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Note: Transcripts are unedited. Please forgive any errors.
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THE ACTIVE WORD
TITLE OF
Message: What's A Woman To Do?
MESSAGE DATE: 3/13/05 TAPE NUMBER: T1316
TRANSCIBED BY: Page 1 of 30
Scripture Reference for Message 1 Corinthians 14:34
TIMECODE:
Opening Praye
Father we thank you so much for the opportunity to know you better, to know you well. For in knowing you of course we trust you. And trusting you God we love you. And in loving you Lord we pray we serve you all the more faithfully. As we turn our heart to this your written word of course we ask, if there's any part of who we are that needs adjustment or change, God help us to see just how wise and how right it is for you our father knows what's best. And we believe that, even now.
In Jesus name, amen.
Message
What is post modernism? The answer? Well it's a move, it's a shift, it's a turn. If you're taking note, it's a move from absolute to relative truth. It's a turn from reason based to experienced based learning. And it is a shift from individualism to community. You say well Pastor Bob I mean at first pop that doesn't sound too bad. Listen again.
A post modernist? Well they assume of course that there is no place for universal truth. You see they believe that a man simply constructs or creates truth. You understand that roles in relationships therefore are subject to society? That in a post modern world honestly what works for you is probably what is right for you. I mean think about it.
Do we actually have to embrace this old school of thought? Your Bible so out dated so antiquated you actually assume Pastor Bob that a family is actually made up of one man, one woman and a couple kids? Come on, be a little more twenty first century buddy. Come on if two men love each other and they want kids, that's a family. If two women love each other and they want kids isn't that a family? You mean to tell me anything and everything is a family? No. And it can't be. Do you understand why?
Listen carefully. Although your spirit may be one of sensitivity I believe that your result will be futility. Because what I'm convinced of listen to this, is design is a matter of definition. Again design dictates definition. For instance, if right now you have ink pen in your hand or a pencil. Do you understand how design actually dictates its definition? What side do you write with? Well I don't think that that's a big question. Why? The side you write with would be the place where there's lead or the place where ink comes out.
I don't think you have to scratch your head and say wait a second maybe what we all really need to do if we're going to be more innovative twenty first century thinkers is start writing with erasers. Or rating the plastic. NO, no, no, no, again design dictates. Exactly. So much so, well we happen to call this listen, a female socket. We happen to call this in some circles a male bulb. Why?
Well to get electricity you take the male bulb and you put in the. There might be kids present and I understand that so I won't necessarily do that here but maybe a better way to say it is ... two bulbs don't make light. Now, the reason I feel the need to say that is because for some strange reason we have kind of removed ourselves from what is really, really natural, what is really, really normal. And we've begun to embrace basically anything or everything if in fact we think it works.
No, no, no creation was an act of deliberate design. And so much so we see in Genesis chapter one drawing your attention to verses twenty six and twenty seven God than said, let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the see, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth and every creepy thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image in His own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them. Your attention please.
I want to underscore I want to underline creation is an act of deliberate design. God knew exactly what he was doing when he made man and then made women. As you understand it according to his word this act of creation because God is good also was good. So good it was if you're taking note, in Genesis one and ten he stops for minute. As he's actually making the world. He says hey this is really good. Then again in one and twelve he stops for a minute and says hey this is really good. Then he stops for a minute again one and eighteen and says this is really good. Then he stops again in one and twenty five and says this is good.
But then he stops. In Genesis two and eighteen and says, please your attention there. And the Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him. Listen again; it is not good that man is alone. God's been busy in the business of creation, this is good, that is good, this is good, that is good, wait a second something's not good. What is not good? Listen ladies, man all by himself needs help, and can I get a witness? Of course I can get a witness. Why?
Because man all by himself is missing something. Can I witness? Of course I can get a witness. There's not a single women here in this church that says I disagree. No, no, no every women looks at man and says, he's missing something. And he needs help, he needs help.
Well where did you learn that? You learned that because God said so. What did God determine to do because man is missing something? Because man needs help, we read as we move a little further verse twenty-one. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. And as he slept he took one of his ribs, closed up the place of its flesh. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man he made into women. And he brought her to the man and Adam said now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh and she shall be called wow man! Because she was taken out of man. Therefore man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Your attention please.
