Women's Day (Part 2)

In rightly dividing the Word, we are supposed to be listening to what is being taught and then having the

desire to study for ourselves. Take out those notes, our bible and spend time to see if the Word was quoted correctly and if it was used in the proper context. With all of those things in order, then and only then could we use the message in applying it into our lives or to use in discussions or to help someone in their time of need. Anything else without these matters in place is a person in error and causing others to be as well. You will discover this as you continue to read.

In the first part of this post, hopefully the idea that a virtuous woman can only be if she is a house wife has been dispelled. Her priority is in Christ and then doing what He has called her to do. This is the message that I didn't hear and is why I write. The other passages under the guise of "Women's Day" also kept the real message from being expounded upon. I am not sure if the reasoning is trying to only teach what the people can be comfortable in hearing or if the ministers were directed not to

preach such things. I don't have those constraints.

The book of Esther is one of those popular sermons where it has been said, to the group of women I was seated with, that if a woman wishes to keep her husband she should do as Esther has done and not Queen Vashti. It was also reiterated of the respect Esther had for her Uncle Mordeccai and for her husband once she became Queen. She also was obedient which is why she was highly favored (though her looks added to some of the benefit). While I took in these lessons, it wasn't until much later in my own studies did I wonder if the female ministers read the entire book of Esther or just the passages that seemed pertinent for the message. I also wondered if these lessons were from the Lord or something seen on television or recorded and watched to be taught again and again. If so, that was not from the Lord's table. The Lord may have prepared a meal in the presence of our enemies, but rest assured the meal had not been eaten before and regurgitated for us to swallow (Psalms 23:5 AMP).

To understand Esther in the role that was thrust upon her, you must first see the king for who he actually was. He was a foolish man. He held parties that lasted far longer then necessary and the only one enjoying his parties was him (Esther 1:1-8 AMP). He would have the food and drinks placed for everyone but no one would be drinking but him. Then when he called for his wife, Vashti, she was tired having thrown her own party for the women and wasn't about to be humiliated as she has been putting up with the king's drunken behavior before (Esther 1:9-12 AMP). She refused him. The king could have pouted for a moment and been over it. But the princes had to be bored. They were the ones that started thinking that the queen had some influence and would cause for their wives to be just as impassive (Esther 1:16-20 AMP). That was fear doing the thinking for them. Seeing the king was not of a sober mind, he listened and acted on that thought of

fear. This is what caused for the queen to lose her position.

Now Esther, she was a child. Not knowing what happened to her actual parents gives some perspective as to why Esther's demeanor was the way it was. She had been obedient and without a doubt her Uncle, a godly man, prayed for her. We also don't know if her Uncle had anymore children of his own. Assuming that he didn't, because the Word never tells us that he went back to his home or to his wife and family, he kept a close watch on his niece. Never did I ever hear how close knit this family was and why Esther may have felt that way; however when her surroundings changed so did she.

Why do you think Esther went from a humbling, obedient, quiet child that was highly favored to one that was going to give her Uncle a directive? He told her what was needed to be done to save the people and that she was placed in the position for this very reason. Instead of her seeing the big picture, she looked at how she had been trained to do as the king ordered (Esther 4:8-11 AMP). The order was, not to disturb the king unless he called for you. Did you notice how Mordeccai got her head back together (Esther 4: 12-17 AMP)? He reminded her where she came from. She saw her position being greater then the niece of her Uncle. Actually, it was...only Esther was a child and didn't see that. She had a decision to make and this may have been the last time her Uncle could give her a directive to follow. After all, she is the queen and needed to be about serving her husband not her Uncle. But, again, this isn't the message that was taught in the services I attended or those I've seen.

