SPF 135: Women & Work Part 1: Four Truths About Work
The Bible talks a lot about work. We were created to work, and as God’s children we have specific work we are called to do. Today I am sharing four truths about work. This is part 1 in a 3 part series.
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Four Truths About Work
Christian women are often called “Daughers of the King” which is true - we are adopted as children of God and He is the King. But our adoption is not about us moving social statuses but about us going from enemies of God to His Children. And with that adoption we now have salvation from our sins and a new responsibility to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as children of God.
We do have great privileges of being children of God, but also great responsibilities.
A lot of times when we think about work we can zero in thinking of a career or job outside the home. But there is a bigger picture to work, and Scripture has given us truth and wisdom about work.
No. 1 Work is not optional.
God has given both men and women work to do to cultivate this world and advance His Kingdom.
When it comes to women, God’s word is not silent in regard to the priorities of a Christian woman and work:
Here are a few:
Genesis 2:18 - we are helpers, co-laborers for God
Genesis 3 - childbearing and raising
2 Corinthians - ministers of reconciliation
Titus 2:4 - disciple the next generation of women
Titus 2:5 - home is a priority
Proverbs 31:10-31 and the home is a “place of industry, hospitality and rest”
1 Timothy 5:9-10 - devoted to good works, raising children, being hospital, hosting the saints, etc
No. 2 Work is Worship.
All this work is worship to God.
It’s an opportunity to live for Him and in reverence to Him.
1 Corinthians 10:31: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
No. 3 Work unto the Lord also requires a death to self.
As Christian women we are given great freedom in Christ, but not freedom to live for ourselves, but freedom to do God’s Will.
Romans 12:1-2
Galatians 2:20
Hebrews 12:28-29
No. 4 All of this work is done by Christ, for Christ, and through the power of Christ.
Colossians 1:16-17
God does the renewing of our minds - He is the one who regenerates our hearts, and He gives us His Spirit to sanctify and mature us in our thinking and living.
Bonus: Work is a Labor
Romans 16:6 “Greet Mary who has worked hard for you.”
Work = the Greek Word kopiaō which means to feel fatigue - by implication to work hard
1 Corinthians 15:10
Colossians 1:29
Resources
SPF 001: Setting the Atmosphere of the Home Sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode1
SPF 117: Daughters of the King sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode117
SPF 134: PreReformers: Wycliffe and Huss (SPF History)
In 1517 Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on a church door in Wittenberg Germany on October 31st. We credit this event as the catalyst to a Reformation of getting the church back to the Scripture being the authority for faith and practice and salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone. Today I want to share a bit about the Reformation but also about some Pre-Reformers. This is an SPF History episode!
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Here you can find all the books and products I’ve recommended on the podcast in one place!
www.amazon.com/shop/sheprovesfaithful
Life Hack: Grapefruit Seed Extract
Remember to seek medical advice from a physician :)
Info on Grapefruit Seed Extract - The Benefits and Risks: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/grapefruit-seed-extract
More info on Grapefruit Seed Extract and uses: https://draxe.com/essential-oils/grapefruit-seed-extract/
A Recipe for homemade hand sanitizer:
https://wellnessmama.com/281/homemade-hand-sanitizer/
What I do:
Small spray bottle
20 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract
5 drops lemon essential oil
water
Treating Thrush in breastfeeding babies: https://www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org/basics/grapefruit_seed.shtml
What I use (amazon links are affiliate links):
Reformation Resources
Luther Documentary - free on YouTube during “Reformation Week”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VK0p-tuuao
SPF 017: Five Solas of The Reformation: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode17
SPF 057: Reformation Part 1: The Spark: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode57
SPF 058: Reformation Part 2: The Reformation Women: http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode58
SPF 059: Reformation Part 3: Our Role in Reform: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode59
SPF 101: Women of the Reformation: Katherina Van Bora: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode101
Table Talk Magazine: https://tabletalkmagazine.com/
Reformation Books:
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 133: Hope in Suffering (Why & How to Keep an Eternal Perspective)
Suffering is real and it is hard. What is the Christian’s ultimate hope in suffering? How can we ready ourselves when the hard times come?