Something missing? God takes the rib out of Adam. What does he make? A fishing pole? No. A football? No. What does he make? He makes a women. And when man sees women for the first time. Aughh, oh God this is exactly what I needed. Why? Well because there's something in me. Aey there's something in her. And I want this women to be mine, mine, mine, mine, mine mine. Why?
Because I something's missing and because I know I need help. Listen very carefully if there's one thing I want you to learn in the course of this Bible study it's a single sentence. I don't know if you need to jot it down but you could write it if you would this way. Listen carefully, men and women are different. No, no, no wait let me try it again because some of you probably didn't hear it. You start snickering you can't hear the sound of my voice. Listen again.
Man and woman are different. Now see problem is we kind of laugh. Why? Because we all know men and woman are different. We know men and women are different? Why is it there's not a week that doesn't go by I don't read or found out that there's another women saying, "If a man does it I can do it."
Which is really interesting and here's why. I don't know that I've heard a lot of men say, "If a women can do it I can do it." See it proves to me guys are already smarter. Here, here's my point. No, no, no, no, no I don't mean it that way. What I'm trying to say, listen to this. There are some definite differences.
Such definite differences let me tell you something. If you own a computer next time just for the fun of it do a "Google" search you write in differences, male and female. And boom. Do you know how many web sites there are? Like twenty six thousand declaring the differences between men and women. And I did not consult a spiritual site.
What I did was I went to a secular site. These are physiologist and they have checked out the head and the heart of man and women and they've determined that there are over seventy differences? Oh listen to the way that these read.
I'm going to give you female energy and how it's expressed, I'll give you male energy and how it's expressed. And I realize that with the female and the male it may sound like I'm using a broad brush. Only with the females would I use a broad brush. Now here's my point. All right let me go.
Female energy. Typically the female cares, the male energy typically he accepts. There's a little difference there isn't it? You know the spirit, the female understands, the male appreciates, the female is respected the male trust, feeling analytical, emotional, logical. Do you see the differences? So maybe you can see them and sense them even now.
Intuitive, rational, expansive and focused, nurturing efficient. Idealistic practical, vulnerable, aggressive, receptive autonomous, supportive, willful, relaxed, discipled. Enthusiastic, confident, beautiful, component. The list continues there's seventy of them declaring, listen again that men and women are different.
You say Bob, Bob, Bob I can't believe I drove all the way here today to hear you say that men and women are different. I mean of course we know that men and women are different. Well it's something we have to agree upon. And the reason we have to agree upon it today is the section of scripture we study you'll find.
Its 1st Corinthians chapter fourteen, drawing your attention this time to verse thirty three we read. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Your attention please.
Well so we have the New Testament reading for the day. See ya. No, no, no see that's the very point. You see what happened was on Wednesday night I did my talk on tongues and that's the majority of 1st Corinthians chapter fourteen. But in order to remain you now contextual I just skipped that section. And I got a lot of e mail from both men and women.
Bob I noticed you skipped the section about women keeping silent in the church, why in world would you do that? Here's what happened. Some men thought I was a chicken, that's what happened. But I'm convinced of this when I get done with the study some women will think I'm a turkey. Now both of those attitudes are fallow and you know that.
But what I'm here to tell you, please I pray is when it comes to this section of scripture the apostle Paul meant it to say something. Now what in the world did he mean to say? Does he really mean to say that women are not permitted to speak at a church? Can I can a witness? Only from the men can I get a witness. Women you've got to keep it buttoned up.
Wait a second Pastor Bob it can't mean that. Please, please, please it can't mean that. I'll tell you right now it can't mean. Oh easy, easy, easy. Here's what a Pastor does in my position when they run into a section of scripture like this. We have these things in my library called commentaries. Their books written by commentators. Now some tators are more common than others but here's what I've come to discover.
I have a pretty impressive library. In fact I have a whole room filled with books. A part from my office. And in that room you'll find these commentaries. Now I have such a collection that I have some from a long time ago, Albert Barns 1884 commentary. I also have newer additions, this is Allen Redpath 1960. So what I could do is find out what they are saying back in 1885 about this section of scripture. And also find out what there were saying back in 1960 about the same section of scripture.
