WEBVTT 00:00:08.490 --> 00:00:11.769 Very important that when we are given the word 00:00:11.769 --> 00:00:14.029 that we do it. It's one thing to be given it 00:00:14.029 --> 00:00:17.149 and not do it. That's rebellion. But to be given 00:00:17.149 --> 00:00:20.609 the word, you must do the word. It's a very important 00:00:20.609 --> 00:00:23.550 thing. One, it commands us to do it, right? Go 00:00:23.550 --> 00:00:25.429 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 00:00:25.429 --> 00:00:27.050 them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy 00:00:27.050 --> 00:00:29.949 Spirit. A lot of guys stop at that because they 00:00:29.949 --> 00:00:32.530 don't like the second part. Teaching them to 00:00:32.530 --> 00:00:34.869 obey all that I've commanded you. Like a real 00:00:34.869 --> 00:00:39.039 disciple is one who is obedient. That being said, 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:44.359 when we get into Timothy chapter 5, this is a 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:48.359 very important command by which God gives to 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:52.159 the church that we must do as a church, especially 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:54.560 as elders. And so before we do that, I'm going 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.380 to pray, and then we're going to dig in. Are 00:00:56.380 --> 00:00:58.420 you guys ready? Father, I want to thank you so 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:00.039 much for your goodness and faithfulness. Thank 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:02.619 you, Lord, for your word. You are faithful and 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:08.599 good. You love the widow. You protect her. And 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:10.879 you care for her and you support her and give 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:13.040 her all her needs. And you have commanded the 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:17.900 church to do the same. We are your body. And 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:20.319 the religion that you consider pure and faultless 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:22.200 is to care for the orphans and widows in their 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.599 distress. And to keep oneself from being polluted 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.420 by the world. To keep ourselves holy. Lord, we 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:31.239 praise you and thank you. To you be honor and 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:34.099 glory. May the full counsel of your word be spoken. 00:01:35.049 --> 00:01:37.329 Lord, help me and help us to rightly divide it 00:01:37.329 --> 00:01:42.909 to see your heart and care for those who have 00:01:42.909 --> 00:01:45.930 difficulty doing it on their own and have not 00:01:45.930 --> 00:01:48.450 meant to do it on their own. Lord, we praise 00:01:48.450 --> 00:01:51.349 you and thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. So I'm 00:01:51.349 --> 00:01:54.090 going to start off first and foremost by reading 00:01:54.090 --> 00:01:58.030 something in John chapter 19. Jesus does this 00:01:58.030 --> 00:02:00.609 same thing. It's interesting when you read it. 00:02:00.890 --> 00:02:05.239 Chapter 19, verse 28. And this, Jesus knowing, 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:08.919 oh, sorry, oh, I did that same thing on first 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:14.180 service. It's actually verse 24c. So go there. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:17.199 Verse 24, the last part. So the soldiers did 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.300 these things by standing by the cross of Jesus, 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:25.919 where his mother, his mother's sister, Mary, 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:30.699 the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. And when 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:33.960 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:37.300 loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:41.740 Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.280 Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.460 took her to his own home. Now the question I 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:54.099 had asked earlier was, Why, if Jesus has brothers, 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:58.270 James and Jude, would Jesus not give the responsibility 00:02:58.270 --> 00:03:01.469 to his brothers? I mean, after all, that would 00:03:01.469 --> 00:03:03.969 be what you would consider the Jewish responsibility, 00:03:04.030 --> 00:03:07.189 is to care for the mother when the mother has 00:03:07.189 --> 00:03:10.210 no one to care for her. Jesus, being the older 00:03:10.210 --> 00:03:15.110 brother, is dying. His father has died already. 00:03:15.449 --> 00:03:19.090 But Jesus doesn't give his responsibility of 00:03:19.090 --> 00:03:23.729 the mother to James and Jude. We know it's James 00:03:23.729 --> 00:03:26.129 and Jude. Because they were the ones that wrote 00:03:26.129 --> 00:03:28.849 James and Jude. Why would he give it to John? 00:03:29.930 --> 00:03:32.969 And here's why. John was a believer and James 00:03:32.969 --> 00:03:35.610 and Jude were not. I want you to hear that. The 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:39.689 responsibility of the widow is on you, the church. 00:03:40.110 --> 00:03:44.310 It's on no one else. God has given us that responsibility. 