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Woman of God: Controller or Servant PART 1: THE CONTROLLER Beverly Bradley I. INTRODUCTION
A. A primary reason to control
B. Control defined
C. Eve's temptation Gen 3:1-6
Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
D. What we are to control 1 Thessalonians 4:4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
E. Who is to control us 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. {15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
F. The picture of a servant Phil 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Ps 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
II. WOMEN WHO SOUGHT TO CONTROL
A. JEZEBEL -- 1 Kings 19:2-3; 21:5-25 1 Kgs 19:2-3 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." {3} Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
1 Kgs 21:25 (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
1. Character flaw Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. {14} But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. {15} Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. {16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. {17} But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. {18} Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
2. The result
2 Kings 9:33-35 "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. {34} Jehu went in and ate and drank. "Take care of that cursed woman," he said, "and bury her, for she was a king's daughter." {35} But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands.
B. MIRIAM -- Numbers 12:2-3
Numbers 12:2-3 "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this. {3} (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
1. Character flaw #1
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
2. Character flaw #2
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
3. The result
Prov 31:11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Prov 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
C. MARTHA -- Luke 10:38-42; John 11:5-45; 12:1-3
Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. {39} She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. {40} But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" {41} "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, {42} but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
John 12:1-3 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {2} Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. {3} Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
1. Character flaw #1
2. Character flaw #2
3. Result #1
4. Result #2
5. Result #3
Woman of God: Controller or Servant PART 2: THE SERVANT
I. INTRODUCTION
A. How we learn to serve
1. Matt 20:28 Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. Matt 11:28-30 Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2. Rom 12:1-2 Rom 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
B. RUTH -- Ruth 1-4
1. Character strength #1 Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. {17} Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."
Ruth 2:11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.
2. Character strength #2 Ruth 2:8 So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls.
Ruth 3:3-5 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. {4} When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do." {5} "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered.
3. Result #1 Ruth 2:12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
4. Result #2 Ruth 2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
Ruth 2:18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
5. Result #3 Ruth 2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
6. Result #4 Ruth 2:15-16 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her. {16} Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her."
7. Result #5 Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.
1 Peter 3:6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
2 Timothy 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
C. SARAH -- 1 Pet 3:4-6
1 Peter 3:4-6 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. {5} For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, {6} like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Luke 1:74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
1. Character strength #1 -- 1 Pet 3:4 1 Peter 3:4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
2. Character strength #2 1 Peter 3:5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,
3. Result #1 1 Peter 3:6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
4. Result #2
D. MARY, mother of Jesus -- Luke 1:26-48
1. Character strength #1 Luke 1:29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
2. Character strength #2 Luke 1:38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
3. Character strength #3 Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
4. Result Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
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