To All the Ladies

realization of how much we truly, of how much we truly depend on you. Lord, without you, Lord, I mean, we are nothing, Lord. God, you are our one defense and our righteousness, Lord God. Lord, before you, my own righteousness is as if they were filthy rags, Lord God, but you are our righteousness, Lord God, and we thank you.

We do know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through, just that you could see it all. Is all creation growing? Is a new creation coming? It is the glory of the light within. It is good that we remind ourselves of this. Is anyone on the stage? I'd intend to dwell again. Would you guys go ahead and stand with me for this last one? The feast of God is reached for me. Raging sea, and I am set on the solid.

What is my salvation? Fear when darkness falls. Strength will help me scale these walls. I'll see the sun, the rising sun. The Lord is my salvation. God, we just thank you again for the day, Lord, and we thank you for just the opportunity to lift praise, and so now we ask your blessing upon this time. Lord, let your Holy Spirit go before us. Give Pastor Ryan the words to speak, Lord, and give us soft and receptive

hearts. We love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's have some fellowship. Good morning. If you could begin to locate your seats, grab a bulletin. We'll get ready to go over some announcements. Good morning. If you could begin to locate your seats, grab a bulletin. We'll get ready to go over some announcements. Good morning. If you could begin to locate your seats, grab a bulletin. We'll get ready to go over some announcements.

Welcome to Calvary Chapel. I'm glad that you have joined us this morning. A handful of things to take note of. As always, on the left-hand side, the things going on throughout the week. In the middle section, a couple of reminders. First of all, just a reminder that if you're interested in getting involved in the mowing ministry, the sign-up sheet is out there. It'll be out there for the next

couple of weeks still, and they'll be getting started in April on that. And again, that's just the mowing of this yard and keeping it up. And if you have a team that you'd like to do that with you can sign them up as well um also pardon the mess because we have some construction going on out here i brought this up at the beginning of the year but there were like seven of you at church uh because that was the day that uh that uh we had all of the snow and everything but we are adding on to the church back here as you can tell um and so what is currently the nursery and nursing mother's room will go away and that will become kind of an enlarged foyer and it will lead into a building out there that will have a new nursery and toddler room as well

as some other bathrooms and classrooms for children's church so they have gotten started on that and we're very excited but it does mean that things are going to be very torn up back here for a little while so so especially with kiddos if you can kind of keep an eye on them with all of the construction dangerousness so but again it's going to take a little while so uh please bear with us as we as we work through this we've done it before and uh so we we survived that time we'll survive this one too so those are the things that are going on i'm excited about upcoming things so those are the things happening if you could make sure that your mobile device is silenced and for our responsive reading this morning we are going to be in psalm 46

psalm 46 looking at the new american standard so that we sound the same if you need a copy should be one in a row around you and as you are turning to psalm 46 if you are able please stand in the honor of the reading of god's word i will read the odd verses if you will follow along with pastor jared and the even verses psalm 46 for the choir director a psalm of the sons of korah set to alamath a song god is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam though the mountains quake at its swelling pride say la

there is a river whose streams make glad the city of god the holy dwelling places of the most high god is in the midst of her she will not be moved god will help her when morning dawns the nations make an uproar the kingdoms tottered he raised his voice and the earth melted the lord of hosts is with us the god of jacob is our stronghold say law come behold the works of the lord who has wrought desolations in the earth and made us theheathchain's tongueppoogabooandliaburiandnreолаah He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariots with fire. Cease striving and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. And read verse 11 with me. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. And Father, we come to you now. And Lord, we do praise you that you are our help and strength, Lord. Everything that we need in the time of trouble. And so, Lord, I pray that right now as we get ready to spend time in your word,

that your Holy Spirit would minister to us by the power of your Holy Spirit, Lord. That we would learn the things that you would have us to learn. That our hearts and minds would be brought into alignment with the will of God. And so, Lord, we just thank you and praise you. In Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated. And if you would, open up in your Bibles to the book of 1 Timothy chapter 2.

