How to Be the Best Woman Possible
Proverbs 31:30
DATE:
9 Mar, 1997 AM
Mother’s Day
PLACE: BBC Blarney
DATE:
14Mar, 1999
Mother’s Day
PLACE: BBC Mallow
I. Introduction - Eph 6:2,3 “Honour thy father and mother...”
A. I want to honour some folks here this morning. Some people that deserve some praise, and appreciation
B. I also want to help some folks here this morning. This message is mainly directed at Mothers, but will help all women, AND can help every MAN in the audience if they will pay attention, and apply what they hear!
C. Mom’s, I want to praise you today, and I want to help you too. Let me help you be the best you can be for the Lord!
II. Background (Proverbs 31:28-30) “The woman that feareth the LORD...”
A. I want to praise that woman most this morning most of all - the woman who fears God! You have heard the term “a God-fearing woman” or “God fearing man.” Those are some good terms! What do they mean?
B. Two kinds of fear:
1. Terror, dread, being frightened - living in anxiety - an unbalanced fear. A fear of the “unknown” and mysterious (like horror movies). That is how most religions portray their “gods” - mysterious, and unknowable.
2. Trusting fear - This is the kind of fear that God is referring to in Prov 31:30 - not in terror of, but in confident trust in their Lord - not only reverence, but submission (Ps 89:7; Rev 15:4) because of WHO God is! This woman here in Pr 31 is the most balanced, and capable person you will meet. Why? Because she knows God personally; she loves God fully; she serves God freely; and she is honoured by God faithfully!
C. To fear God is the starting place. You cannot say that you know God, or love God if you do not fear God (Prov 1:7; 9:10)
D. God give us this morning some God fearing Moms, Dads, and young people!
III.
Message - The
Woman that Fears God (Proverbs
31:30)
A. The Woman that Fears God - Knows God (Prov 1:7; 9:10; Jer 9:23,24)
1. Truly knows God - Not superstitious - but personal firsthand knowledge
a. She knows Who He really is - not a fairy tale, but the very God of gods who made heaven and earth, mighty in power and strength, and who loved this world enough to come and suffer for all our sins so that we could be saved! Religion doesn’t fool her! She knows her God!
b. She knows What He really does - He puts up with us! He keeps us alive and breathing, and gets us through each day. Maintains the order in this universe, and holds every atom and molecule together. He is not to blame for troubles, but Who sticks with us through every trial!
c. Those who dread God, do not know God, and therefore ought to dread meeting Him at death! The God of the universe is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28,29), until you meet Him at Calvary, and find salvation!
2. She has met Him:
a. On that day she humbled herself and cried out to God for forgiveness from her sin- the day she trusted Christ for eternal life!
b. In the pages of this Book as she has read it. God give us Moms with tattered Bibles that have been read thru, and wept over! God give us Moms who know the God of this Book! O that this Book would be more important than Neil Penderful, Marylin Finukin or Ophra Winfry!
c. In her time of prayer. She has met Him daily before His throne as she kneeled to pray and pour her heart out for her family, and needs, and heartaches!
She knows God - she has met Him, heart to heart! And it shows in her life
Have YOU met Jesus at the cross? Been saved from your sins?
B. The Woman that Fears God - Loves God (1 John 4:17-19)
1. This kind of fear does not produce dread, but delight - only the fear of God does that (Ps 34:4-10)!
a. This woman discovers that the greatest commandment (Dt 6:5) is not a burden, but a blessing and joy to fulfill! It comes naturally for the Christian woman, who only fears hurting her Saviour (Dt 5:29)!
b. When you know the God of this Book, you realize He is a perfect, all holy, pure and righteous Being that no person can approach to because of their sinfulness! No one! Not even Mother Theresa!
c. That fear causes you first to want to run and hide! Sin does that!
d. That is, until you find the Saviour, God’s Son, waiting to save you! That’s when you find true love, and it casts away dread, and terror, and replaces it with God’s love, and confidence, and forgiveness!
e. And that’s how godly fear brings about such an amazing relationship that can reconcile such opposites - a wicked, ungodly, hell-bound sinner; and a pure, perfect, and holy God!
