Somebody Loves You

Raul Ries: I think we really have to be careful that within our own hearts we know that we're standing before the Lord and that God sees all things and that my motives are correct. That I'm not really trying to make someone stumble or trying to draw them to myself.

But when I do come into the house of the Lord, I'm coming into a place where we don't want to bring any attention to ourselves, but we want to give all the glory and all the attention to the Lord. Really important.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. As we continue our series for Christian moms today, Raul will illuminate the power that comes from finding confidence in the Lord.

Insecurity can make us call attention to ourselves, but when we recognize our identity in God's eyes, we can live to bring glory to His name. Stay with us for a challenge to honor the Lord with righteousness as you nurture a faith-filled home life. Let's join Raul Ries for today's study in the book of 1 Timothy.

Raul Ries: Paul is dealing with the issue of women in the church, and these are women that are married, single women, and also widows that he's talking to. The first thing that Paul is talking to the women about, and we'll begin in about verse eight because that's literally where he starts with the men, that they're in fellowship with God in prayer.

Chapter 2, beginning with verse eight: "I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest dress, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for a woman professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control."

Now, what's really interesting about this scripture here is that here Paul is instructing Timothy concerning those things in the church. Of course, the church was growing and Timothy was the pastor, Paul was his advisor. They ran into some problems, like you always do run into problems, and one of the things that Paul was concerned about was that they were living in a culture in the city of Ephesus, there in Turkey, where they had a lot of prostitution. They had a lot of women that were very loose.

At the same time, Paul is saying to Timothy, "Look, Timothy, we want people to understand that if they're going to come into the house of the Lord, then people need to know how they should dress, especially women." Why? Because in that culture, they dressed very seductively. They would come into the house of the Lord and they would make men stumble.

That happens today, too. It's not just at that time. I mean, with all the new styles today, all you have to do is go to the mall. I don't go a lot, but when I do go, you walk through women's clothing and you begin to see that clothing is becoming less and less or higher to show more skin.

It's a real situation because what Paul is saying here is that if you have a wife and your wife is dressing like that and you're going to church, what are other women going to say about her? What are other men going to be stumbled by her? Is she trying to bring attention to herself? That usually is, in some cases, the truth.

I think we really have to be careful that within our own hearts we know that we're standing before the Lord and that God sees all things and that my motives are correct. That I'm not really trying to make someone stumble or trying to draw them to myself. But when I do come into the house of the Lord, I'm coming into a place where we don't want to bring any attention to ourselves, but we want to give all the glory and all the attention to the Lord. Really important.

This is what Paul is dealing with here in chapter 2, in verse 9. He says, "In like manner also, that women..." Notice "adorn." We get that word in the Greek *kosmeo* from cosmetics. It means to arrange or to make ready or literally to take care of the need. When you think about that word, it's really important that we not only arrange ourselves in a way where it's moderate and it's not in excess, bringing attention to herself. At the same time, it says you could be identified as a prostitute. You see, that was the problem at that time.

Surely women know how they should dress, as men should know how to dress too, not bringing attention to ourselves because surely we do not want to make anyone stumble in the church. Especially men have a real hard time and women have a hard time too.

But at the same time, if you're single, then that's why Paul says the elderly women, it's good for young girls to talk to the elderly women. Why? Because they can give you good counsel. They were young ones and they can teach you about modesty.

He says, "In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest dress, with propriety and moderation," notice, "not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing." But it's really in verse 10, look what he says, "but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works."

Here he's talking about a woman's testimony. You see, a woman's testimony is not only her attitude, but the way she should be living according to godliness. You want to be known as a godly woman. You say, "Well, what do you mean?" Well, turn with me to Proverbs 31, down about verse 10.

He says, "Who can find a virtuous wife?" Notice that. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts in her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like a merchant ship; she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household."

Now, this is a woman at that culture. It doesn't mean you have to get up at four o'clock in the morning, get breakfast ready and be looking nice when your husband gets up at six in the morning, say, "Here I am, honey." It doesn't work that way, okay? He's just talking about this virtuous woman here.

He says, "And a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy."

He's talking about a woman that takes care of her home, takes care of her husband, takes care of the children. You see, she's not running around here and there and gossiping and doing all these things, but she's what when she goes to the store, she doesn't overspend but she keeps within the budget. She helps her husband with all of the things that she has to buy.

She's not flashy. She's a godly woman. She's a woman after God's own heart. Then she goes on to say this: "She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, and he sits among the elders of the land."

