The following was presented at a Mother/Daughter banquet for which the theme was given to the speaker, and a gospel presentation requested. It is given here at the request of a friend.
May 2015, Calvary Bible Church, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Part 1 The Gospel and What Follows
Give honor to whom honor is due, Romans 13:7 instructs.
Yet, there is none good but one, that is God, informs Matthew 19:17.
So, when we honor someone, it is not because they are perfect. Scripture instructs us to honor a variety of people simply because it is their due.
Did you know that every time we tell someone else’s failure or shortcoming, we are displaying–for all to see–our own great sin; the sin God hates: pride. We think we are better than those we talk about, and we end up stinking to God.
All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6.
Pity the person who thinks they don’t need Jesus to pay for their sins–the one who thinks they are a good person. They have no idea how perfect they would have to be. It’s an impossibility.
We owe God a debt we can’t pay–a sin debt.
John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 3:23 explains that the gift of God is eternal life.
The following chorus says it well:
Christ paid the debt he did not owe,
I owed the debt I could not pay,
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And now I sing a brand new song–Amazing Grace!
Christ Jesus paid my debt, that I could never pay.
To receive the gift of eternal life tell God you accept His gift. Believe the good news that Christ died in your place and paid your debt. Confess your belief to God.
After receiving God’s gift, the Word of God, the Bible, instructs us to:
1. forsake not the assembling of yourselves together…exhorting one another (Hebrews 10:25)
We call this church.
2. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) This is not a continual recitation of prayers, but an open communication between yourself and God continually.
3. Study to show thyself approved unto God. (2 Timothy 2:15)
How? a. read the Word of God
b. find answers. Learn to use study tools like Strong’s Analytical Concordance with the Greek/Hebrew dictionary, and Vine’s Expository Dictionary. These can be used on your computer or with a book in hand. A simple lesson or two from your Bible teacher will get you going.
4. Worship–bow down, prostrate oneself, bow the knee and face, bow the knee, bow the head, bow the heart.
Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
5. Praise — talk about what God does. Talk to God an to others.
Psalm 150
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 96:10
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
6. Do good works so others will notice and praise God: “Look at what those Christians have done! God makes a difference in their lives!” Try doing things in Jesus’ name instead of your own. Ex. The Lord sent me to do this for you. This is from the Lord.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Part Two–Some Ladies To Whom Scripture “Tips Its Hat”
When we begin and undertaking we are wise to look at the goal. What does the end of this undertaking look like?
When you hoe a row in the garden, how do you get a straight row? Keep looking at the end of the row while you hoe.
When cutting a line how do you make it straight without a straight edge? Look at the end while you cut.
In 1 Timothy 5:1-10 Paul is giving Timothy some pastoral training. He talks about which widows the church should be responsible for the care of. First, they are those who have no sons or nephews to care for them. Then, they must be at least 60. And then they must have some of the following recommendations:
1. These are ladies who trust in God (verse 5)
Proverbs 3:5,6 says,
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
2. These ladies continue in supplications–they ask God for what is needed for themselves and others.
3. She continues in prayer–God is her friend. She talks to him.
4. She is the wife of one husband–true to her vows.
Romans 7: 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Ecclesiastes 5: 4-6
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
5. She is well reported of for good works.
Some examples include Dorcas, also known as Tabitha (Acts 9: 36-42)
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Phebe (Romans 16:1),I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
and The Worthy Woman of Proverbs 31: 10-31.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
And what are these good works that our widow is being honored for?
a. if she has brought up children–caring for children is an around the clock job. No breaks guaranteed.
b. if she has lodged strangers–no room for the ignorance of prejudice here.
c. if she has washed the saints (those forgiven by the grace of God) feet–voluntarily takes on the role of a servant–humility.
d. if she has relieved the afflicted–compassion in action.
e. if she has followed every good work–there is such a variety of good works, there’s no way to list them all.
These are some of the types of ladies to whom scripture tips its hat. What kind of lady do you want to be?
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