So do you want to know what they thought about this section of scripture way back in 1885 from Albert Barnes? Probably not a relationship to Bob, but listen carefully to what he writes. It is shameful; yes it is shameful it is a breach of proprietary. Their station in life, the man's modesty, humility. And they should be free from this appearance of this Public Park and public service. No it does not become their rank in life. It's not fulfilling the object of which God evidentially intended for them to fill.
He's appointed men to rule, and hold the offices to instruct and govern the church. It is improper that women should assume that office upon themselves. This evidentially and obviously refers to the church assembled for public worship in the ordinary and regular acts of devotion.
Sound a little strong? Sound a little conservative? Sound a little last century? Yeah it does. Let's get a little closer. What happens now? How many years later? Well it's about a hundred years later and here we are Allen Redpath he says the second reference where Paul says it's not permitted for the women to speak. Well the common Greek leayo translated about three hundred times in the New Testament. With a variety of meanings means to talk or to question or to argue or profess or chatter.
So it has nothing to do with prophecy or prayer it is not public speaking as such. Its not? Oh no, that kind of behavior, you know that would disturb Christian fellowship. That's what he's referring to.
In the same way we admonish our children don't talk in church, it's the same thing he's saying to women. We need to understand this too. That in those times women were in a place of subjection. In fact very few were literate. Let their better educated husband or father explain what she has not understood in those times.
You see what Allen's suggesting although I love the man and highly respect him. He suggesting that we just can't read the text as the text. No what we have to do is understand it was for those people in that time.
I have a problem with that. And my problem is verse thirty three. What does it say: For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints? Let your women keep silent in the churches.
If it was just for that time and just for those people why would he not say that? And if in fact it was just for those times and for that people why would this section of scripture to this day be so controversial? What has happened in the last hundred years?
Let me tell you what's happened in the last hundred years. Sadly we've continued to look at the Bible and if in fact my life doesn't match the word of God. I can either change my life or I can. Yeah I can change the word of God, that's what I need to do.
Thus in 2002 I didn't see it on just one cover, I saw it on a couple of covers. It was the great debate between the New International Version translation and the Old New International Version translation. What's that? I don't know if you know this but the folks that put together the NIV, the New International Version translation decided to put together a "T" or Today's New International Version translation. And the Today's New International Version translation is going to be gender sensitive. So gender sensitive not only was the debate in Christianity Today but also World Magazine.
And in 2002 what we found was both sides of the fence screaming and shouting. You don't understand we've been so offensive and certainly people are bound to misunderstand that when the scriptures say fathers discipline their sons. Is that to mean that moms can't discipline their sons?
Oh gee I'm that dumb I can't figure that out. No I guess just dad's are supposed to discipline and moms are supposed to stand by? Could the word mean parents?
What about when the apostle Paul stands before the people of Areopagus he says, oh men of Areopagus. Was it just men or was it people? Wait a second now we're confusing the issue and how confusing have we become?
Well we've become so confusing on the subject of gender. We find even in the body of Christ. We had to deal with it a couple of times even in the last few weeks where people who are dressed as women are not really women but their men.
And we had to ask somebody who's involved in the women's Bible study not to go to that women's Bible study any more because I felt and we felt that they were being deceitful. On the other hand however we found and this just happened a couple of weeks ago there was guy who had been living as a girl for the last couple of years of his life and closer to forty years of age he felt like something was missing in his life. So he finally decided to put on women's clothes, get himself implants take harmones and live the life as a women.
But that didn't' satisfy. And on his search he ended up right here in church service. It was a several months ago moment in his life that he heard the voice of the Lord right here on a Sunday morning. He gave his life to Jesus Christ and he's wonderfully changed. I saw him just a few weeks after his conversion and he saw me in the hallway and he had tears in his eyes and he said, "I'm so changed," he said, "I never was confident or comfortable being a man but I am more so than ever." He said, but I, I still got my, my boots he said. And I said well you hang in there, let me make a couple of phone calls. And I called a doctor in this fellowship.
