A Godly Woman

2 Timothy 1:3-5 "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; [4]  Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; [5]  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

Here we are on another Mother's Day, a day when we honor and revere those who not only gave us life, but who formed us by their teaching into what we are today. On Mother's day preachers in pulpits all around our great Nation are extolling the virtues of motherhood. You, perhaps, came to Church today expecting to hear a typical Mother's Day sermon - yet I pray this will be more than typical.

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was in prison, being held for preaching the Gospel of Christ in disobedience to Caesar's order. Paul sent Timothy, the young man he led to the Lord, to Ephesus to tend to the Church there in his absence. Paul established the Ephesian Church when he returned from his second missionary journey. Ephesus was an important place to establish a Church, as it was the capital city of 230 independent communities in the Roman province of Asia. If the Gospel was preached in Ephesus, it would spread outward from there like spokes on a wagon wheel.

The Church was just beginning in a land famous for it's idolatry and sexual infidelity. In the past before Roman rule Ephesus had engaged in child sacrifice while worshipping the false gods of it's day. When Roman rule established order such sacrifices were forbidden, yet people still worshipped at these temples of evil. Ephesus would be a battleground between Christianity and heathenism, between Godliness and Satanism. Into this battleground Paul sent one young man to be a general in his stead. To many people this seemed foolish: what could one young man do? Yet Paul sent Timothy in large part because of the work that his mother and grandmother had wrought in him when he was a child.

[5]  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Though Paul led Timothy to salvation, Timothy grew up in a Godly home. Timothy had an  unfeigned faith,  ANHYPOKRITOU, an unhypocritical belief in his Saviour. This faith began in his grandmother, was passed down to his mother, who in turn passed it down to him. Though neither parent directly led Timothy to salvation, by their actions they planted a seed that would one day blossom into the flower of eternal life.  These were godly women in a day when godliness was unfashionable.

In the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy, I had several people write me and ask if what happened was according to the Will of God, and if so, why. Let me explain something. Our Almighty God is Sovereign - He reigns supreme over the universe, and whatsoever He decrees will indeed come to pass. We are told in the Scripture:

Jeremiah 32:17  "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: "

Yet we often forget that God, in His omnipotence, has decreed that man have freewill, that we make and keep our own decisions on a variety of things. Do I believe that God decreed the horror at Columbine? No, again I say no! It is equally true that, within the Sovereignty of God, God has also decreed:

Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8]  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Whatever we sow, that we shall reap.

When I saw the faces of the young gunmen displayed on my television I did not see two children who looked like they could be capable of such a thing. They did not look like monsters who could enter a schoolhouse and, after killing all they could, turned the guns on themselves. At this moment God's principle really struck home with me.

Whatever we sow, that we shall reap.

In 1973 the Supreme Court said that it was fine for mothers to abort their children. Since that time the number of abortions have grown in this country till some 4000 children are killed each month. Restaurants that used to rely on young people to wait on tables are now suffering a worker shortage, and the problem is growing to the point where it effects the economic well-being of our nation.

Whatever we sow, that we shall reap.

In a recent Baptist Press news release, they stated that the average child will spend 6 minutes a day talking to their parents, while watching hours of television. There have been several instances where teenagers have had children out of wedlock, then threw these newborn babies in the trash.

Whatever we sow, that we shall reap.

There is a battle going on around every Christian, around every family, around every mother in this country. Satan knows that God has decreed that each one of us have the freewill to choose and live our own lives either unto evil or unto God. If Satan can get us to ignore the Scripture while maintaining a politically correct lifestyle, then he's won that battle - we are his. But if we follow God's best for us, if we adhere to Scriptural teaching, them we can win the battle for the mind while bringing the peace of God to our households.

First, that you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Choose salvation over the ways of the world:

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10]  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

The world offers many trinkets that look beautiful, yet turn out to be just trash. When I and my family were stationed in England it was customary to open a "popper" at the Christmas meal. A popper was a colorfully wrapped tube filled with prizes. When you pulled on it, it "popped" like a cap gun, tore in half, then out fell the long waited for prizes.

A popper was very pretty, but the greatest part of opening them was the loud bang that came out of them. That's because each popper was filled, not with wonderful prizes, but with trashy gifts that were even below the quality of a Cracker Jack prize. Outwardly beautiful, but inwardly useless.