Are you Enjoying the Podcast?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
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Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
Recommended Resources
The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: https://biblicalcounseling.com/
The Truth in Podcast: https://biblicalcounseling.com/resources/truth-in-love/
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp: https://amzn.to/2pbVGV5
SPF 033: Counseling the Hard Stuff: http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode33
Truth in Love Podcast: Heaven’s Hope https://biblicalcounseling.com/til-227-heavens-hope/
What is our Hope in Suffering?
In suffering our primary aim is not symptom relief it is a commitment to the eternal verses the temporary.
In suffering it’s so important for us to run to what is eternal - what is lasting. Putting our hope in what is to come is a light to our path in the midst of pain. If we base our hope in temporary things, then when those things don’t go the way we want, our hope dissolves.
Hope in the Nourishing Root of Christ:
Romans 11:17-18
Christ nourishes our souls by
We are introduced through Christ to God
Because of the root we know the good and perfect law and what our future will be like!
We know the Truth
We are given the Son (heirs)
We are given the Holy Spirit
We are at the mercy of God:
Another eternal truth is that our lives can be secure now even though our circumstances aren’t. That we are not at the mercy of suffering or circumstances. No. We are at the mercy of God, who created us and knows our inmost being, who saves us, justifies us, sanctifies us and glorifies us. Who is with us.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Psalm 65:1-4
Know the this world is not the end:
Our souls are eternal and because of Christ there will be an end to suffering.
Revelation 21:1-5
hen I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
“Happiness is a shadow in this world. We can spend our time chasing it, but to what end. We have eternal joy in Christ and we can run after Him because He is the substance, not the shadow.”
Keep the eternal in mind is to renew the inner self:
2 Cor 4:16 says So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
We need to tend to the inner self in suffering because the outside is wasting away.
How do I get to a place where I respond in faith and trust of God? Where I can say, “We are going to honor the Lord” no matter what the circumstance is?
A faithful commitment to know the heart of God through His Holy Word.
Being fed by a godly pastor’s teachings
Having fellowship in the church
It’s that whole counsel of God preaching that goes every verse-by-verse through every book of the Bible that really equips people to know the heart of God. - Jim Hamilton
Get to know the heart of God!
Responsible For Our Response
No matter what channel the suffering comes through we are still accountable for our response.
An appropriate response in a difficult situation is, “We’re going to honor the Lord.” Dale Johnson
Read the book of Job! Job 42!
Resources
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 132: Four Truths About Love
Love has over 1.6 billion tags on Instagram. It’s something that people have a lot of opinions about and something everyone hopes to experience. Today I am going to share four truths about love that will spur us on to love with biblical action and also give glory to God for His incredible love.
Has the SPF Podcast blessed you?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
Life Hack: Garlic in your Bone Broth
Here is a great bone broth recipe: https://mommypotamus.com/how-to-make-bone-broth/
Don’t forget to add your left over tiny cloves and strain them at the end!
Bonus: Garlic Oil for Ear Aches: https://mommypotamus.com/mullein-garlic-oil-recipe/
Four Truths About Love
(Listen to the entire talk about loving husbands and children here:
Four Truths about Love
Love includes affection but is more than a feeling (love is a choice).
Love includes feelings of affection and desire, but we know it’s more than a feeling, because sometimes we don’t feel like being loving, but that doesn’t mean the Word of God changed.
John 15:12
Love is an action commanded by God (that testifies to the world about Him).
Love is not only a choice we make but an action and this action worships God and testifies about Him.
John 13:34-35
1 John 3:16-18
Love is a commitment to the truth of God.
The world has a lot of rules about love that can be deceiving. The world wants you to love in a certain way that is contrary to true love found in Scripture - and then we are labeled as unloving.
The Noetic Effect of sin is referring to sins effect on the mind.
The Greek word for Mind is nous therefor noetic deals with the mind. (Romans 1)
Sin has an effect on the mind of mankind and it distorts how we define and view love. That is why it is so important that we stay committed to the Truth of God and what God defines as love.
Love is hard to do sometimes, but we can love because Christ loved us.
Love is such a joy when that affection is there, but sometimes love is a duty done out of worship for Christ.
We can love because Christ loved us first and has given us a new heart.
Romans 5:8
2 Corinthians 5:14
Application:
Define all the words that describe love in 1 Corinthians 13.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Resources
(Amazon links are affiliate links.)