Now this is the part that most female speakers get trapped in and deliver the oration as a show on how to be that domestic engineer that all men desire in a woman. What is ministered is that the woman needs to be able to read her man (know his ways). She should not come at him the moment he comes home, but she should allow him to relax, draw him a bath, serve him a hot meal. Then after he has finished and is in a better state of mind, ask what you will. Then the scripture is used in seeing what Esther did with the king just for him to reconsider what he had ordered (Esther 5 AMP). Yeah right! Did we not establish that Esther is a child? Did we not already establish that she had no clue as to what to do with any man much less her husband? And if you keep reading, she didn't ask him with the first dinner, or the second. What I wondered was, what happened afterward? I mean after the order was over and Haman was executed? Did Esther continue cooking her man's meals or did she have those servants do as they have been hired to do? And isn't that manipulative? Does a man appreciate a conniving woman? Is this seed sown and now her husband can be the same way? Is this the sort of thing a woman hopes the rest of her life must consist of in order to speak to her husband? Its ridiculous, isn't it? It sounds like a hard task to keep up with especially when a woman

never had to go through such foolishness as a single person living her life righteous before the Lord. Why would God make marriage hard for us? Answer: He wouldn't.

The real lesson in Esther for the purpose of Women's Day is the childishness of the king listening to the advice of princes. He got what he deserved. The equivalence of who he is. All of those parties and allowing for those who were not chosen to be king have control of the decision making, got him a wife that was equally yoked with his personality. She was a child easily to be controlled and manipulated. We saw this when Mordeccai told Esther what to do. He was no longer in that position to do that, but she adhered to his direction. The princes told the king what to do. They were not in a position to make that decree themselves and if the king knew his place, he would have put those princes in theirs.

When a woman accepts the proposal of a man, she must know that he has the confidence, assertiveness, and aggression to hold the position as being the head of her. He has some direction of where he would like to be and is appreciative of the help that she is able to give to get him there. If its all about him and he doesn't love her as Christ loves the church, and therefore should expect all sorts of trouble. Because this man will be asking advice of all sorts of matters that should be left to you, him, and God - only!

Spiritually Spookey

When we come into the knowledge of the truth, it is very easy to get so wrapped up into the faith with a higher being that we cannot see, that some tend to go too far and into the dark side. Initially it doesn't seem so wrong, but all deceit starts off that way. Its the reason there is the phrase little white lies. That's like being a little pregnant. Even after the last tri-mester, is it still a little or are you then full fledged? Be as it may, those little trips to the dark side could be the very reason you can't quite figure when you allowed the enemy place (Ephesians 4:27 KJV) to steal, kill and destroy your stuff (John 10:10 NIV). Let's find it, shall we?

You see, it started with asking God to give us a sign for this and that. We do those things because we aren't use to walking by faith. But then when you put away with childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV) (and know that is a process as well), that sign thing is a thing of the past and should have died with the old stuff so again creating the new things that are much more applicable and profitable for your new life. Signs are suppose to be manifestations assuring you that God heard your prayers and He is at work completing what you asked. The truth of the matter is when Jesus said, "it is done" that meant a plethera of things including anything that you can ask or think. We just have to believe that's what it meant in order for it to be done. Its faith at work, not God at work. He did all He is going to do. Now we have to believe to receive it. That's faith (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).

Where the imp thought he could needle in is when God hears His children say the oddest things that have absolutely nothing to do with faith. You know:
Say you have been believing God for a new car. You are expecting this humongeous miracle and the very car you were hoping for (except for the color) drives past. What do you say? Is it something like, "there goes my car. That's God telling me that it is on its way." Well, the truth is, that's not your car and that's never been the way He tells anybody anything. Show me that in the Word. I will make a retraction! What that is, is superstition and it isn't the way; contrary to what Stevie Wonder sung.

Or how about when your right hand itches? Do you really think money is coming your way? And then left hand itches. Do you really think that means you are going to spend it all?

How about wearing something red to keep the ju-ju from you. I have no idea what ju-ju is but if you think about it long enough, guess what? Ju-ju, what ever it is, is coming for you with or without your red clothing item.

I spoke to a woman that said you aren't suppose to point at yourself when talking about someone else's ailment. I asked why and she said it could come on you. She then did something with her hand and started spitting on the table a few times. Whatever I did while having the conversation and gesturing with my hand could not come near to the filth she just did on the table. Spitting doesn't have any harm in ooooooh-oooooh world. But in my house if you spit on my table because of some weird ju-ju.... OMG, He is going to have to help you!