And I said hey can you do me a favor? There's a guy in the church that he wants to celebrate his manhood but he made a decision a few years back to have his body changed. Can you help him reverse that change? And it was just a week or so ago that, that man offered his services and took those implants out. And I saw that man a full man.
Why would he want to be a full man? Here's why. Listen again, because design dictates definition. You see? But what has happened today in our world is this, listen carefully. If a child comes out of the womb and there's a physical defect. I think you know this we're quick to say oh they're missing something we need to. And weather it's a prosthetic device or weather its physical therapy we know what normal is so we try to get the physical body to what normal would be.
But if in fact that same child comes out with a mental defect, or some kind of physiological skew, what happens? Well here's what we're being told by psychologists today. Embrace it. Why? Well because, whatever they're thinking whatever they're feeling you don't want to be offensive. Don't tell them that they can't change, and don't tell them that that doesn't work. Just embrace it.
Yeah but what if the bible says oh you Christians and your Bible. Shame on you. NO, no, no wait a second, don't you understand? That although society might change, this word of God should never change. Do you understand? And at sometimes we need to get back at what we know is right?
Oh please as I've discovered between the 1880's and 1960's something happened. And I was reminded of that something happening. Why? Well I happened to run into this interesting kind of excerpt out of, listen to this, a 1950's Home Economic Text Book. This Public School 1950's Home economics' Text Book is helping girls learn how to be great wives in marriage.
Oh you'll find this a hoot, listen to this. Number one: women hold on to your hearts. One: have dinner ready plan ahead even the night before. To have a delicious meal on time this is a way of letting him know that you are thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Now that's just number one, number two: Prepare yourselves, take fifteen minutes to rest up so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up put a ribbon in your hair, be fresh looking. He's been with a work weary people and being a little gay and a little more interesting, well his boring day may juts need a lift.
Number three: clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives gathering up school books and toys and paper. Then run a dust cloth over all the tables. Your husband will feel like he's reached his haven and order. And it will give you a lift too.
Number four: prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if their small. Comb their hair if necessary, change their clothes. They're little treasures and he would like to see them playing that part. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Now here's what's happening. The guys want me to continue. And the women are saying get behind me Satan. Wait, no, no, no, maybe not that. But listen to number five. Minimize the noise. At the time of arrival eliminate all noise of dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some don'ts, don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain even if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared to what he might have had to go through for the day. Ha ha ha.
Number seven, make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair; suggest he lie down in a bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him and arrange his pillow, offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Number eight. Listen to him, you may have a dozen things to tell him but the moment is not his arrival. Let him talk first. Number nine. Make the evening his. Never complain that he doesn't take you out to dinner, other places, entertainment. Instead try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his need to be at home and just relax.
Number ten: the goal. Try and make your home a home of peace and order where your husband can relax. Listen ladies that's the goal. Now listen, some of you are saying, "You've got to be kidding me."
But I say to you I know couples who were married in the fifties and they're still married today. I know people that were married last week and they're in court. You say Pastor Bob, you don't mean to tell me you really believe this I mean come on, that's what you're reading out of this section of scripture?
No, no, no but what I am suggesting once again is that God has a structure, God has a plan, God has a reason. And when it comes to this section of scripture if you're thinking I'm avoiding it. No, no, no if in fact I dig deeper, here's what I'll find. Listen carefully, please, please, please. I'll find that he word of God is the best commentary for the word of God.
You see I realize Allen has his views and I realize Albert has his views, but what I want to do is get God's view. I really want to know what He has to say about this section of scripture. So where do we go? Well we consult the word of God. And in the word of God you can easily see what a women's role is in the church. Again the Bible study title, "What is a Woman to do?" Let me tell you something, there's a lot to be done. Number one if your taking note, ladies write it down, 1st Corinthians chapter eleven, you can pray and you can prophecy in the church.
Now what is prophecy? Now prophecy we already learned is a spiritual utterance. Yes you're allowed to speak and you're actually allowed to say inspired things. There's no problem with you praying or prophesying.