SPF 131: Christian Hypocrisy (Deceit & An Opportunity for the Gospel)
Can Christians be deceived by their own hypocrisy? Today I’m going to share a few surprisingly common ways we all fall into hypocrisy as Christians and what we can do to avoid that deception.
Be a part of SPF!
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
Life Hack: Evangelism on Halloween
Use Halloween as an opportunity to share the Gospel by handing out candy and Christian Tracks and get in conversations with people!
For more ideas or information check out Shine As Lights with Adam Staub
Check out the Instagram Highlight on Evangelism: Shine as Lights on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shine.as.lights/
Hypocrisy
Definition:
Mirriam Webster definition: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
In Greek a hypocrite is an actor under an assumed character, and a dissembler (someone who hides under a false appearance and pretender.
Affects of Hypocrisy:
Because hypocrisy is damaging to our testimony of our Savior who is the only way to the Father.
It also is damaging to our own faith - we are going from relying on something that is true to relying on something that is false and it starts to crumble.
Wisdom from Scripture on Hypocrisy:
Romans 1:28-32, 2:1-5
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
Job 8
“Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web.” Job 8:11-14
Papyrus:
Papyrus is a type of plant that grows in marsh lands. It needs water. At the slightest drought it withers and wind easily shakes it around. There is no substance or stability in it.
We see papyrus thrives in good conditions, but it is only maintained in times of prosperity. The hypocrites profession is maintained only in times of prosperity.
Oak:
Deep roots by stream
Leaves are always green and do not wither even in drought
Always bears fruit
Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotion:
"Can the rush grow up without mire?"
Job 8:11
The rush is spongy and hollow, and even so is a hypocrite; there is no substance or stability in him. It is shaken to and fro in every wind just as formalists yield to every influence; for this reason the rush is not broken by the tempest, neither are hypocrites troubled with persecution. I would not willingly be a deceiver or be deceived; perhaps the text for this day may help me to try myself whether I be a hypocrite or no. The rush by nature lives in water, and owes its very existence to the mire and moisture wherein it has taken root; let the mire become dry, and the rush withers very quickly. Its greenness is absolutely dependent upon circumstances, a present abundance of water makes it flourish, and a drought destroys it at once. Is this my case? Do I only serve God when I am in good company, or when religion is profitable and respectable? Do I love the Lord only when temporal comforts are received from his hands? If so I am a base hypocrite, and like the withering rush, I shall perish when death deprives me of outward joys. But can I honestly assert that when bodily comforts have been few, and my surroundings have been rather adverse to grace than at all helpful to it, I have still held fast my integrity? Then have I hope that there is genuine vital godliness in me. The rush cannot grow without mire, but plants of the Lord's right hand planting can and do flourish even in the year of drought. A godly man often grows best when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag is a Judas; they who follow for loaves and fishes are children of the devil; but they who attend him out of love to himself are his own beloved ones. Lord, let me find my life in thee, and not in the mire of this world's favour or gain.
Defeating Deceit
For the Christian it’s an opportunity for us to examine our own lives.
What am I condemning publicly that I am also committing privately (i.e. gossip fretting)?
Where am I not thinking and acting like a Christian?
What parts of my life am not submitting to Christ where I should be?
Where do my beliefs not aligned with the word of Christ God‘s thoughts on everything should be my thoughts on anything?
Repent when what you say you believe is not in line with how you are actually living and go and make things right if you have wronged anyone with your sinful choices.
Resources
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 130: Part 2: Uncovering Deceit & God's Names (Are Women Oppressed by Biblical Principles? )
How do we know what is false? We have to know what is true. In this episode I follow up about deception concerning women’s biblical roles with the Truth of God being Adonai which means Lord, and Jehovah El Emeth which means The Lord God of Truth.
Support the SHE Proves Faithful Podcast
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
Uncovering Deception
Genesis 3 - Satan is called “more crafty” than any other creature (clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods)
Things can start to sound right and then we filter our lives through a distorted worldview
Satan is a deceiver, he’s a roaring lion looking to devour, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and He is the Father of Lies.
John 8
So how do we recognize deceit? How do we identify the lies of the enemy?
Knowing Truth
God wants us to live in the truth because the Truth is freedom.