Oh there are scores more of crap that people have said from way, way back and they think once becoming a Christian, these are the things that are also spiritual that God would not call for us to get rid of. If you think that, you would be wrong. Of course you need to rid yourself from superstition. It is fear saying that faith doesn't work. If you aren't using the Word, then you aren't using faith. If you aren't using faith, then you are not pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). If you keep this up anyway even after you have been warned over and over will He say, "I know you not?"

Arrogance Versus Assurance

Bryant Gumbel, a former host of NBC's Today Show, has been accused of being arrogant for years. Why? Because he knows his information? Because it is difficult for others to rattle him? Is it because he doesn't behave like the stereo-typical African American man? Why was he labeled in such a way? I watched him from time to time, I just didn't see what he was being accused of. The funny thing was when he no longer hosted the Today Show, I didnt hear all of those jabs about his character any longer. So is that proof that the ones making the statements were jealous (or as they are called, haters)?

In going to church services, I have heard many ministers over the years. They have done so much work and have helped so many people have such satisfying lives. Who had the idea to make those works known in church services? I have seen film of what ministers have done for others. I have seen pastors pat themselves on the back while they were preaching because the congregation wasn't responding as the minister thought they should have. I listened while the now familiar phrase, "you don't hear me" comes across the microphone right after quoting scripture and the revelation knowledge that God gave him. Would this be arrogant? Does this behavior go against the Word? Did it just bother me because I have prudish ways by which I need the deliverance? Well then, God help me!

The Word tells us that God warned the children of Israel that when they get to the land by which He promised them, and He furnishes them with wells that they did not dig and houses that they did not build, to remember not to forget Him. Who would do that especially when the warning comes from a voice that made the provision of whom they could not see? Wouldn't you be afraid of doing anything opposing the warning. But don't we do this all of the time whether it be consciously or subconsciously? Did we not do this to our natural parents, thinking they had to provide because we didn't ask to be here? Were any of us apologetic or remorseful when we realized our arrogance in making the assumption that our parents should do far more than what they were doing? Were you grateful? Did they know it because of your assumption or did you actually thank them?

I was recently talking to my youngest son about why anyone would be afraid of success. He said that the mere possibility of a person gaining the status hoped for, being an inspiration to others, and thinking that it was done soley of their own efforts. Actually, I thought the statement was quite insightful and therefore I had to equip him with tools to make sure that would never happen. I recently wrote in another blog entitled, "Sober Minded." In it there were scenarios I believed to be quite common in a Christian's life. Towards the end of that excerpt, I wrote about the arrogance of those who believe that their success was because of all of the effort they put forth and forgetting Who it was that gave them the breath needed for that effort. Seeing this for what it is should put much of what we thought we should have in perspective to the point of being contrite.

The tools that I gave my son so he could be prepared for those fiery darts were:
1. Give God thanks for all that you are and have (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).
2. To be content in whatever state that you are in (Philippians 4:11 KJV).
3. Be patient knowing that there is a process in everything in order for it to be good (James 1:4 KJV).
It is something he incorporates in his daily confession. He knew he had to once he understood what his strengths and weaknesses are. I had to make the same assessment of myself and am grateful that he gets to leaqrn these things at a much younger age. To think that the assessment is unnecessary borders on that arrogance.

Is there a fine line between having assurance as opposed to arrogance? In Christ there is no identity crisis and so we can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13 KJV). We walk assured because of the faith believing that goodness and mercy are following (Psalm 23:6 KJV), we are guided by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17 AMP), and favor has gone before us. Because we believe that the Word is life we are assured with what the promises are and can stand therefore knowing that God will never, ever loosen His hold on us. Assurance is the effects of righteousness (Isaiah 32:17 KJV). Righteousness is necessary for Kingdom Living (Romans 14:17 KJV).

The fine line isn't quite so fine. Our abilities can change in a moment of being a victim of someone getting behind a wheel drunk to being mistreated by an supervisor and being moved by anger and right into prison. It is knowing that the line isn't as fine that keeps us thankful, meek and blessed.