The world is like a popper, outwardly beautiful yet inwardly full of uselessness. Mothers, your family needs you to be in Christ. You may be the most outwardly beautiful woman in this Church today, but if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour then that beauty is indeed only skin deep. Accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour now, today, then work with God to lead the other members of your family to Him.

Second, work For God within your design. In our world today it is popular for women to take charge, popular for the wife to have her own head, to dominate the marriage. Yet the Bible tells us:

Ephesians 5:22-24 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. [23]  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. [24]  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

"Oh my goodness, wait a minute Brother David - don't go there!" In our society this is a very unpopular notion, that the woman follow the leadership of her husband. After all, aren't women just as intelligent as men? Can't a woman do everything that a man does? Haven't you heard of equal rights, for goodness sake?

Many have taken this verse and others within the Pauline Epistles and tried to make out that Paul was a chauvinist, a woman hater, than thus these verses are not inspired Scripture. Certainly if we can discredit these verses as unScriptural we can follow after society's pattern for men and women with a clear conscience. But was Paul really a woman hater?

As to charges that Paul was chauvinist (a feminist derived term) I refer you to Romans 16, where Paul thanked Phoebe who served with him as a "deaconess" (vs 1-2) while he was at the church of Corinth (she belonged to the church at Cenchrea, located 7 miles from Corinth). He also recognized Priscilla and her husband Aquilla (vs 3-5) who stayed in Ephesus and laid the groundwork for his ministry there (Acts 18.19, 24-28). Several women are noted throughout the chapter, single and married, who were thanked and encouraged to continue in ministry with Paul (Mary - vs 6; Tryphaena and Tryphosa, sisters - vs 12; Persis - vs 12). Women were prominent in Paul's ministry and in the early Church. Some were single, one a wife, one a mother, and all represented by the "chauvinist" Paul as performing valuable service for the Lord. His relationship to them and appreciation for them makes suspect the verdict of those who would label him a misogynist on the basis of this passage or 1 Corinthians 14.34.

So what was Paul really saying? What it boils down to is a matter of design. God designed men to fill one role in the family and in the Church, and designed women to fill another role within the family and in the Church. Women are not lessened by following God's design in the marriage - but they are lessened when they follow the world's idea of marriage.

No farmer would go out into the field to plow while driving a high powered sports car. The little car might be able to go fast on the highway - you might even be able to win races with it - but only a fool would try to pull stumps or plow furrows with it. The sports car is not designed to do this, but a tractor is. And anyone whose followed a slow moving tractor down a country road knows that the tractor certainly isn't designed for highway travel. Again, it's a matter of design.

When God designed men and women, He designed them to work within the family while fulfilling certain roles. The husband was designed to be the leader of the family, while the wife was designed to support the leadership of her husband. Children learn godliness and obedience to authority from their parents. When the child sees his mother living for Christ while supporting the leadership of her husband, the child sees a strong family unit that he will imitate when he grows up. But if the child sees a mother who nags and rebukes the father, who asserts her own independence over that of obedience to her husband, who criticizes and belittles the man she married, this same child will imitate this worldly view of marriage when he reaches maturity.

Who among you will stand up and tell God today, "We are in charge of this Church, and we will do as we will"! For the woman to assert her authority over her husband is the same as the Church trying to futilely assert it's authority over Christ. For, as Paul said:

[23]  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church ...

Work for God within your own design, not within the world's design. Only by doing this will you honor God in your marriage while bringing peace to your family.

Third, seek internal godliness rather than dwell on external vanity. Paul told Timothy:

1 Timothy 2:9-10  "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [10]  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

Paul was not saying that women should not groom themselves. When I look out over the congregation today I can thank my God that there are so many beautiful and well groomed women in this congregation. What Paul is saying is don't let your outward grooming take the place of your inward godliness. Good works in the original language of 1 Timothy is Greek text is ERGON AGATHON, which means "works that reflect a Christ centered heart, works that reflect godliness". You should be as well groomed on the inside as you are on the outside. Mothers, do not spend all of your time grooming yourself and your household while neglecting prayer and time in the Word of God. You must see to your inner person. You must be concerned about your spiritual growth. You are a partner with God in one of the most demanding jobs on earth, raising your children and working within the design of marriage. Don't forget your partner - don't forget God.