Women can be women and embrace the yes’s and no’s God has laid out in Scripture. That is living in Truth and the light. That is exactly opposite of oppression. That is freedom.
Morning and Evening By Charles Spurgeon
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."
Luke 2:19
There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory - she kept all these things; her affections - she kept them in her heart; her intellect - she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on his pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths. Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain him, saying, "Abide with us, for the day is far spent." Hold him, and do not let him go. The word "ponder," means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? "He taketh up the isles as a very little thing:"-who shall take him up? "He weigheth the mountains in scales"- in what scales shall we weigh him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace him in the arms of affection.
Names of God
Jehovah El Emeth
God is who He says He is, HE will do what He said will do, and He is truthful in all that He says.
He the ultimate source of reality. Everything that relates to Him is true and is real.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves True, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Adonai
Adonai means Lord
Lord means that God is the Master and we are his servants.
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
or ‘Your work has no handles’? Isaiah 45:9Mary - Luke 1:58
Simon Peter - Luke 5:5
Because God is Jehovah El Emeth, the Lord God of Truth and Because he is Adonai, Lord, that means we can trust in Him to show us the truthful way and to believe the things he’s called women to do and be are good.
Resources
(Amazon links are affiliate links)
Dr. McKissic and Dr. Ascol debate can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEeSsmKrcw
SPF 129: Are Women Oppressed by Biblical Principles? Part 1: Lies & Doubt
How do we know what is false? We have to know what is true. Today I will be sharing a few lies encountered lately and the Truth we can know through two of God’s names: Adonai and El Emeth.
Are you Enjoying the SPF Podcast?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
Life Hack: Target Maternity Tank Tops
I love these tank tops - pregnant or not! They are long and comfortable!
Currently they are 2 for $16
Are Women Oppressed by Biblical Principles?
Oxford defines Oppression as: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
For a Christian woman, for a Christian culture, when we look at Scripture and see something God has appointed for woman or something that God has so no for women to do, we should not call that oppressive. To do that would be to call God the unjust, cruel oppressor because He is the One who commanded all we see in Scripture.
Here are three examples I believe have crept into Christianity, sat down, made a home and are at odds with God and His Word.
No. 1: Women Preaching (not just pastoring)
Dr. McKissic and Dr. Ascol debate can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEeSsmKrcwg
The biggest and most difficult flaw I saw in Dr. McKissic’s argument was that he argued from emotion. He said that it is oppressive and abusive to not let women with the gift of preaching to preach in a Lord’s Day service.
It is a lie that women are oppressed or abused if they cannot preach in the pulpit. That is the same kind of logic that leads to things like murdering babies - I am oppressed and abused if I do not get a choice to abort my baby.
No. 2: Domesticity
Domesticity is defined by Oxford as home and family life. Biblically being domestic means being in the home caring for it’s members, both physical, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. It is the place where culture begins and it is the place where the transfer of a way of life happens.
The Bible is clear that women are to be in the home and be workers in the home.
Biblical domesticity is something that should be praised and taught and encouraged. We see it in Titus where the older women are to instruct the younger women on how to be godly women and one of the things is how to love their children and husbands.
Being in the home for a woman and being domestic is not oppressive. It’s a duty and a gift from the Lord. It is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God and the sweet aroma of Christ will fill your home.
Remember to distinguish the difference from Principle and Method!
No. 3: Children (and career)
The lie is that women are oppressed if they have children. Because they have to say no to their real potential.
This awful lie has had a hay day in our country and it’s why abortion, which is the murder of children, has gone from quote unquote rare to shout your abortion! I’ve talked about the history of feminism before and it’s roots are in women should have the same opportunities and freedoms as men and if men don’t have to carry a baby and care for a baby but can enjoy unrestricted sex without penalty, then so should women. So abortion came to be a way to be equal with men. Women can have unrestricted sex too because they can kill the baby and still march on with careers and freedom, and the things men have too.
The Bible calls children a heritage - they are part of God’s plan of growing the Kingdom of God. I also have a podcast on this. Children are the future and it is imperative that they grow up learning the Scriptures, loving the Word, and feasting on Truth. They will be the heralds of the next generation.
Younger women need to be trained to love their children. Crazy to think that this would need to be taught, but it is a discipline and their are biblical ways we need to learn of what it means to love our kids.
Stay Tuned for Part 2!
