ISAIAH 25
Praise the LORD for HIS mighty power verse 1- 3
O LORD – YOU are my God – I will exalt YOU
I will praise YOUR name
for YOU have done wonderful things
YOUR counsels of old are FAITHFULNESS and TRUTH
For YOU have made of a city an heap – of a defensed city a ruin
a palace of strangers to be not city – it shall never be built
THEREFORE shall the strong people glorify YOU
the city of the terrible nations shall fear YOU
Praise the LORD for HIS protection of poor verse 4- 5
For YOU have been a strength to the poor
a strength to the needy in his distress
a refuge from the storm
a shadow from the heat
when the blast of the terrible ones
is as a storm against the wall
YOU shall bring down the noise of strangers
as the heat in a dry place
even the heat with the shadow of a cloud
the branch of the terrible ones
shall be brought low
Praise the LORD for HIS prepared feast verse 6- 8
AND in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make to all people
a feast of fat things – a feast of wines on the lees
of fat things full of marrow
of wines on the lees well refined
AND HE will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast
over all people – AND the veil that is spread over all nations
HE will swallow up death in victory
AND the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces
AND the rebuke of HIS people shall HE take away
from off all the earth
for the LORD hath spoken it
Praise the LORD for HE can be trusted verse 9
AND it shall be said IN THAT DAY – Lo – this is our God
we have waited for HIM – and HE will save us
this is the LORD
we have waited for him
we will be glad and rejoice in HIS salvation
Praise the LORD for HE deals with our enemies verse 10- 12
For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest
and Moab shall be trodden down under HIM
even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill
And HE shall spread forth HIS hands in the midst of them
as he that swims spread forth his hands to swim
and HE shall bring down their pride together with the
spoils of their hands
And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall HE bring down
lay low and bring to the ground even to the dust
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:1 “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). אֱמוּנָה [ʾemuwnah, or (shortened) ʾemunah /em·oo·naw/]- firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness.)
DEVOTION: I was in the hospital today visiting two people, the first a dear elderly lady who has known the Lord for many years. We had a wonderful time talking of the Lord and His work in and through our lives. She talked about desiring to be in heaven and the joy that would be. The second was one that stated he knew the Lord but his demeanor and desire to talk of the Lord was so different. I left one comforted and encouraged and the other wondering if he understood the meaning of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
Isaiah in the midst of difficult and distressful times still was able to praise his God! He looked to the Lord for His counsels of faithfulness and truth. Whether Isaiah was speaking for himself, future people, or a combination of both he knew God to be faithful.
What a powerful statement to individuals as they watch believers go through trials! If we are able to continue to exalt, praise and trust our Savior despite the circumstances people notice and respond.
CHALLENGE: As you face difficulties this week think about the people who are watching how you respond. Remember God is faithful! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify YOU, the city of the terrible nations shall fear YOU. (3513 “glorify” [kabad] means to weigh heavily upon, to praise, honor, to make honorable, or distinguish.)
DEVOTION: This verse is describing the earth when the LORD has returned to set up HIS kingdom. All nations will glorify and fear HIM. The fear of the LORD will spread to all nations during this time period.
Right now, there are very few areas that are truly glorifying the LORD. There are few places that are called “churches” that today are not really glorifying the LORD. They are full of false worship and false teachings.
It seems that many churches that used to preach the gospel are doing it now. They are more concerned with entertaining those who attend instead of challenging them to honor the LORD in their daily life. Very few are interesting in reaching the area around the church with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Today we live in an age where the average person who calls themselves a Christian are not reading their Bible or telling others about Jesus but are rather trying to fit in with the crowd, so that, they can just have fun and not have to worry about there they are going to spend eternity.
However, the day is coming when those who “claim” to be believers will stand before the LORD and answer the question “What have you done for ME?” Many will give excuses but the LORD doesn’t accept excuses.
Could it be that many who are members of churches will spend eternity in the lake of fire rather than in heaven? God is the final Judge and HE will judge on the basis of a genuine commitment to HIM by those who claim to be believers.