Number two Romans 16:1, the Bible tells me that there's a women named Phoebe, the apostle Paul's writing to the Church of Rome he says, listen when Phoebe gets there, she's an incredible servant. And the word he employs for servant is where we get our English word for Deacon. We have a female Deacon she's a Deaconess and not only is she a Deaconess. He says help her with the business affairs of the church. She an administrator.
So we see that the church has praying women, the church has prophesying women, the church deaconess and the church has administrative people in position that are also women.
But listen number three. A women can also be a great Evangelist. Matthew 28:7 that was they're job first. How's that? Remember it was Mary that went to the empty tomb. And an angel meets outside, what does the angel say? Hey Mary look do me a favor, go tell his disciples that Christ has risen from the dead. I'll prove my point.
How many of you here in this room were told about Jesus Christ the very first time from a women? Let me see your hands. How many of you were told about Jesus Christ the very first time from a man? Fewer hands. Do you understand that a women can evangelize and evangelize effectively? Women can administrate and administrate effectively? A women can Deacon and Deacon very effectively. She can pray, she can prophecy, and listen tot his number four. According to Acts chapter eighteen and verse twenty six, a women can with a guy teach another guy.
That's when Perscilla along with her husband Aquallia, or Aqualla some would pronounce his name. They'd find themselves pulling an apostle aside and they'd spend time with him and show him the righteous way of God.
So then if a women can teach another guy with a guy, if a women can Deaconess if in fact she can evangelize, if in fact she can pray. Pastor Bob what can't she do? What is this referring to?
Well I also asked you to turn in your Bibles to 1st Timothy chapter two and verse eight. 1 Timothy 2:8 we read: I desire therefore that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.
You say well that's for men. Exactly. Please not with me he's exhorting men to do something that quite honestly I don't know comes so natural to them.
I don't know that it's your normal inclination to say hey here's what I'd like to do guys. I want to get together with a group of guys, I want to lift holy hands to God and find myself in prayer. No.
But I do know a lot of women that love to do that. So he's pulling the men out of their comfort zone and says guys listen, you've got to be men of prayer. And now verse nine, in like manor. What's he saying?
He saying in the same way I've got an exhortation for the men that doesn't necessarily come natural to them, in the same manner in the same spirit I say that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel. With propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. And in verse eleven. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Your attention please.
The Old King James reads it this way. I do permit a women to usurp authority over the man. So the only thing I can that a women can't do in the body of Christ is be Senior Pastor. You say well what do you mean? I mean to tell you that for a purpose and for a protection God has ordained there's this structure there's this rank, there's this order. And that structure that rank your order here's what he's suggesting, here's what he's submitting. He's saying it's just for all the right reasons.
I don't want a women to usurp authority over a man? What does the word usurp mean? Well the word usurp simply means this, it means listen to force without legal authority. To force without legal authority. Let me illustrate it to you this way. Let's say for a moment I'm driving down the road and I pick up speed. And I'm just really cruising not paying attention to my speedometer at all and I see those red and I see those blue lights behind me. I pull over.
Now it's a big guy and he walks over and he says, I want to see your license. Now do I say to him, hey give me a break, I'm not giving you my license, leave me alone. Turn off those lights get back in your car I'm driving. No I don't do that.
Why don't I do that? Because I'd be in big trouble if I did that. Hey let me tell you something. If I even start to get out of my car. Get in your car. I want to get out and stretch my legs. If you're going to be writing a ticket I got a least five minutes.
Get in your car. I have to obey him why? It's a matter of rank and order. It's a matter of reasonable submission. Now what if that happens to be a female officer. Let me tell you something. I do the exact same thing. Why? It doesn't matter if it's a female or a male. Why? God has ordained local government and local authority as a part of the rank and order. I submit to law enforcement. Why? I'm called to submit to law enforcement and it's the way life works.
In the home you mean to tell me? Here's what I mean to tell you. You only need to turn a couple of pages back; we've already did this, but let's do it again. Its 1st Corinthians chapter eleven, drawing your attention to verse three. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ and the head of every woman is man. And the head of Christ is God. What is that?
There is a role a rank a responsibility in the body of Christ and when you as a women say. Hey let me tell you something man, here's what God's word says and here's what you need to be doing. Let me tell you something it ain't going to go that far. And the only places it will go far listen to this, is where truth is not honored or revered.