In order to battle the lies and doubt, we need to be rooted in the truth of who God is! I will be talking about two truths of who God is next week that will be sure to bless us!
Resources
(amazon links are affiliate links)
Founders Ministry Dr. McKissic and Dr. Ascol debate can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEeSsmKrcwg
SPF 031: A Faith Misplaced: Anxiety Part 1 http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode31
SPF 032: Three Anxiety Relievers: Anxiety Part 2 http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode32
SPF 089: God’s Plan for Family Part 1 http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode89
SPF 090: God’s Plan for Family Part 2 http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode90
SPF 097: The Feminine Design Part 1 http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode97
SPF 098: Feminism http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode98
SPF 099: God’s Design for Women http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode99
SPF 128: The Potter vs The Clay - Can We Argue With God?
We do ourselves a disservice when we make Christianity about ourselves instead of the glory of God. Today is a mirror mirror moment to give us a clearer picture of God and ourselves when we consider how He is the Potter and we are the clay. This episode has me eating some humble pie.
Are you enjoying the podcast?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!
God is God
We do ourselves a disservice when we make Christianity about ourselves instead of the glory of God. Because when Christianity is centered around me - then when trials come, when doubts creep in, when the world is tempting, that’s when apostasy happens - that’s when people leave the church, turn from God, and lose hope.
But God’s glory is central to Christianity. and I’m going to read a passage to help us see with clarity more of who God is and who we are.
Romans 9:18-24
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
Part 1: The Attitude and the Adjustment: If God does what He wants, why does He find fault?
Paul’s answer? Who are you Oh Man to answer back to God.
This leads to a awe and trembling and a right view of God and man.
It builds our trust in God and His mercy - that it is not dependent on me being good enough or doing enough good or having it all together or knowing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing all the time.
It also humbles our hearts. It is in our flesh to elevate ourselves, our plans, our purpose, our dreams, the order of our days to revolve around ourselves. But this little verse is the perfect gift to us when we get self-focused, when we forget that we were created for God and to give Him glory. We remember - who are you oh man to answer back to God.
Job 9:12
Daniel 4
2 Chronicles 20
Job 42
Part 2: The Potter & the Clay - A lesson to teach us more about God and ourselves.
Three characteristics of clay:
Clay can’t talk
Clay doesn’t have opinions
Clay doesn’t have rights.
We need to separate the human to human here. This is God who created all things. No one was there in the beginning. He was not taking opinions and He still does not take people’s opinions on how things should go or be done.
We have to view this in light of the context - God gets to decide. God made us. God is the one who is in charge. We will never have a case against God. God never violates our rights.
It is good for us to remember that God is the Potter. And that Potter makes the choices and we say - God is God and we are not.
Hold Your Peace - By Jenny Geddes Band
Resources
New City Sermon Series on Romans: https://newcitydenver.org/sermons/
SPF 127: Can Women Be Pastors?
Can I woman be a pastor, or preacher of a church? Let’s go to the good authoritative Word and find out!
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Can Women Be Pastors?
Scriptures:
1 Timothy 2-3
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Titus 2
Genesis 1-3
Galatians 4:4
Psalm 9:10
Here is controversial verse that has, as Doug Wilson says, “We now come to a passage that has suffered much at the hands of expositors, but the reason the passage has suffered is not because it is one of those parts of the apostle Paul’s writing that is hard to understand. The passage has been greatly abused and twisted because it is easy to understand.”
1 Timothy 2:12-15
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Women are not to be ordained teacher or pastors in the church.
This is not the only time this is taught in Scripture. We also have this instruction under the same context of orderly worship in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (as well as other passages of Scripture that give the specific qualifications for the office of elder (pastor) and it’s always a male).
The context of both of these passages is in public worship. It is clear from Scripture that wom en are not to ordained to the function of teaching in the Church.
Does this mean men can never learn something from a woman? No. Woman are co-labors with men in Christ. Scripture teaches us that women are excluded from two activities in the church - ordained teaching and exercising authority over men.
What about cultural - couldn’t this no woman pastor thing be cultural? No. Paul does not appeal to culture or customs of the Ephesians as the reason behind this rule. He appeals to the story in Genesis of the creation and the fall.