There is coming a day when the fear of the LORD will be real and those who were pretending to be believers will find out their final fate.
CHALLENGE: Are you part of the strong people who don’t care what others think but will be witnessing to them with the genuine message of salvation? God is going to judge fake believers even those who attend church every Sunday!
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: 4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. ( 6184 “terrible ones” [ariyts] means awe-inspiring, terror-striking, causing fear, champion, ruthless, violent men, and tyrants.
DEVOTION: Protection is needed in our world. We have local police who protect us from people who might attack us without reason. There are people who want to hurt those who are weak. We have armed forces as a nation to protect us from those who would like to do harm to our country. If they try to attack us they come to our defense. Those who are poor or needy need someone to stand up for them and help them when they are attacked by those who have money.
The best protection anyone can have is the protection God can give. HE is able to help the helpless. HE is able to help the poor. HE is able to help those who are facing storms in their life.
Finally, HE is able to protect those who are facing violent governments that hurt their people rather than protect them. In this passage they are called ruthless ones. They are called tyrants. But God is able to place them in a shadow of protection that they can’t get through.
If we are living under the protection of the LORD we should be praising the LORD for HIS protection during of all of the storms of life. We need to exalt HIM to others. We need to tell others of all the blessings HE has allowed in our life. We need to listen to HIS counsel because everything HE says is faithful and true.
We live in a world full of trouble and danger. We are not to be a fearful people if we know Christ as our personal Savior. We can turn to HIM during those times and ask for HIS strength to get us through every trouble that HE allows in our life. Our prayer life has to be lively.
Our enemy is lively. He would like to see us give up or fail. He delights in any of God’s children being afraid of him. That is not what the LORD wants us to feel.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM. HE will direct your path. Do you believe this truth taught in the Word of God? Live like you do.
CHALLENGE: If you fall into the categories above – trust in the LORD to protect you.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (5331 “victory” [netsach] means glory, majesty, eminence, perpetuity, strength, enduring, everlastingness, or enduring of live.)
DEVOTION: The LORD engulfs death forever. HE has strength over death. Death no longer has dominion on the earth. Without death there will be no more sorrow over the loss of a loved one. The enemies of the LORD’S people will no longer be able to kill HIS people.
During the millennium, Christ will rule and the enemies will be silent. At the uprising at the end of the millennium only the enemies of Christ will be judged. HIS servants will be surrounded with LIFE EVERLASTING. Praise HIS name.
There is a life after death. There is a life after death that can be called everlasting. It is appointed that all men will die. There are two places that are available for those men who die to go. One is heaven. The other is hell and finally to the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
The difference is that those who follow Jesus Christ into salvation through repentance of sin will spend eternity in heaven. Those who chose to not follow Jesus Christ will spend eternity in a literal place called hell. The choice of Jesus Christ as LORD in a life makes the difference. There will be no tears in heaven because the LORD wipes them away.
Today Biblical Christians are the blunt of many jokes. Today Biblical Christians are looked down on for being narrow minded. Our narrow mindedness is based on the Word of God that states there is only one way to heaven. That way is through Jesus Christ alone.