He has a good reputation because of his wife and because of her children. You see, there in the neighborhood, they go, "That family is really cool. They're men and women of integrity and their children are well." Notice that.

"She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

You see, she doesn't waste time. I really believe today there's a lot of women that can lose and idle time. When the husband gets home, they're just not ready. The house is not clean, things are not done because she's been out with her friends. You see?

He's talking about a woman that really has it together, has friends, has a family, and her home is taken care of. There's no problem in that. "She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: '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."

You see, you want to make sure that when you die, they're going to stand before you and say, "You know what? My mother was a godly woman, and my wife was just so awesome." Why? Because she was not into herself. She was into God and she was into her family. You see, you want to be known for that.

If you're self-centered and your children know it and your husband knows it, then what kind of reputation you have outside of the home? You see? So here he's talking about that virtuous woman, which every one of the women here tonight could be that.

Then he says, "Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her at the gates." Imagine at the gates they were talking about her because of what she had done. She didn't have to go out and brag about it. She was just known because of that.

This is what Paul here is talking about to Timothy, "By which proper for women professing godliness with good works." What are the good works here? The good works is showing that you're taking care of your family, your devotional life with God, the way you dress, the way you appear, the way you look, not trying to entice or bring attention or seduce anybody, but they know you because they go, "There's a godly young lady. There's a godly older lady." That's what Paul is talking about.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. If you have any Bible questions or prayer needs that you'd like to share with Raul, you can email him anytime at pastorraul@somebodylovesyou.com. And don't forget, you can also connect with us at somebodylovesyou.com for Bible-rich resources to strengthen your faith. Now back to more with Raul Ries.

Raul Ries: Then he comes up with something else here, and we stopped here last week, remember? It says verse 11: "Let the woman learn in silence with all submission." I'm glad you're here today women, because this is not what you thought it would be. He's not saying women keep quiet.

You've got to understand what Paul's talking about here in the culture. One of the things that he's talking about here, he's talking to married women like I said before, and he's talking to women that they need to learn, they need to learn and to be teachable with their husbands. When they go to church, they need to listen so they can be taught and then they can apply their teaching in their homes with their husbands and their children.

Well, you say, "Well, why does it say to keep silent?" I'm glad you asked. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 14, verse 34. This is the scripture that men love. He says, "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says." He says, "If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shameful thing for a woman to speak in the church."

Listen, Pentecostals and other people have taken this and they made it a rule to look at women lower than them and to really put down women. That's not what it's teaching. I'm going to give you the background to this.

In the church that was a Jewish church, they would have the women sitting on one side, the men on the other side. As the pastor or teacher was explaining the word of God, or the rabbi, a woman would actually go like and say, "Hey honey, what does he mean by that?" and they were interrupting the meetings in the Corinthian church. It was a big problem.

Paul writes and says, "Husbands, make sure that when you come to church, tell your wives not to ask about any issue and disturb the services. But when they go home, you teach them and explain to them what the pastor was saying." That's the interpretation. He's not forbidding women to be quiet and that they're less than men. He never said that.

You see, women cannot be pastor-teachers. They cannot be pastor-teachers. Women can teach women, they can teach children, they can be missionaries, they can do a lot in the church, they can be workers. The only thing that a woman is forbidden to do in the church is not to be a pastor. That's what Paul is kind of sharing with us here tonight.

"Let the women learn from their husbands in silence with all submission or subjection." To be underneath her husband. Then watch what he says in verse 12. Women respecting authority now: "And I do not permit a woman to teach..." so here it is. "And that's teaching men and to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." Notice again he uses the word silence. Because the women are to be teachable.

That brings another point that's really important here: that a lot of times there are women that are trying to rule over their husbands in front of their children. They lose respect. This is not good. If you have an issue with your husband, you should talk to him in private, not in front of your children.

Because what happens is children are very aware of what's happening and they feel the tensions. At the same time when you do that to your husband, your children will lose respect for your husband. This is a real problem within the church today.

Then what does he say? Here it is, he gives you the order now. Verse 13: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." *Ishah* and *Ish* in the Hebrew. She was made to be led and not only to be led but also to be provided for by the man, to be loved by the man.

You say, "Well, I don't have a man like that." And if you don't have, you need to pray for that husband of yours. Don't preach to him. Don't put him down. God can do a greater work in his life than you can ever do if you just obey what the scripture says and you're submissive to the lordship of Christ. Of course, if he's trying to make you do things that are not biblical, you don't have to do them. You can make a stand and draw the lines in the sand and say, "You know what? I'm not going to do that because the Bible tells me not to do that." Really important.