Paul appeals to the creation account where in the Beginning God created - he created man first. There is a creation order. It represents and explains so much about our roles as men and women. And God did the creating. God intentionally made man first and then the women.
The woman was deceived and transgressed first.
Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Pastor Douglas Wilson interprets this as a Gospel passage about men and women both being saved through the childbirth of Jesus Christ - the Messiah who came into the world, born of a woman, born under the law.
Pastor John MacArthur interprets this as a way God has redeemed women under the curse that Eve brought into the world. (Not “redeemed” salvation wise, but redeemed as in the stigma of being deceived doesn’t follow women around for all of history). Women have the opportunity to bring up godly seed in their own home through teaching and instruction.
Can women teach at all in the Christian community?
First, we need to remember that Paul is not saying women can’t speak in church - it’s specifically related to teaching as a pastor.
Yes. We are called to teach the Word to our children, in Titus older women have the job of teaching younger women very specific things. We can’t shrug these off and say they are not important if God has given them as as a task and means of His name being glorified and people knowing Him. When we deem something as menial or less than, we say that God is wrong. We doubt His goodness and promises.
So why are we given such specific instructions about worship in the Church?
because the Church is important.
After Paul writes Timothy about the qualifications of elders and deacons he writes this:
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
There is an order to worship because as we know in 1 Corinthians God is not a God of chaos but of order.
The church is the church of the LIVING God. It is growing to, with living people. It is God’s household where His is Lord and master.
And it is a pillar and buttress of the truth - that doesn’t mean the church has the authority to make changes to Scripture, but that it upholds the truth of the Scriptures and the Gospel so that the world can know Truth. Where will the world see the way the truth and the life? In the church that upholds the truth.
Resources
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Got Questions: What Does the Bible Say About Women Pastors? https://www.gotquestions.org/women-pastors.html
John MacArthur Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:15 https://www.gty.org/library/bibleqnas-library/QA0139/how-are-women-saved-through-childbearing
Sheologians - Women Behind the Pulpit https://www.sheologians.com/women-behind-pulpit-bible-say/
Silent in the Church - Why Women Can’t Preach by Dr. Ligon Duncan https://www.fpcjackson.org/resource-library/sermons/silent-in-the-church-why-women-can-t-preach
SPF 097: The Feminine Design Part 1: God Made http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode97
SPF 098: The Feminine Design Part 2: Femininism http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode98
SPF 099: The Feminine Design Part 3: Masculine and Feminine Roles http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode99
SPF 126: Lest We Drift - Can We Backslide? How Do We Grow?
Spiritual dullness affects all Christians at some point. Some symptoms are wanting to hear what we want to hear, coming to the Word with our own presuppositions on how things should be and being wooed by the world - we must pay careful attention lest we drift away.
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Lest We Drift
We can be dull and dim in our understanding even as Christians.
No one is stagnant.
We grow or regress.
We move forward or backward.
We are being softened or hardened.
In Mark 8 Jesus wants to urge His disciples on to spiritual maturity.
Mark 8:17-21
slow to understand because we. . .
hear what we want to hear
let presuppositions and preconceived ideas affect the Truth of what Jesus says
not receptive to spiritual teaching
no capacity to receive teaching when we are dull of hearing
We need spiritually maturity
God has not called us to remain infants in the faith. We are called to spiritually mature but if we are dull to hear becoming slow to understand, we remain in this infant state.
Hebrews 5 and 6 gives warning and instruction with this . . .
loosing confidence and hope
drifting away
neglecting a great salvation
Insensitive to God
Staying infants in our faith
becoming influenced by the world and it’s offerings
getting off track about the true mission of God
The opposite of dull is growth, it’s progress, it’s moving forward, it’s a soft soil in the heart that drinks the rain and is fruitful and receives blessing. The growing life is a blessed life.
Spiritual Growth looks like:
God has a way He wants to be worshipped and we worship in that way.
Cultivating Understanding 1 Cor 14:20
We long to become more like Christ instead of more like a perfect version of ourselves or a worldly standard
We grow by overcoming temptation
I think if we’ve become dull, we need to stop and carefully examine the occasion of our decline. Why is are my ears dull of hearing? Why is my heart hard?
Resources
Check out these sermons and articles on the topic of “dull” from Monergism (including sermon by Lawson and Piper): https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=dull&format=All
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