There are many who call themselves Christians who are not followers of Jesus Christ. Their claim is false based on their actions after they make the statement. Yes, all believers sin after they become followers of the LORD. There needs to be confession of sin to keep our fellowship fresh with the LORD. If there is no confession by genuine believers, the LORD sends weakness, sickness and premature death into their life. Those who not genuine followers of the LORD and they continue to sin with no chastening of the LORD are false believers. These individuals will be part of those who spend eternity in lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
CHALLENGE: Praise the LORD for a time in your life when all tears shall be wiped away. There are going to be tears while we are here on this earth but none in heaven. It will be something to sing about!!!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Isaiah worshiping the LORD verse 1- 5
Exalt God
Praise
Done wonderful things
Counsels of old are faithfulness and truth
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 6, 8 – 11
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 9
Wonderful works verse 1
Counsels of the LORD verse 1
Faithfulness verse 1
Truth verse 1
Strength to the poor verse 4
Strength of the needy verse 4
Refuge in a storm verse 4
Shadow from the heat verse 4
LORD of hosts verse 6
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 8
GOD – Jehovah verse 8
Lord GOD verse 8
Wipe away all tears verse 8
Rebuke of HIS people shall HE take away verse 8
HE will save us verse 9
Hand of the LORD rest verse 10
Spread forth HIS hand verse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Swallow up death in victory verse 8
Wipe away all tears verse 8
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Strangers verse 2, 5
Nations verse 3, 7
Moab verse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Terrible ones verse 4
Pride verse 11
Trust in high walls verse 12
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Exalt the LORD verse 1
Praise the LORD verse 1
Counsel of the LORD verse 1
Glorify the LORD verse 3
Fear of the LORD verse 3
Strength verse 4
Refuge verse 4
Victory verse 8
Wait on the LORD verse 9
Rejoice verse 9
Glad verse 9
Salvation verse 9
Rejoice verse 9
Rest verse 10
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
In this mountain verse 6, 7
Feast of fat things
Feast of wines
Fat things full of marrow
Wines
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Swallow up death in victory verse 8
In that day verse 9
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QUOTES regarding passage
ruthless, cruel, fierce, i.e., pertaining to acting very harshly toward another, implying usually a great deal of force or might is applied, instilling terror or fear in the object (Job 6:23; 15:20; 27:13; Ps 37:35; 54:5[EB 3]; 86:14; Pr 11:16; Isa 13:11; 25:3, 4, 5; 29:5, 20; 49:25; Jer 15:21; 20:11; Eze 28:7; 30:11; 31:12; 32:12+), (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
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More often it relates to the ruthless enemies of an individual (e.g. Ps 54:3 [H 5]; 86:14) or a nation (e.g. Isa 13:11; 25:3–5; 29:5; Jer 15:21). Ezekiel employs the phrase ʿārîa ṣê gôyim “the ruthless of the nations,” four times (Ezk 28:7; 30:11; 31:12; 32:12). (Allen, R. B. (1999). 1702 עָרַץ. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (699). Chicago: Moody Press.)
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9–10a, Testimony acknowledging God. In that day: this is the second elaboration (see pp. 188–190 above). They will say is singular in the Hebrew: it is the individual voice fully participating in a communal testimony to our God, affirming the blessed outcome of trustful hope (we trusted, ‘hoped’), found in the very presence of the Lord, enjoying his salvation. Subjective experience (we trusted) is matched by objective reality (This is the Lord). The saving work was wholly his, without human contribution. It was his salvation for which we simply waited in hope and trust. Saved (√yāša‘, along with its noun, yĕšû’â) is the work of God whereby he rescued his people (Exod. 14:13; 15:2; Ps. 68:19), made them his own (Deut. 32:15: Ps. 98:2–3), restored them to his favour (Pss 13:5; 106:4), and brought them under his rule (Isa. 51:6) and care (Ps. 119:123, 155). Verse 10a begins with ‘For’, explanatory of the blessings recounted in 6–9. Rest is √nûaḥ, which in its simple active mode as here never expresses violent action (contrast the hiphil, in 28:2). The down-resting hand is a token of care, shelter and blessing. On this mountain forms an inclusio with the opening of verse 6 and rounds off the poem. The Lord lays his hand on his mountain and on his gathered, world-wide, saved people: they are his, he accepts them, he purposes their blessing. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 193–194). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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9 Once more we hear a song of praise to the Lord (cf. 24:14–16; 25:1–5). It wonder fully expresses the joy in God that comes when patient trust finds its reward in a consummated salvation. Its ideas and language are thoroughly characteristic of this prophet, and different parts of the verse can be paralleled in many different parts of the book (e.g., 8:17; 12:1–6; 30:18; 33:22; 35:1–4, 10; 40:9; 49:25–26; 52:7–10; 60:16; 65:18). (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 160). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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25:9. In that day (cf. 24:21), the day when the believing remnant will be delivered, they (the saved ones) will affirm their trust in the Lord, who saved them. In response they will say let us rejoice and be glad in the salvation He provided. Meanwhile, in Isaiah’s day, believers in Judah were to rejoice in the Lord’s salvation. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1074). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The food that we eat only sustains life; but at this feast, death itself will be conquered. “On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isa. 25:7–8, NIV). The funeral will turn into a wedding! Verse 8 was quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54 and by the Apostle John in Revelation 7:17 and 21:4.
