean, we've had some amazing examples in the last few months about women who have stepped up because they have the ability not only to speak French, translate into French, and do amazing things, write articles. But they're willing to use that gift.

And they're willing to give it to God so He can do amazing things with that. And so, yes, people can certainly be a part of that. Can you pray for those in need? What an amazing gift that is! Can the older women teach the younger? Absolutely! Can we financially support the church?

Like a Phoebe did. Yes, absolutely! Can we work very hard, like Paul said, in the Lord?

No doubt. Can we be benefactors who exhibit the kind of hospitality that God would want us to? Absolutely! Can we be mothers? Not only maybe to our own family, but be mothers in the church? Yes!

No doubt! Can we be loving? Can we be nurturing? Can we be godly wives? Can we raise our children in a way that brings honor, not only to our family, but to God's family?

Those are all such vital responsibilities. And it's amazing here, verse 11 says, One and the same Spirit works all these things, all of those things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. And He makes this vital point, verse 12, as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body being many are one. One body. He says, So also is Christ.

So just because you're not called to preach doesn't mean somehow you're less in God's eyes.

We're to be unified. We're to be one body, all contributing, having a mutual dependence on each other, because that's the only way that body is going to grow. It's the only way that the church is growing to grow. And so there are so many, when you start to think about how many gifts are there that are vital to the church that God gave to women? And of course, you look at chapter 12 here. The greatest of all is about to follow in chapter 13, isn't it? The greatest of all is love.

Who is that cut off from? Is love cut off from anywhere? Does God give love to all of us? He gives His love. We're to reflect that love. So I think it makes it so clear. Is there an important calling for women? Absolutely. It is a unique, high calling, and it's a calling to service.

You think of these amazing women. Consider the personal acts of service, women like Phoebe and Priscilla and Anna and Mary, and you name them. Tabitha, Lydia, Chloe. Phenomenal. Just phenomenal.

And so should the church fear the involvement of dedicated, converted women?

No, not at all. Because we realize there is so much more work to be done than even all of us together can accomplish. So each one of us have to play a part in this. And I'm sure this weekend you're going to hear many examples in many ways that you can serve and you can grow and you can develop and you can contribute to God's work. And so we can take it to heart that women are made in the image of God. And to godly women come very, very special gifts. You're especially gifted as you show God's compassion and His love and His mercy. And you use those gifts to serve people in a unique and special, personal way. So it's not the time to be intimidated. It's not the time to be discouraged. It's time to use those God-given gifts and abilities. Maybe it's time just to discover what they are. Maybe it's time to discover and identify those gifts that God's given you. And then to begin to use them to serve His people, to build on them, to continue to grow, to go on to perfection, becoming that wonderful female role model, to become that defender of the needy, to become and be that protector of the poor, and be a guardian, a guardian for the truth of God.

Because there is no doubt dedicated, godly women who have a desire to serve their God, they are a powerful force for good. And so let's use what God's given us. Let's all rejoice in this amazing high calling of women. Let's value their service, their commitment, their love, and let's appreciate the gifts that God has given them and be truly thankful. Let's be truly thankful and honor women, most importantly, as heirs equally of the grace of life.