What is that? I want to try and be very tactful when I say this, but you know that a lot of cults, and a lot of cultict behavior is either established or propeicated by women. Why? Because there's this is natural thing in a women to get close to God. And if she desires to get close to God it's the place for reasonable mistake a mayhem.
So God says, let me tell you something. When it comes to what happens in the home, when it comes to what happens in the church. I'm going to put the man in a responsible position; I'm going to ask the wife not to take that responsibility because by my grace I've given it to Him?
Pastor Bob this is a hard teaching, I don't know how far you expect this church to grow or go with that kind of Bible study? Oh I understand, and listen to me. Those who object to this kind of teaching. I'm not surprised.
You see I shared the spirit of this in a wedding ceremony a few years back and right after that wedding ceremony I met a women. Brash and bold in the hallway. And do you know what she said to me? I can't believe your church teaches that a women must submit to her husband. And then she said this, it blew my mind. She said, I've been married three times and I've never submitted to any of my husbands.
Really? I couldn't believe she said that. I'm familiar with another Pastor who preached a similar message and listen to this. After the study a very similar bold and brash women approached him and said, submission to a husband. Why if you were my husband I'd put poison in your tea. And to that he said, if you were my wife, I'd drink it.
You understand the reason why? Now please understand the spirit of what I just said. Please, please, please here's my pint. The only time in life where a women takes authority over a man is when it's your son and your mommy. That's when it works really well. The problem however is that we have this condition called mothering, our sons are no longer our sons but pretty soon what happens is they becomes some else's husband and you still try and mother them.
And what happens in the natural response in a man's heart. Wait a moment don't what, what are you doing? You're mothering me. If you mother me what happens? Let me say this as tactfully as I can. He doesn't want to be intimate with his mother. And in the same way he said to his mom, I'm getting out of here, and it will only be a short period of time he says, I'm getting out of here.
So what happens is the women says I've got to rise in dominance because he's failing, and rather the he rise in dominance and do the right thing, you just simply take his place. No, no, no, no, no, no, why? Why? Why can't a women be Senior Pastor? Here's why. The apostle Paul continues in 1st Timothy 2:13 he says, For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. What?
Its purpose and its protection. Listen again, its purpose in thirteen I purpose that Adam had this responsibility and made him first and he has that role. But in addition to that not just first in chief. I also want you to know women that it was your mistake what happened in the garden.
It wasn't intentional and I understand that. You see Eve in the garden wanted to be more like God. And when the serpent came to deceive her he was very effective deceiving her. Why? I, I just want to be closer to God.
So when a couple of guys show up on a bicycle on a Saturday to your house and they go, do you want to be closer to God? What happens? The women says I want to be closer to God will you come in a teach me Bible study? We'll come in and teach you Bible studies on Monday. What happens?
She finds herself involved in a cult, next thing you know she's telling her husband, putting the press or the pressure on him. And now he joins the cult, where did that start? Where does it start and where does it stop?
You say no you've got to understand just a few things. What is it that I want you to understand? Well as we come close to a close there's just three things. Jot them down this way. One, it's a matter of type and truth, type and truth, type and truth. What do I mean by type?
In the Bible the word of God is filled with typology. And that Adam represents not just to us mankind. Listen to this, Adam is also a type of Christ. So Adam plays the part of man, and who plays the part of women? Well of course it's Eve, but in the body of Christ, in the word of God, a women is also a bride.
Now who is also a bride but a bride is also the church. Who is also the groom? Well the groom is Jesus Christ. Now pay careful attention. Jesus is the Word of God is also type of a groom. And you and all of us and my self included are represented at the Bride. So the bride takes direction from the groom.
So do you think then when we come into the home he'd change that structure? No it's a part of why the type and truth is there. It's four that structure. Now let me take it one step further. Jesus Christ is the groom, goes forth and marches into battle for his bride. He's going to protect his bride spiritually and he fights hell to make sure that she is rescued. Men that's your job to fight hell for your family and for your wife. It's not your wife's job. Why?