2. A God-fearing woman loves God more than her family, and her husband - With all the attempts by society to destroy “the family”, the Bible leap-frogs OVER the family, and focusing people on loving Christ FIRST! If we get the BIG things right, than all the little things will fall into line!
a. A Christian Mom will want to please Christ more than anything - she understands how much she means to God, and decides to let God know just how much He means to her - in everything that she does!
b. That’s where she gets the ability to love such unlovable creatures as her husband, and rebellious children - from being loved, and loving God herself. Do you know the love of God? Have you fallen in love with him? He is altogether lovely! The Rose of Sharon!
c. Everyone in her family knows that Jesus Christ comes first in everything Mom does - He is not an afterthought, but her only thought!
d. Dads!? Everybody in your family ought to know this about YOU too!
C. The Woman that Fears God - Serves God (Dt 10:12)
1. The Christian woman is not a lazy woman in spiritual things - She serves!
a. And she serves God FIRST!
1) The only commendation ANY saint gets in heaven is “well done thou good and faithful SERVANT!”
2) Who do you serve? Does God just get the “left-overs” in your home, or is He KING of Kings there?!
3) The woman that fears God, fears letting Him down! She has a job to do for God before she has anything to do for you gentlemen!
b. She serves the Lord by:
1) Being a faithful soul-winner trying her best to tell her neighbours and friends about such a Saviour as Jesus! Opening their eyes!
2) Learning this Book well enough to teach it to someone else
3) Ministering to other people’s needs spiritual and physical!
2. The Christian woman is not an overly busy person either - she makes time to serve God
a. She protects Sundays - the Lord’s day!
b. She protects her quiet time with the Lord Jesus - praying, and Bible
c. She makes time to minister to other folks who need encouraging, who need help, who need a Christian friend!
D. The Woman that Fears God - Will be Praised (Prov 31:30; John 12:42,43)
1. In a day when women are looking for praise and adoration from every corner, I am here to tell you that God wants to stand up and praise you when you do right! And He will see to it that you get all the praise you deserve!
2. The God-fearing woman gets praised by her family
a. Saved or lost - they will praise her for her character and fullness of love that only a dedicated Christian Mom will have! no one respects a Mom who’s god is herself!
b. Her husband will honour her - God will see to it that he does!
c. Her children will rise up and call her blessed - a blessing to be around!
3. The God-fearing woman gets praised by a true Christian Church
a. Where Moms are valued, and treasured - not overlooked!
b. Thank God for godly Moms! You mean something here!
4. The God-fearing woman gets praised by the Lord most of all!
a. You have God’s word on it - He has made you a promise!
b. God honours those who honour Him! Wrote entire chapters about you!
c. Mom’s! We honour you because you have honoured us! But we all the more honour you as you decide to honour the Lord in your lives and homes! Will you do it? Will you fear and honour and love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ!
IV. Conclusion - Who here wants to be a God-fearing woman?
A. The Woman that Fears God - Knows God
1. Do you know God personally? Repented of your sins, and been saved?
2. If so, do you meet with Him daily:
a. In the pages of this Book
b. In your time of prayer!
B. The Woman that Fears God - Loves God
1. Delights in her relationship with Christ
2. That is how to get the ability to love such unlovable creatures as your husband, and rebellious children - from being loved, and loving God
C. The Woman that Fears God - Serves God
1. Are you a lazy woman in spiritual matters ? Serve God! Keep Him FIRST!
2. The Christian woman is not an overly busy person either - she makes time
a. She protects Sundays - the Lord’s day!
b. She protects her quiet time with the Lord Jesus - praying, and Bible
c. She makes time to minister to other folks who need encouraging, who need help, who need a Christian friend!
D. The Woman that Fears God - Will be Praised
I stand here right now and thank God for godly mothers! I shout and rejoice for Moms who love God more than anything! I can’t help but get excited about Moms who serve their Lord with all their heart! Thank you Moms!