00:03:44.849 --> 00:03:49.030 That being said, turn to 1 Timothy. So I've already 00:03:49.030 --> 00:03:55.120 given you the command in James 1 .27. Let's read 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:59.800 what God says concerning the widow. Now, Paul 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.199 gives Timothy some very important things. He 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.120 starts off in verse 13 of chapter 4, and I'll 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:09.560 read that. Verse 13 of chapter 4. Until I come, 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.560 devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:15.900 to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:20.279 gift you have, which has been given you by prophecy 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:23.139 when the council of elders laid their hands on 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:25.639 you. Practice these things, immerse yourself 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:30.300 in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.759 a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:37.899 Persist in this, for by doing so you will save 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:40.480 both yourself and your hearers. Do not rebuke 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.879 an older man, but encourage him as you would 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:47.720 a father. Younger men as a brother, older women 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:52.449 as mothers, and younger women as sisters. in 00:04:52.449 --> 00:04:57.149 all purity. So let's start off with verse 1 and 00:04:57.149 --> 00:05:01.769 2. Godly leaders are careful to shepherd not 00:05:01.769 --> 00:05:06.230 only in action, but especially with words. Godly 00:05:06.230 --> 00:05:09.910 men are leaders and must be careful to shepherd 00:05:09.910 --> 00:05:13.329 not only in action, but especially in words, 00:05:13.370 --> 00:05:16.810 and especially those who have been called and 00:05:16.810 --> 00:05:22.610 ordained as elders. In Leviticus 19 .32, it says 00:05:22.610 --> 00:05:26.550 it this way. You shall stand up before the gray 00:05:26.550 --> 00:05:30.709 head and honor the face of an old man, and you 00:05:30.709 --> 00:05:34.610 shall fear your God. I am the Lord, Leviticus 00:05:34.610 --> 00:05:38.769 19 .32. You shall stand up. When an older man 00:05:38.769 --> 00:05:42.730 walks in, you show him honor. You stand up face 00:05:42.730 --> 00:05:46.269 to face. You give respect to him. I think that's 00:05:46.269 --> 00:05:49.860 missing today, especially in young people. You 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:52.339 hear that, little ones, younger ones, teenagers, 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:55.819 young adults? Show the respect. These men have 00:05:55.819 --> 00:06:00.660 lived life. Give honor. Respect them. Face to 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:03.660 face, man to man. That's the idea here. And what 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:05.759 he says here concerning Timothy, he says, Timothy, 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:08.540 understand he's 19, 20 years old, shepherding 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:12.860 a church. And Paul says, Timothy, do not rebuke. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.100 Do not chastise. With your words. Though you 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:19.379 are a godly man, though you have biblical authority, 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.980 though you are the shepherd, the under -shepherd 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:28.819 of this church, you, Timothy, are not to chastise 00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:33.540 older men, but encourage him as you would a father. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:36.040 How many of you guys got nasty with your dad? 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:39.079 Same thing. I asked everybody else that, and 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:42.170 nobody would admit it. Many. It's important you 00:06:42.170 --> 00:06:45.569 honor these men as you would your father. Younger 00:06:45.569 --> 00:06:48.370 men as brothers. I mean, brotherhood is important. 00:06:48.610 --> 00:06:51.089 I know that when you grow up with many brothers 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:54.730 and you want to hold on to those relationships 00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:57.610 and keep them strong. Older women as mothers. 00:06:58.009 --> 00:07:01.050 It's interesting. I was sharing this earlier. 00:07:01.350 --> 00:07:03.910 You know, it's really upsetting as a man, as 00:07:03.910 --> 00:07:05.990 a father. You raise your kids. You teach them 00:07:05.990 --> 00:07:09.050 football. They get famous. They stand in the 00:07:09.050 --> 00:07:11.870 camera. And you ask my boy, and all of a sudden 00:07:11.870 --> 00:07:16.189 he goes, thank you very much. Hi, Mom. What happened 00:07:16.189 --> 00:07:18.850 to all the work? That's him honoring his mother. 00:07:19.370 --> 00:07:21.949 She carried him for nine months. You didn't. 00:07:22.189 --> 00:07:25.050 She dealt with all his sicknesses and his hurts 00:07:25.050 --> 00:07:27.569 and his scraped knees and his crying and his 00:07:27.569 --> 00:07:30.430 frustration because he wasn't doing well in school. 00:07:30.569 --> 00:07:33.910 And all of the times he never listened because 00:07:33.910 --> 00:07:37.069 we like to climb trees and pick up snakes. And 00:07:37.069 --> 00:07:40.180 younger women as sisters. Being careful to protect. 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:44.120 But do it in all purity, it says. Do it in a 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:49.680 sinlessness life. A life that's not characterized 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.879 as sinful. That is how you should be handling 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:56.519 your relationships with older men and younger 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:00.180 men and older women and younger women. How we 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:04.360 communicate. I will tell you, it's something 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:07.139 that I work hard at. My wife will tell you sometimes 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:11.269 I screw up. But it is important to me to honor 00:08:11.269 --> 00:08:16.230 her and to love her and my kids. Godly leaders 00:08:16.230 --> 00:08:19.449 manage the care of widows and purpose to exhort 00:08:19.449 --> 00:08:24.589 them to cling to Christ. Fathers of the fatherless, 00:08:24.629 --> 00:08:28.990 protector of widows is God in his holy habitation, 00:08:29.230 --> 00:08:33.350 Psalm 68, 5. Do you get that? That where God 00:08:33.350 --> 00:08:37.210 is, God is the father to the fatherless, and 00:08:37.210 --> 00:08:41.090 he protects the widow. What's interesting about 00:08:41.090 --> 00:08:44.389 the word widow, as I said earlier, is men are 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:48.730 not widows. Men can't be widows. I know in today's 00:08:48.730 --> 00:08:52.230 society. When a wife dies, the man goes, I'm 00:08:52.230 --> 00:08:55.009 a widow. No, you're not. Because a widow means 00:08:55.009 --> 00:08:59.490 barren, means without care and support, a city 00:08:59.490 --> 00:09:03.889 with no inhabitants. Men can, to the very last 00:09:03.889 --> 00:09:06.269 breath of their life, typically take care of 00:09:06.269 --> 00:09:09.669 themselves. And will suffer through, and some 00:09:09.669 --> 00:09:12.730 even die doing their work. But not so when it 00:09:12.730 --> 00:09:16.549 comes to women. Why? Well, I'm sure the feminist 00:09:16.549 --> 00:09:21.039 movement would say, we can do. Everything a man 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:26.179 can do. No, that's not true either. That's a 00:09:26.179 --> 00:09:28.580 lie. Women can't do everything a man can do. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:31.240 And I will tell you this, men cannot do what 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:35.299 women do. When we come home from work, the wife 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:38.019 has cleaned the house, cooked dinner for you, 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:42.159 managed the kids, educated the children, disciplined 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:45.059 the children, went out and played with the children, 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.259 taught the children the word of God. And you 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:51.440 come home to a dinner. And when she's done all 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.059 this work, you aren't to be sitting watching 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:58.879 her work. You need to take over. See, you couldn't 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:04.899 do that for 14 straight hours. Women do. And 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:08.019 they do it because it's God's given gift to them 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:12.639 to be a mother. We read that in chapter 2. So 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.440 let's go on. Chapter 5, verse 3 through 16. Honor, 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:24.360 temeo, to revere or venerate. Honor widows. Kera 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.980 is the word here. It means barren, without care 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:31.879 and support. A city with no inhabitants. Who 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:35.419 are truly widows. What does it mean to be truly 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:40.679 a widow? A widow who is truly a widow. is one 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:44.220 who cannot take care of herself. She's older. 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:49.320 Her husband is gone. Her kids are gone. She is 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:52.379 left alone. And if she is not taken care of, 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:56.600 supported, shepherded, provided for, she will 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:59.059 die. Because the man would go out and get all 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:01.620 the food and work and bring the money home and 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:04.200 then give it to her and she would make it. That's 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:07.639 the way it was back then. Now, you go to Chick 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.879 -fil -A. But in reality, Older women are truly 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:16.259 widows. But, it says in verse 4, but if a widow 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:20.039 has children or grandchildren, let them first 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:23.279 learn to show godliness to their own household. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:27.039 Isn't that interesting? That there's two things 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.080 here, I think, that we need to be thoughtful 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:32.399 and considerate of. First, is that she must... 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:35.399 continue to show godliness to her own household, 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.919 and the children and grandchildren should learn 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:43.559 to show godliness to the widow. It means this 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.220 term, show godliness to their own household, 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:50.480 is to act piously, reverently with their family. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:54.580 How many have you seen where their widows and 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:57.919 their left And they're wondering, why am I alone? 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.139 How come nobody loves me? Why is no one caring 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:03.399 about me after I've given everything I can to 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.480 them? What do you think happens? They get bitter, 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.860 angry. That can't be in the church. And it will 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:12.700 not be in this church. So let's keep reading. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:17.279 They must show godliness, act piously, revantly 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:21.820 with their family, and to make some return to 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:25.159 their parents. You're like, what? So let's say, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:29.700 A woman, her husband dies, and she has a mom 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:33.159 and dad. Guess where she should go? She should 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:36.519 go back home to her mom and dad because she has 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:39.519 no one else now to care for her, to help protect 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:42.779 her, to help support her, to give her guidance 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.360 when she needs it. You're not meant to live life 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.639 alone. If that was true, then why would God create 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.580 a helper fit for Adam? We're not meant to be 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:55.019 alone. And so this is a very important thing. 