Listen, no, no, no. The wife who is the Eve and who is the bride she needs protection. Why? All she wants to do is get close to God. And she doesn't want to make any mistakes. So much so that in the word of God, listen carefully, the Bible we just read declares. Look at verse fourteen: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Adam was not deceived? Wait a minute I don't understand that.
Adam transgressed therefore we all transgressed the Bible says in Romans chapter five. No, no, no, no, no. Adam knew better, he wasn't deceived. That was deliberate rebellion on Adam's behalf. Eve, she was truly deceived. So much so, check it out; you don't need to turn there. Romans 5:14, Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who is to come.
So not only isn't Adam a type of man who fails but he's also a type of Christ who rescues. Let me tell you something. You don't mess with that men in the body of Christ. You don't say hey we're going to take this picture of who Jesus is with the man he's called to be and put a women in that place. No, no, no, no don't do that not in a Senior Pastor role. It's a matter of type and truth.
Listen, number two, it's also a matter of role and responsibility. Role and responsibility. Listen, it's in more than one place and it's more specifically its in 1st Timothy three and two. The Bible says that a Pastor or a bishop is supposed to be a man of one wife. It doesn't say that the Bishop or the Pastor is supposed to be a wife of one man. Why? Here's why. I have this responsibility. I'm caring for the congregation as best a shepherd can while my wife cares for the kids as best she can. And if we reverse those roles, it won't work that well.
If we reverse that role here's what's going to happen. she's going to stand before the body of Christ, but she's also going to sit in the spot of serious spiritual battle. Is she well protected to fight the devil all on her own without my help? Well I'm caring for the kids, and what am I'm doing?
Well here's what I'd be doing last week if I was Diane. I'd be taking Katie to a store to find disco apparel for a seven year old disco birthday party for one of her best friends. So what I'd come home with is little disco ball earrings, and some sparkle shoes and a nice pair of bell bottoms so she can dress up like a disco girl.
Is that what I'd be doing? NO! It's not what I'd be doing. I might sprinkle a little sparkles spray and her head and send her off but I'm interested and I'm not that patient to care for my daughters needs like my wife would be or is. Do you understand the difference?
The difference is that when you son falls down on the ground if your a man you say get up. I hurt myself. Give me a rub, give me a rub. You rob an open wound, that's what you do dad, do you understand? Mom will bandage that open wound, and there's a difference between men and women. So God says when it comes to the church and the spiritual battle and the responsibilities of the ministry, I want a guy to do that.
And if there's no guy to do it, may it be a sad footnote on your society. But here's instead what we find. Come on women take that senior Pastor role because you're so sensitive and don't want to be offensive, and don't want anybody against you. Where you find a female Pastor, you'll also find, come on in gay people, oh come on in strange teaching, come on in unity doctrine, come on in, everyone's welcome here. Why?
Well because I don't want to offend anyone, I don't' want to hurt anyone, and truth is it's a tough one for me because I'm so relationally minded rather than reason based and logically minded. It's just what happens. So again I say, cults, cultic behavior. Look to find a women involved. And I'm not saying that so much in a chauvinistic way I'm saying that in a very realistic way.
It's a matter of type and truth, it's a matter of roles and responsibilities, but it's also a matter of and here's the final footnote, fit an fellowship. Fit and fellowship what do you mean by that? Well here's what I mean. When it comes to you right here in the body of Christ today going I can't believe it's my last Sunday here, you're so antiquated. Do you know how many women are doing men's job today? I do. But you know what I also know. Is that a majority of those women are not satisfied at al in those male roles. How do I know that? Check it out.
Executive women and the myth of having it all. Where's that come from? Harvard Business Review. What's that Pastor Bob? I'm telling you recent research at Harvard University tells me that a lot of the women that have climbed the career later all the way to the top. Have gotten to the top to look back at their homes and say I miss something. Something is wrong with this picture.
So much so listen, the author of this article has a side bar. Listen to what we read under the sub title reality and regret. The findings presented in this article are compelling in the way that brutal statistics can be. But for me, now this is the particular writer. The most powerful evidence of a problem came from the personal stories I heard while conducting the research. Going into the interviews I had assumed that if an accomplished women were childless surely they had chosen to be.