So Paul here is saying, "Look, Adam was formed first then Eve." What do we get that? Well, let's go for a second to Genesis chapter 2, verse 18. We might as well, or else we'll have arguments.

"And the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'" By the way, everyone that's single here, notice that Adam didn't go looking for a wife. God brought the woman to him, so stop looking, okay? Wait on the Lord.

"Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and birds of the air, and He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. And Adam gave names to all the cattle and the birds of the air to every bird." He gave them authority of the garden, over the animals. Notice that, the authority.

"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam," verse 21, "and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and He closed up the flesh in its place. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man." Notice He brought her to the man. Adam was single and then what?

"And Adam said, 'Wow.'" No, I'm just kidding you. "And Adam said, 'This is now bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of the man. Therefore shall a man leave his mama and his dada.'" Notice guys, okay? Mark that very carefully. Therefore a man shall leave his mommy and daddy and be, notice, joined.

In the Hebrew it means to be glued. What do you mean? You take two-by-fours, glue them together, leave them in your garage overnight, go out the next day, try to separate them. What happens? You need a chisel and a hammer and it splinters. That's what divorce does. You see? Joined. He glued you together.

Here it is: "He says to be joined together to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed." Perfectly made in the garden of Eden, the woman and the man. No shame.

God made who? Adam, the head of his home. The problem came in chapter 3 where the fall came. That's why here in Timothy, he's talking to Timothy. He says, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." Check this out, verse 14 now: "And Adam was not deceived." You see, he's telling you, Adam was not deceived. "But the woman being deceived, fell into transgression."

She was led by her heart. She was led by her emotions. God created man and woman totally different concerning emotions. You see, she was led by her own heart here. Satan deceived her, notice, and made her eat of the tree. But listen to what he said to the woman. This is important, watch this.

"Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control." You mean does that mean that I won't have any pain when I have children? No, that's not what it means. Let me give you four of them, interpretations that are given.

Number one: some say that this is actually speaking, "being saved" is speaking of this: it's speaking of physical salvation through childbearing. That's not it. Secondly, spiritual salvation through childbearing. No, through what? The Catholics teach that.

But check this out: spiritual salvation in the home, taking care of your children, he says God will save you. We don't accept that either. We accept the last one. We really believe this is the key to this. It says this: spiritual salvation through the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. He says here that you will be delivered by Jesus Christ.

You see, in childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, and with self-control, that's what he's talking about. Why? Because she has been called to take care of her home and family. She's to be at home with her children. I know that some of you can't be at home, you have to work to provide for the needs. God understands that.

But if you can stay home with your children, you know that's great. Why? Because mothers are a great influence. Imagine having your mom at home taking care of you, watching over you, taking you to school, bringing you home, taking care of your laundry, taking care of your home or whatever it is.

And then at the same time, my heart goes out to you that are working. Because you've got to come home from work and what have you got to do? You've got to come home and take care of your children, take care of the clothes, you've got to take care of the meals. I mean, that's a lot for a woman to do.

I really feel sorry for women that have to work. Some people sacrifice one job for two jobs. Some people sacrifice their children to have two jobs. You have to make the choice what you want to do in your family.

I pray for you and I love you and I just really pray that God will really speak to our hearts so that we can grow together as a family. And that our children and our grandchildren will be the next generation that God will use as we wait upon the Lord and we pray now for our children and grandchildren and for their husbands and their wives that God will send to them so that we can have a godly seed.

Guest (Male): We hope today's message has been an encouragement for you to keep asking the Lord to fill you with His strength, wisdom, and compassion as you pour out His love in the lives of those around you. You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries.

Today's lesson was titled "The Role of Women in the Church Pt2". If you'd like to get an unedited version, we'll be happy to send one to you for a donation of five dollars or more. To get that, just call us at 800-634-9165.

We'd also like to tell you more about Raul's six-part series for mothers available on both CD and thumb drive. Challenging you to prioritize personal time with the Lord, this resource will equip you to more confidently live out His calling on your life.

You'll learn what it looks like to ground your children in faith as well. Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to purchase Raul's six-lesson study for mothers. We'll send you the CD set for twenty dollars, or if you prefer, the thumb drive for just twelve dollars.

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It's always a blessing to study the word of God with you, and we hope you'll join us again next time as we continue this series for mothers with a thought-provoking look at how your daily example can have a far-reaching impact on the spiritual lives of your children. This program is sponsored by Somebody Loves You Radio in Diamond Bar, California.