00:12:55.839 --> 00:12:59.320 Make sure or make some return to their parents. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:02.980 Notice it doesn't say all. It says some. Those 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:06.200 who cannot take care of themselves. Those who 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:10.399 need support. Those who need protection. Especially 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:13.299 in those days. For this is pleasing in the sight 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:16.139 of God. God is pleased with this. What would 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:18.779 the feminine movement say today? You can do it 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:21.299 on your own, girl. You're going to be just fine. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.879 Go get a job. Okay. It's more than that. Next, 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:30.500 it says in verse 5, she who is truly a widow, 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:35.679 left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:39.860 in supplications. She has no one else. She is 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:43.460 left truly alone. There is nobody there for her. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:46.679 She has no family. She can't go home to nobody. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:49.860 She is by herself. And look at what it says. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:54.120 She turns to God as her hope. For widows, this 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:57.980 is what I want to give you. Turn to God as your 00:13:57.980 --> 00:14:02.840 hope. He will take care of you. I promise you 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:07.080 that. And when you turn to him, you seek him, 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:12.500 you ask him, and you entreat. Lord, you said 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:16.039 you would take care of me. And then it says, 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:20.419 and prayers, addressing God. God, you are my 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:24.759 provider. You are. king. You have a cattle on 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:27.480 a thousand hills. You own everything. You know 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:33.039 I cannot do this on my own. I need you. That's 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:36.019 the idea here. And that's the type of woman this 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:40.820 particular widow is. Then he says, but, and she 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:42.980 does this night and day, mind you. It's not just 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:45.960 when she needs something. She's throwing up supplications 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:50.570 and prayers all day long. But, The woman or the 00:14:50.570 --> 00:14:54.330 widow who is self -indulgent. Spataleo is the 00:14:54.330 --> 00:14:58.990 word here. It's one who gives oneself to pleasure. 00:14:59.190 --> 00:15:03.549 She is dead even while she lives. So what happens 00:15:03.549 --> 00:15:06.070 sometimes with women who lose their husbands 00:15:06.070 --> 00:15:09.190 if they're young, they give themselves over to 00:15:09.190 --> 00:15:13.490 pleasures. They self -indulge themselves with 00:15:13.490 --> 00:15:17.980 things and men. She doesn't realize that the 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:21.659 very life giver she has walked away from, the 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:24.600 one who would fulfill her pleasures, her needs, 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:28.220 her cares, she's now turned to the things that 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:32.860 are fleeting and dying, and she lives as if she's 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:37.940 dead. That's what it means here. Zeo nesko is 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:41.440 the word here, or thnesko, to live without life. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:43.379 You're not going to live for God, you're going 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.950 to live a... lifeless life. And look what he 00:15:46.950 --> 00:15:49.289 says here to Timothy. He says, command these 00:15:49.289 --> 00:15:54.210 things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 00:15:54.350 --> 00:15:58.110 So that no one can bring an accusation against 00:15:58.110 --> 00:16:01.169 any of these widows. So that society doesn't 00:16:01.169 --> 00:16:05.070 say, you're a burden on us. The church takes 00:16:05.070 --> 00:16:08.230 on that burden. But if anyone does not provide 00:16:08.230 --> 00:16:11.950 for his relatives, and especially for the members 00:16:11.950 --> 00:16:15.200 of his own household, He has denied the faith 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.100 and is worse than an unbeliever. If you know 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:22.080 there's a widow in your family, your mother -in 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.259 -law, your mother, and you don't care for her, 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.840 you're worse than an unbeliever. That's what 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:33.539 it says here. For those who are caring for them, 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.659 praise God, godly men. Now, for those mothers 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:42.240 who refuse, like, no, I've done this all my life. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.460 There's nothing you can do. And here it is. You 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:46.580 guys ready? So there is a way out for some of 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:49.679 you. You can't make your mama do it because that's 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.940 mama. And this is what it says. Let a widow be 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:56.179 enrolled. This word enrolled means choose to 00:16:56.179 --> 00:17:00.220 be listed for care. Let a widow choose to be 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:03.940 listed for care if she's not less than 60 years 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:08.359 old or 60 years of age. So if she is 60 years 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:11.980 or older, you must allow her, if she chooses, 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:18.099 to come for care, care, protection. Why? Because 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:20.759 she was a wife of one husband. She has no one 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:24.640 else. She also is a woman of a good reputation. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:28.940 She's having a reputation for good works. If 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:32.359 she has brought up children, has shown hospitality. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:35.380 Here's the list of good works. Reputation of 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:38.640 good works. Brought up children. You hear that, 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:41.700 ladies? Keep raising your kids. It's good work. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:45.660 What else does it say? Has shown hospitality. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:49.339 You've been a good hostess. Thank you for caring 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:51.319 and sharing. Thank you for ladies' fellowship. 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.519 These ladies do good work. Look what else it 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:58.339 says. Has washed the feet of the saints. Spiritually 00:17:58.339 --> 00:18:00.940 speaking, they wash our feet all the time. Has 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:04.400 cared for the afflicted and has devoted herself 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:07.700 to good work. That woman should be cared for. 00:18:08.520 --> 00:18:11.559 Provided for, protected. There should never be 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:14.759 a need. If you can't pay the mortgage, we'll 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.759 pay it. If you can't feed yourself, we'll feed 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.819 you. All you have to do is go to caring and counseling 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:22.980 and they will take care of you. That's why we 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:25.880 have it. Whatever your need is. But look what 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:28.240 it says about the next woman. I promise. I'm 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.160 going to end at 14 because I can't get it all 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.960 in. Okay? Look what it says here. It's in the 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:37.539 next woman. But refuse to enroll younger widows. 00:18:38.089 --> 00:18:43.329 Ouch. Why? Why can younger widows not be on the 00:18:43.329 --> 00:18:48.690 list? Here's why. For when their passions, when 00:18:48.690 --> 00:18:52.049 they want to act on impulse of sexual desire 00:18:52.049 --> 00:18:55.049 is what this means. It's what it means. Draw 00:18:55.049 --> 00:18:58.769 them away from Christ. This passion they have, 00:18:58.809 --> 00:19:01.589 because they're young, they need to live out 00:19:01.589 --> 00:19:05.799 this impulse to be desired. It draws them away 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:08.059 from Christ. Christ is no longer the source. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.799 Younger women should not be on the list because 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:15.220 what happens is men are the ones that usually 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:17.579 come in and take care of the need. You ever thought 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:21.119 about that? It's one of the reasons why we drive 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:24.559 them to caring and counseling and caring and 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.519 sharing and ladies' fellowship. We drive them 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:31.720 to deaconesses. Very important. We want them 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:34.339 to be cared for, but we also want to empower 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:37.880 them to live holy. That's the idea here. That's 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:40.259 exactly what Paul means here to Timothy. And 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:43.200 then he says this. Why do they do this? Why do 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.119 they desire or why do their passions rule them? 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:48.480 Because they want to be married. They don't want 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.660 to be alone. I can tell you, it's one of the 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:53.200 things I've noticed about some of the young widows 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.500 that I've done ministry to. They don't want to 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:58.380 be alone. And then look what it says here. And 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:01.960 as a result, and so, verse 12, and so incur condemnation, 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:05.660 judgment of God, for having abandoned their former 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:08.599 faith. What does that mean? They have abandoned 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:12.859 what has been previously reliable, persistently 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:16.660 faithful, not pulled away. See, when they are 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:20.019 safe, When a woman is secure, when she knows 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:23.099 she's provided for, when all her needs are in 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:25.660 through the man by which God provides through 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:29.259 that man, and he is gone, she wonders what's 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.420 going to happen with me now. This is what it 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:34.799 says next. It says, besides that, they learn 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:37.539 to be idlers. They learn to be inactive or at 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:39.700 leisure. I will tell you, I've seen this happen. 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:44.519 They just give up. I don't want to do anything. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:48.359 They go about. From house to house, it says here. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:52.460 And not only idlers. This idea is they go about 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:55.859 the home alone and inactive. Not taking care 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.920 of her responsibilities. You remember what I 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.599 said in chapter 2? That she will be saved through 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:03.519 childbearing. It's not that she is born again 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:05.680 through childbearing. It means that she finds 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:09.799 her wholeness as a woman. In being busy doing 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:13.740 what women are created to do. Support and help. 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:17.759 It's the beauty of... of biblical feminism. It's 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.680 not the idea that I can run a business or I can 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:23.799 be the CEO of a large company, that I can make 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:26.539 thousands and thousands of dollars. Guess what 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:29.200 you miss out on? You miss out on the rearing 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.079 of your children and the joy of sharing life 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:34.359 with somebody because your life becomes your 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:37.920 business. And then it says this, she's not taking 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:40.039 care of her responsibilities, which means that, 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:45.160 but also gossips. She becomes a babbler. talking 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:48.839 and doing silly things. It's true. And busybodies 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:53.359 saying what they should not. This word busybodies 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.140 is neglecting the important things and busy not 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:59.480 minding their own business. They get into other 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.279 people's stuff because they have nothing else 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.579 to do. Remember, they're just being inactive 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:05.579 at home. They're not taking care of their responsibilities. 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:08.240 What else do I got to do? Hey, girl, did you 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:11.000 hear about this guy? Look, I know this girl. 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:14.140 She's with this guy like down the street. It's 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:16.920 exactly what happens. She needs to live for Christ, 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:20.799 desire him, seek him out in all things. She needs 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:26.259 to see the example of the widow who goes before 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:31.000 God, who is her hope, literally begging the Lord 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:33.539 to take care of her and giving him praise for 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:36.539 doing so. Verse 14, and I will end with this. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:40.220 So I would have younger widows marry. That makes 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:43.279 sense. Here's what I mean. How many of you guys 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:45.160 married because you loved your spouse? I just, 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:49.660 I love them. If I didn't love you, I'd have married 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:53.779 you. Don't believe that. I'm going to wreck you 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:56.900 right now. I'm so sorry. You don't marry because 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:59.700 you're in love. You ever notice that the marriages 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.740 that quote unquote start off with love always 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:04.539 end in hate. But marriages that start off in 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:06.859 a commitment, understanding two very important 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:09.960 principles. Okay, you ready? You get married. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.599 Because that person loves God more than they 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:15.740 love anyone else. The only person that matters 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:18.640 is Jesus. So I don't need you to fill my life. 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:23.079 I need you to partner with me. Fit my life. He 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:27.420 created a helper fit for him. The second is she 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:30.920 fits my life, right? She is like hand in glove. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:34.799 She helps me. She is willing to sacrifice and 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.380 do everything that she needs to do to help me. 00:23:37.950 --> 00:23:40.410 become all I can be in Jesus, and I do the same. 00:23:40.730 --> 00:23:43.029 I say this a lot, and I know it drives my wife 00:23:43.029 --> 00:23:45.670 crazy, but it's the truth. When I look at my 00:23:45.670 --> 00:23:49.470 wife, 25, 26 years, be 26 years this June, 26 00:23:49.470 --> 00:23:52.410 years, and I said, honey, I love you. When I 00:23:52.410 --> 00:23:55.470 look at my life now, my love for her now, it's 00:23:55.470 --> 00:23:59.170 not even close. I liked her a lot. I liked her. 00:24:00.109 --> 00:24:03.690 Attraction isn't love. It's not a love. Attraction 00:24:03.690 --> 00:24:07.380 is a lust. It's a desire. It's what God has given 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:10.019 us that we would desire one another. But love 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:14.839 demands not only that we live it, it demands 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:20.400 that it's a person. Love is Jesus. My love for 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:24.359 her is way different today than it was when I 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:27.180 first met her. So why should younger widows marry? 