The “covering” and “veil” in Isaiah 25:7 may also suggest the blindness of Israel and the nations to the true God and Savior (2 Cor. 3:12–18; 4:3–4). When the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory, Israel “shall look upon Me whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10) and shall trust in Him for salvation. The veil shall be removed, and they will see their Messiah and their God. Then they will sing the song of Isaiah 25:9 as they enter into the great kingdom feast. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 62). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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25:9 Lord for whom we have waited. To wait for God entails an ultimate trust in Him, not becoming impatient when His timetable for final salvation differs from ours (cf. 26:8; 33:2; 40:31). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Is 25:9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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One can imagine something of the exultant joy of the remnant as they look upon the once-despised Jesus and see in Him the God of their fathers manifested in flesh. “Lo,” they cry, “this is our God; we have waited for Him.” Under His beneficent but righteous reign, their wanderings come to an end and they enter into possession of the land promised to Abraham and confirmed in the promise to David. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (p. 152). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 9. And it shall be said in that day, &c.] When the feast will be made for all the Lord’s people; when the veil and covering shall be removed; when death will be swallowed up in victory; when all tears shall be wiped away from the saints; when their rebuke shall be taken away from them; all which will be at the glorious appearing of Christ. Lo, this is our God; and not the idols of the Gentiles, or the works of their hands; but Christ, who is God over all, blessed for ever; Immanuel, God with us: the phrase is expressive of his true and proper deity, of faith of interest in him, and of the joy of it: we have waited for him, and he will save us; as the Old-Testament saints waited for his first coming, and for his salvation, believing that he would be the author of it: so New-Testament saints are waiting for his second coming; and to them that look for him, and expect his glorious appearing, who have their loins girt, and their lights burning, and wait for their Lord’s coming, will he appear a second time without sin unto salvation; to put them into the possession of salvation he has obtained for them, for which they are heirs, and is nearer than when they believed: this is the Lord, we have waited for him; looking, longing, and hasting to the day of his coming; this they will say, when they shall see him coming in the clouds of heaven; whither the living saints being changed, will be caught up to meet him, and upon meeting him shall thus greet him, and one another: we will be glad, and rejoice in his salvation; so suitable to them, so full, complete, and perfect, and so much for the glory of God; which was wrought out by him before, and now possessed by them; and is what is called the joy of their Lord, they now enter into, Matt. 25:21. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 141). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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You may recall that at one point in the history of Israel, the prophet Samuel was trying to pray for King Saul when God said, “Samuel, don’t pray anymore for Saul. He is through!”
In another instance Joshua was lying prone, his face down, and he was praying. We would have written a tract about his saintliness in prayer, but God said to him, “Joshua, what are you doing? I don’t honor a man for complaining. Get up on your feet and deal with the situation in your crowd and then I will bless you. (p, 130)
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Think with me about fear. Fear is always the child of unbelief ((p. 130)
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The LORD wants us to surrender all of our fears to Him. He has made full provision for us – it is for us to surrender and trust. He is able! (p. 131)
(I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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Genesis 27
Jacob deceives Isaac into blessing him rather than his older brother Esau.
INSIGHT
This chapter is a low point in the life of a chosen family. It is difficult to justify the behavior of anyone. Perhaps the deepest, most helpful lesson we can learn from this chapter is that since God was able to make a saint out of someone like Jacob, God can take our lives — with all of their sin and failure — and make something out of them for His glory.
Jacob lied; we lie. Jacob failed to trust God; we fail to trust God. Jacob became a man of God; we can become men and women of God. Jacob was used by the Lord; the Lord can use us, too.