I was prepared to believe that the exhilaration and challenge of a mega watt career made it easy to opt out of motherhood. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I surveyed these women about children, their sense of loss was.
Well consider Lisa Polksy who joined Morgan Stanley in 1995 as the Managing Director after a successful fence at City Bank an Bankers Trust. She managed to make it on Wall Street the ultimate bash in of male market power. But when we met in 1999 our conversation focused on what she had missed. Pulsky 44 then and her child bearing days were over said to me. What knows at me is that I always assumed I would have children. Somehow I imagined that after, or that having a child was something I could get to in a year or so after the next promotion when I was more established.
Kate 52 a member of the medical faculty of the University of Washington felt the same way, "Looking back I think back why I allowed my career to obliterate my thirties", she told me, "I just didn't pay attention, I'm only just observing the consequences."
And then there's Stella Parsons 45 who had just been offered a chairmanship at Ohio State University the day I interviewed her. She waved my congratulations away; no, no, no I wish some of this career success is spilled over to my private life. I just didn't get it together in time. And then she whispered, "I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I still ache for a child."
Now keep that thought look with me 1st Timothy 2:15, what does it say? Nevertheless she will be saved in child bearing if they continue to faith, love and holiness with self control.
Now imagine that. Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul writes to young Timothy and says listen God's got this really cool structure. He wants a guy to be the Senior Pastor; he'd love to see the women focus on the family. Why? Well because in their focus on the family what will naturally happen is that they'll find their salvation, they'll find their hope, they'll find their dignity.
But if in fact you decide to reverse those roles, where will it lead to? I know where it leads. It leads to all of us kind of scratching our heads and saying, well what really am I supposed to do anyway. You know? I get done with my busy day and I go home and do the laundry and I try to help my wife with the kids. But then she's out doing this and that and this and that, and her role has been so fractured by what we expect society is telling her to be more like a man.
And the women as she, as the man tries to stop by the grocery store and make sure there's enough groceries why? Well because she said last week why don't you try cooking dinner? He said okay I'll give it a try. And she he ill equip is trying his best but failing. She ill equip Is trying her best but failing, but nobody's' willing to go back to the book and say maybe God knew what he was talking about in the first place.
No can't do that. Why? Well because, we might offend someone. That's what we might do. Let me tell you something, it's high time we were offended. Why? I'm watching even in Christian circles the divorce rate continue to ..... and it's like the roller coaster ride where you get to the top and you go what is going on? And suddenly there's the quick slope downward and you find that your stomach is now rising to your throat and you go what is now going on?
You're on the ride of your life and it's not fun for you its terror. Why? Because you're still trying to do everything the world is telling you to do. Now God had the whole thing figured out early on and all we have to do is get back to these basics. And with these basics we can be the people God has called us to be. Amen?
Amen. Listen I'm not in competition with a women. Why? Because a women compliments a man. And if in fact the women in this ministry will determine to compliment their man and not be in competition with their man what will happen?
Well let me say something to you very sincerely, that list from the 1950's, if a women did that for a man how would her man feel? Like a king. And what he seeks is some incredible value in his wife, maybe value he's never seen before because she was doing thing. And quite genuinely so she wouldn't mind doing for a man that was willing to love her the way that Christ loves the church. I think I agree.
Now I realize I have inundated my office for requests for that 1950's list I realize that and a, I want you guys to know I already made up thousands of copies. And I had to close with something sounding
Closing Prayer:
Let's pray. Father we thank you so much for our time together and as we do say good-bye to this sanctuary setting. We know we have the opportunity to love out these principles practically in our life. And God if in fact that we have kind of women that has been determined to grab her share because no one else will see that she gets it. Lord you get it and you know it and you see the agony and frustration that comes from not finding a fit or a function according to your word.
Lord to the man that has just really dropped the ball spiritually speaking. He is not leading, he's not rescuing God help him to see that he can be so much more successful given the opportunity to do what he 's asked to do.
And Lord as the wife does her thing and the guy does his thing as a husband, Lord we'll find our home are those haven's of rest. A place where weary souls can come and discover father knows best. We thank you for this opportunity now in Jesus name amen.
Shall we stand?
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