(Kent Heaton)
Role models are very important for our day and time as much as there has always been. The power of influence possesses us from birth and we emulate so much of what is around us. In our families we become much as those we are associated with and the values held by our peers many times become embedded in our own character.
In pausing to reflect upon the influence of the woman, a call is sent forth for the influence of godly women. As the hand that rocks the cradle rules the hearts of those who rule the world, so the power of the godly woman will help to mold and build a better world for all mankind.
In the creation of man, God recognized that it was not good for him to be alone. He needed someone to complete him and ensure the continued blessing of creation. When God brought the woman to Adam, the completeness of creation was evident. Through the creation of the woman, a powerful force of influence was introduced upon mankind.
The influence of the woman was tempered by the need of being a godly influence. The godly woman is one who brings the essence of kindness, piety and holiness into the world about her. Paul expressed this attribute in 1 Timothy 2:10 -
"which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." It is evident by her actions that she is the example of a godly woman.Titus was instructed to teach sound doctrine for the older women to teach the younger women the importance of their influence as godly women.
"The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (Titus 2:3-5) The godly woman is the example of reverence and holiness in their character and in their work.Women who strive to be godly will not be loud, boisterous or clamorous. They will possess the characteristic of Peter's writing in 1 Peter 3:3-4 -
"Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." What is important (precious) in the sight of God is what is in the inside of the woman. Godly women possess the quiet spirit of meekness and gentleness.Peter gives Sarah as an example of a godly woman as she trusted in God, submitted to Abraham and was called a
"holy woman." The example of the godly woman is shown in "chaste conduct accompanied by fear ...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,." (1 Peter 3:2; 1:15) Examples of godly women can be found in Ruth, Esther, Mrs. Noah, Mary the mother of Jesus, Dorcas, Lydia, Phoebe and a host of others who stand as examples of holy living.Through the work of godly women who are seeking to present themselves as holy women of God in the relationship of daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and child of God, the world can become a better place. From the hand of godly women we can see a power to change the course of history.
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies ... many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:10,29,30)Healing And The Matter Of Faith
(Kent Heaton)
Many in the religious world claim to possess the healing powers as exhibited by the Lord and the Apostles in the First Century. Thousands throng to assemblies where so-called "healers" perform their work of taking people destitute with affliction to heights of wonderful joy in the glow of God's healing power. Testimonies are offered time and time again of the healing hand of many who claim to be empowered with the Spirit of God. When challenges confront these healers and evidence is shown that in truth, no one has been healed, the explanation is offered that the one in whom the healing should have taken place did not have enough faith.
Personal faith is magnified as a prerequisite or condition upon the person being healed. If no healing takes place, the blame is leveled against the person's own faith. By examining the healing's performed by Jesus Christ, we can see a pattern of healing and faith.
In the story of the two blind men being healed (Matthew 9:27-31), personal faith was positively required. Jesus asked them directly, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" They replied they did and Jesus healed them. It will be seen in this study that this is the only time in the thirty-one cases of the Lord's healing's where personal faith was positively required.
In Matthew 20:29-34, two blind men sat by the way side and heard that Jesus was passing by. They cried out for mercy and Jesus ask them what they wanted Him to do. Unlike the blind men in Matthew 9, Jesus did not ask if they believed but rather what they desired for Him to do. We understand that some faith was present but not required to be healed. This was true in the healing of the Leper (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16), the man blind from birth (John 9:1-7;), the man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:10-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-11), many in Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:55,56) and the impotent man of John 5. One specific case as example of some faith present but not required was the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48).
There are five recorded healing's where the sick person was healed upon the faith of others. Matthew 15:21-28 records the daughter healed based upon the faith of her mother: "And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed ... Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour." Such is the case with the demoniac child (Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:37-43), the Nobleman's son (John 4:46-54), the palsied man (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26) and the Centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10).
Eight cases present themselves with no evidence of faith at all upon the ones healed: two demoniacs at Gadara (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-40), many near Galilee (Matthew 15:29-31), the deaf and dumb man (Mark 7:31-37), the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), many at Galilee (Matthew 4:23,24; Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:17-29), many at Capernaum (Matthew 8:16,17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40,41), the demoniac in Capernaum synagogue (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:33-370 and the servant of Malchus (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-53; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12).
Four times Jesus healed those where faith was impossible upon the one being "healed." The son of the widow of Nain was dead and through the compassion of Jesus he was brought to life (Luke 7:11-17). The impotent man at the pool of Bethsaida did not know who Jesus was and yet was healed (John 5:2-13). Lazarus was brought forth from the grave by the power of Jesus and still no faith was exhibited on his part at the time of the healing (John 11:1-46). The daughter of Jairus was healed and no faith possible on her part was seen (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49-56)
The next time a so-called "faith healer" tries to convince you that due to lack of faith on your part you are not healed, remind them of these passages and then offer them one more - 1 John 2:22.