Finally, spend time with and train your children. Yes, we are a fallen people, and we produce fallen offspring. Yes, even children from good homes can rebel. Yet Paul said of Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:14-15 "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [15]  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

I imagine Timothy, as he was growing up, made all the same mistakes that our own children (and we ourselves) made. I know in my heart that he went through his rebellious stage, that he spent time experimenting in the world, that he perhaps went out "with the boys" and did all the wrong things.

Yet his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice planted the seeds of the Gospel in his heart by teaching him from the time he was a child. They shared with him a love of the Scriptures. Later on in his life when Paul led him to Christ, this foundation laid by his godly mother and grandmother came into play.

I remember as a young child this prayer my mother taught me:

I prayed this prayer as a small child, kneeling at the foot of my bed. Momma came in every night to kiss me goodnight, and she'd always ask, "Have you brushed your teeth and said your prayers?". If I had forgotten, I'd get up from the bed and say my prayers. I hadn't accepted Christ as my Saviour, but I prayed the simple prayer of the child every night.

Later in my life when, out of rebellion, I'd run away from home, I prayed the same prayer while I laid scared in Juvenile Hall in California. When I was knocked unconscious and left for dead by my "dear" friends while out partying late one night, when I woke up in the hospital the next day I prayed the same prayer. And on the night I was led to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour, I lay in my bed late at night, looked up to Heaven, and with tears in my eyes prayed the same prayer. You see, the prayer meant something to me as a child, but it meant so much more now that I knew Who I prayed to. Now there was a face on the other end of my prayers. Now I knew - Jesus.

Mothers, teach your children. Turn off the television, and plant that seed. Your children may not know Jesus, but if you lay the foundation they are more likely to come to Christ than if you haven't.

In a moment we're going to give the call to Salvation. If you do not know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ is your Saviour, I'm going to ask you to come forward. Salvation is the starting point for your new and joyous life.

This call goes out to all Mothers who need Christ. Women were the first at the graveside of Jesus and the first to whom the risen Saviour appeared. If none of your family is saved, don't hesitate to be the first to step out on faith and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour.

This call also goes to all Fathers who have yet to make this commitment to our Lord. It goes out to the young men and women of this Church, the Mothers and Fathers of tomorrow. The world offers one way of life, yet this way is only deception. The enemy speaks to your heart now saying, "Don't go today, you can always be saved tomorrow". If you allow the enemy to hold you back from salvation now then the life you could have had may be lost forever.

Burt Hunter, a reporter-photographer in Long Beach, California, found himself on a strange mission one foggy morning. He was to interview and take pictures of a woman snake charmer.

When Burt rang the doorbell at an impressive mansion, he was surprised at the beauty of the woman who answered. She didn't look like a snake charmer. He blurted out, "I don't understand why a wealthy, attractive woman such as yourself is engaged in this kind of business."

The lady smiled as she replied, "Oh, I don't do it because I have to. It's a fascinating hobby. I like the element of danger involved. Someday soon I plan to give it up and spend more time with my flowers. I can quit this any time I want to."

As Burt set up his equipment , the woman brought in baskets containing the cobras. She confidently lifted out some of the deadly snakes as he snapped pictures of her handling them. Then she cautioned, "Be especially quiet now and don't make any quick moves. I'm going to take out my newest snake. It isn't completely used to me yet."

Suddenly she stiffened, whispering to the photographer, "Something's wrong. I'm going to have to put him back." She opened the basket slowly and began to lower the snake into it.

As Burt watched, fascinated, there was a lightning jab of the cobra's head as it buried it's fangs in her wrist.

Forcing the snake down and securing the basked, the woman clutched her arm. She spoke quietly to Burt, "Go quickly to my medicine chest and bring the snake serum. Hurry!"

Trembling, Burt returned with the precious vial. She instructed him to take out the syringe and fit the needle on. Then she told him how to withdraw the serum. Burt struggled with the unfamiliar task, his hands shaking. He braced his arm against the table as he tried desperately to get the needle into the vial. Suddenly he gasped. His clumsy fingers had crushed the tiny bottle. The serum, now useless, dripped through his fingers.

"Tell me," he urged. "Where can I get another?"

In a quiet voice she responded, "That was my last one."

Her agony soon ended, but Burt's lived on to embitter the rest of his life. Often he thought of her statement, "I can quit this anytime I want to."
 

Return to the Main Menu/ Bible Studies!