For a child of God, there is always a future; and that future can bear fruit. If God can use Jacob, God can use us. (Quiet Walk)
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REGENERATION
…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.John 3:6
What is regeneration? It is the implanting of a principle of new spiritual life and a radical change in the governing disposition of the soul. The important thing to grasp is the whole idea of disposition. In addition to the faculties of our souls, there is something at the back of them that governs them all, and that is what we refer to a sour disposition. Take two men. They have the same faculties, but one lives a good life, one lives a bad life. What makes the difference? The answer is that the good man has a good disposition, and this good disposition, this thing that is behind the faculties and governs them and uses them, urges him to use his faculties in the direction of goodness. The other man has an evil disposition; so he urges the same faculties in an entirely different direction. That is what one means by disposition.
When you come to think of it, and when you analyze yourself, your life and your whole conduct and behavior and that of other people, you will see at once that these dispositions are, of course, of tremendous importance. They are the condition, if you like, that determines what we do and what we are.
There is in every person a disposition that seems to determine the kind of person he or she is. It is this that directs the faculties and the abilities so that one person is artistic and the other scientific and so on. I am making this point to show that what happens in regeneration is that God so operates upon us in the Holy Spirit that this fundamental disposition of ours is changed. He puts a holy principle, a seed of new spiritual life, into this disposition that determines what I am and how I behave and how I use and employ my faculties.
A Thought to Ponder: Regeneration is a radical change in the governing disposition of the soul. (From God the Holy Spirit, p. 79, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Power to Edify
“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” (2 Corinthians 13:10)
The older English word “edification” is used to render the Greekoikodomos that pictures the building of a house. We still use the word edifice to describe a structure of some importance. Paul specifically said he had the power to edify in the above text and later called himself a “wise masterbuilder,” an architekton, who laid the foundation we would build on (1 Corinthians 3:10).
When Jesus used oikodomos to depict those who build their house on a rock (His Word) or the sand (ideas of men), He was painting a picture of how we should edify each other (Luke 6:48-49). Leadership gifts are to be used to perfect the saints in the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12), using the living stones that will build the “spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).
And like any good builder, the Christian carpenter has tools of the trade to assist the process. There are “things which make for peace” that must be employed (Romans 14:19). Most certainly love is a major tool (1 Corinthians 8:1), along with good communication that does not corrupt the building work (Ephesians 4:29).
Since “all things” are to be done so that the church is edified (1 Corinthians 14:26), it surely follows that “fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions” are not helpful (1 Timothy 1:4). Effective communication demands that those we speak to understand what is said, therefore a mysterious tongue does not publicly edify like prophecy does (1 Corinthians 14:2-4).
An edified church walks “in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:31). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Women Encouraging Women BY BARBARA RAINEY
Encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home. TITUS 2:4-5
When we had six children at home, I often felt overwhelmed, as if all my efforts in parenting were about to crash around me. In the middle of this busy time, some younger mothers asked if I would meet with them once a month to offer some encouragement and advice about parenting. I remember thinking, Why would they want to meet with me, with all the mistakes I’ve made? What would I have to
offer them?
Through that experience, however, I learned the significance of Titus 2:4-5 (above), which instructs older women to be involved in the lives of younger women—passing on their wisdom and experience. Younger wives and mothers need mentoring and encouragement from older women who have walked along the same path—even if they’ve stumbled a few times along the way. How do you find an older woman to encourage you and build into your life?
I’d begin by looking in your local church. Ask God to help you spot someone who is just ahead of your season of life and can give you advice from her experience. And be sure to look for a mature woman who has established a track record of walking with God. Ask those who know her best if she is this kind of woman. Take the initiative to ask if you can begin calling her or meeting her for coffee or lunch. Tell her that you will bring the questions; all she needs to do is listen and interact with you. Assure her that she doesn’t even need to know all the answers; all you need is her time and her advice.
And by the way, there are likely younger women than you who could benefit from your counsel and encouragement. Perhaps you need to be a mentor, too.
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