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:32.000 Because they learn to love. You learn love in 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.700 marriage. You have no idea, young people, what 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:39.299 love is. You have no clue. When you are at the 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:43.019 bedside after three miscarriages, you learn what 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:48.099 love is. That's love. When you stick through 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:51.019 thick and thin watching your mom pass away from 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:54.319 cancer, that's what love is. Feelings come and 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:59.140 go. Love is eternal. True love. It requires sacrifice. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:03.920 So when I say I love her, I love her even when 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:12.160 at times I don't like her. And vice versa. I 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:18.099 mean, how many of you ladies know that your husband 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:22.519 gets on your nerves? Do you honestly really like 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:28.339 him at that moment? Okay. Donna's like, oh, pastor, 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:31.660 you should love her anyway. I do. I stay with 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:38.500 her. I'm willing to die with her. I want to be 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:41.059 the notebook guy holding hands as we both die 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:47.500 in bed together. So let me end it with this. 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:51.440 So I would have younger women marry bare children. 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:55.480 Why? She finds her. She fulfills her purpose 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:58.160 and her wholeness in being a mother. There is 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:02.980 no greater vocation for a woman than to be a 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:08.119 mom. And understanding that, even with PRC here 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:11.619 today, we should do everything we can to fight 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:14.140 for life. Because there is no greater calling 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:18.059 on any woman than that one calling, to be a mom. 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:21.940 Lastly, she must manage their households. Learn 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:26.559 to be busy at home. Learn, develop, grow. There 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:32.299 is no greater CEO, administrator, nurse, cook, 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:37.619 housekeeper than the woman. My wife can outwork 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:43.839 anybody. Lastly, and this is the end of this 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:48.099 verse, and give an adversary no occasion for 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:51.559 slander. See, when a young woman goes back into 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:55.400 her God -given role and responsibility, she eliminates 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:59.759 false accusations about her. As a matter of fact, 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:02.940 do you remember that woman that the Pharisees 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:05.960 brought before Jesus, caught her in adultery? 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:10.000 What did he say? We caught this woman in adultery. 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.599 How would you know? Were you watching through 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:18.500 the window, you little dirty dog? You know what 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.599 else? There's another story. The woman at the 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:23.160 well, where's your husband? Why are you over 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:25.200 here getting water? How come your husband's not 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.519 doing the work? It's his job. Why are you asking 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.920 me for water? I'm a woman. Go get your husband. 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:32.039 I don't have a husband. You're right. You have 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:35.000 five. This is an example. Isn't that interesting? 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:37.740 When a woman's not busy living out her God -given 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:40.420 purpose and responsibility, her calling, her 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:44.039 ordained vocation, she gets busy doing other 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:47.480 things. Enjoy being a woman, especially being 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:50.440 a beautiful woman of God. Father, I want to thank 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.460 you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:54.819 To you be honor and glory. We give you praise. 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:59.019 You are God. And we thank you for the women in 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:01.640 our lives. Help us as a church to be faithful 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:04.559 with the widow. And to encourage the young widow 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:08.339 to continue to live out her role as a woman. 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:13.720 To take back biblical feminism. That you would 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.619 be high and lifted up and glorified in every 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:18.079 way. We praise you and thank you in Jesus' name.