(Kent Heaton)
A story is told of a little girl named Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and she had to wear a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell her daddy she had competed in "field day" - that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her leg support, her daddy thought of a number of ways to encourage Sarah to keep from this getting little Sarah down. Before he could get a word out, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!" He couldn't believe it! He thought she must have been given a head start or some kind of physical advantage. But again, before he could say anything, she declared, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start ... My advantage was I had to try harder!"
For many of us, it is easy to let difficulties in our lives keep us from striving very hard for our goals. Our world is molded upon the premise that everything must be gained with ease and comfort. If things do not go according to our plans and the way we thought things should be, we give us and complain. The pursuit of happiness is to be gained with little cost and much less effort. Many fail to achieve anything in life because with each challenge presented before them, they try to find another way to go. As many times people give up on life because of difficulties that come upon them and they are consumed by their grief.
The attitude of Sarah is the kind of attitude expressed by God's people in overcoming whatever comes upon them. She recognized her inability's and knew in order to compete for the prize, she would have to try harder than the others. They could offer her an easy way to win by putting her ahead of the race and giving her a greater advantage than the others. She believed that even in her condition she would try harder than ever before. It was not that she was guaranteed to win but her heart told her to try hard.
The life of Joseph in the book Genesis is a story of a young man who had everything to live for in life until one day his life became a brutal existence of slavery. From that terrible beginning, Joseph never bemoaned his station but he tried even harder to serve God. For his diligence and faith in God, he was rewarded with God's protection and blessings.
Job did not understand what happened to him in the calamity of his life. Through it all he rang forth to message of victory in believing that God had not deserted him. The book of Job is not about suffering but about faith and victory in the face of terrible odds. Job had to try harder than ever before - and he was rewarded.
Paul shares from his own life the plea he made with God to deliver him from a thorn as a messenger of Satan to buffet him. He pleads with the Lord three times to have it taken away and the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Paul expressed his faith in the Lord when he said,
"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."Paul was running the race with an affliction and while he pleads with the Lord to have it removed, he accepted the knowledge that it would not be taken away and he just tried harder. This helps us understand even more what Paul felt when he wrote, "
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) He ran with an affliction of flesh and spirit and he just ran harder - that was his advantage."Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."
(Romans 5:1-4)(Kent Heaton)
The difficulties we face today with our young people are rooted in the nature of the society we have accepted and allowed to become our way of life. The cry goes forth to stem the tide of young people becoming parents without considering alternatives of their actions. The number of teen pregnancies is astounding to those who are concerned and seek to guide the minds of young people. This problem is not new nor is it unique to our day and time.
From the beginning of man's walk in a world of sin the lure of temptation has constantly been present in everything around him. The devil has sought well to saturate the minds and bodies of men and women to commit those things that are unrighteous. When looking for the cause and tenor of teen pregnancies, we must look at how we perceive the word of God.
Teen pregnancies are on the rise because in pulpits around this country those who are to speak the word of God tremble at the thought of saying that anything is sinful. From the fear of causing feelings to be hurt or revenues to be lost, the teaching of God's word is kept from being taught with reproof and rebuke of sin. It is not the alternatives of teen pregnancy that we should be concerned about but rather the consequences of fornication. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication ... and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
There are no illegitimate children but illegitimate young people who engage in sexual activity that is sinful and damning to the soul. Pregnancy does not happen without sexual activity and the pulpits of the land must stand and preach the whole counsel of God to condemn the freedom given to men and women to engage in whatever form of expression they deem needed. Many young people are only following in the example of adults who believe they can engage in sexual freedoms.
The desire of young people to engage in sex outside of marriage is rooted in the failure to teach modesty and propriety. When young men and young women dress themselves with scant clothing, revealing apparel and seductive attire - it is no wonder sex is so free in our schools. One only has to sit and watch the manner of dress among our young people in our schools and see the kinds of temptations that are presented before them. There is no dress code at school and the fleshly revelations are mere appetizers to what is to come.
Our young people are bombarded daily on television with sexual promiscuity. Popular movies such as "Titanic" portray nude women and sex as normal. Music elevates the mind to think more about "making love" and enjoying all the pleasures of life. Paul wrote to a young man and said, "Flee youthful lust; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)
Teen pregnancy is the product of the society we have allowed to invade our homes. As parents we must guard and protect our children with every fiber of our being to help them remain pure in thought and mind. The siren of the world should not be heard in our lives and we must take a stand to be separate from the world. Our young people need the instructions and examples of adults to teach them to remain pure from the influences of the world.
The foundation of the word of God must be rooted deeply in the minds of our young people. When men treat the word of God as only what they want to apply to them, no wonder our teens view the Bible was disdain. Let us return to the old paths and seek purity in every part of our lives. Let us hear from the pulpits the truth from God's word. Let us see parents who are taking the responsibility given to them from God to train their children. Let us not neglect our youth!