Sunday 26 March 2017

The influence of women Week 13, 2017



So does it mean only men influence their households spiritually? Most certainly not! The clearest line of enduring spiritual influence I find in the New Testament; that spanning 3 generations was through the influence of a mother on her child and grandchild.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first existed in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that this faith also exists in you2Tm 1:5(ISV). The sustained influence resulted in the young bishop Timothy. Women influence their households, the male and female members alike. At Philippi it was Lydia who first received the word of the Lord, and she believed with her household. This was quite similar to the jailer. One of those who heard us was Lydia from Thyatira, who was a dealer in purple cloth. She was a woman who worshiped God, and the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying.  After she and the people of her house had been baptized, she invited us Act 16:14, 15(GNB).  As with men in the household, so with women.
What if the woman isn’t the head of the household as Lydia appears to be? Do you remember the little maid in Naaman’s household? In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl, who became a servant of Naaman's wife. One day she said to her mistress, "I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease." 2Kgs5:2, 3(GNB). It was through her influence the general got to believe in and worship Jehovah. So Naaman said, "If you won't accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me, because from now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except the LORD2Kgs5:17(GNB)  . You don’t have to be termed the head for you to exert spiritual influence and leadership. Even the maid in the household exerts influence! Like that maid we need to know why God has placed us wherever we are at any point in time.
What of Rahab? So they went and brought Rahab out, along with her father and mother, her brothers, and the rest of her family. They took them all, family and slaves, to safety near the Israelite camp Jos 6:23 (GNB).  Have you seen such spiritual influence as hers in the Old Testament? Every member of the family including slaves saved. It equals that of Abraham in my assessment. Mark you she raised Boaz - that man of faith and ancestor of David. Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse Mat 1:5(ESV). Clearly when scripture says women are co heirs of the grace of life in 1Pt3: 7 it means every word of it: giving honour to the woman who is the feebler vessel, but who has an equal part in the heritage of the grace of life... 1Pt 3:7(BBE)
Ladies... exert your influence!

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