1 Timothy chapter 2.

Every now and then, there are sections of scripture that I wish didn't exist. And this is one of them. That's a joke. I don't really wish that, but this is a hard one to teach. Yesterday in men's breakfast, I was talking about the fact that we were talking about the story of the five loaves and the two fish. And I said, sometimes God calls us to do really good things.

Really impossible things. Like tomorrow, I have to teach this particular section in 1 Timothy. And I read it to him. And I don't think those men have ever prayed harder for me than they have in the last 24 hours ever since men's breakfast yesterday. Because today in 1 Timothy chapter 2 verses 9 through 15, I've simply entitled it, To All the Ladies. Because that's exactly what Paul addresses as he addresses the ladies in the church.

Now, before we get into the scripture, I just want to point a couple of things out to you. This truly is one of the more... Maybe one of the most controversial sections in scripture. It's not only controversial as far as the world is concerned. Because as far as the world is concerned, what's going to be put down here absolutely opposes everything that is the current agenda of the day.

But even in the church, this is an incredibly controversial scripture. As a matter of fact, if you heard multiple people teach on it, they'll give you mildly different opinions. Some will give you diametrically different opinions on this particular portion of scripture. And so, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do the best that I can to handle it both biblically and sensitively.

I was thinking about this and I... When it comes right down to it, I've lived most of my life around a great deal of ladies. I was raised, of course, with a sister. My parents' best friends had four girls. My dad served in this church and two girls that would claim me as their brother are Pastor Mark's daughters. And then, of course, I was very close with Pastor Alan and his family and he had three daughters.

And so, I spent an incredible amount of time growing up around girls. So, I am incredibly sensitive to ladies and I have a great deal of respect for ladies. So, everything that I'm about to share with you comes from a place of both sensitivity and incredible respect. But again, this is a controversial section of scripture because anytime it's dealt with, there's always some emotions that fly with it.

See, there's always been a struggle between men and women. There's always been a struggle between males and females. And ultimately, it comes down to two main issues. Two reasons why this struggle is so great. The first one came about because of the fall. You see, when God created Adam and Eve and He gave that command, Eve was the one who ultimately was the first to take the bite of that fruit and then handed it to her husband and he ate as well and sin entered the world.

And when God started laying out the consequences for sin, He laid out the consequences for the woman. And not only did He tell her, childbirth would be very painful for you, but He said something really interesting. He said, your desire will be for your husband. Now, on face value, that's not true. On face value, that sounds like a really good thing. She's always going to desire her husband.

Until you realize some other places where that word desire is used and you realize that it has nothing to do with physical desire and it has everything to do with the desire to rule over. You see, that same word is used later in scripture after Cain is confronted with sin. And God said, sin desires to rule over you. It's desire is for you. And so, ultimately, what happened in the fall of man.

And so, ultimately, what happened in the fall of man. Is that Eve, in all of womanhood after her, had this desire to rule over men. And there would always be a struggle between men and women. That's the first reason why sometimes this is incredibly controversial to talk about. Because ultimately, it goes back to the fall. But, fellows, we bear a little bit of blame in this too.

Because the other reason why this is really controversial to talk about is because as much as I don't always like the term toxic masculinity. It really is a reason why a lot of ladies have a hard time with this particular passage of scripture. Because for far too long, men have done one of two things. Either one, they've abdicated their responsibility and said, I don't want any part in it.

You take the lead. Speaking to their wives. Or they have handled their responsibility so poorly by lording it over women. And acting like women are nothing but property. Which is not ever what God intended. And because of that, we have dug ourselves into this hole. Where women have felt the need to assert themselves in places. Where God had never intended. Often times because we as men never truly empowered them to be who God created for them to be.

And so we come into chapter 2. We pick up in verse 9. And it says this. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing. Modestly and discreetly. Not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments. But rather by means of good works. As is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. But to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived. But the woman being deceived fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children. And if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

See why those fellows started praying so hard for me. Because they knew exactly what I was getting myself into. Now there's two main things Paul is going to deal with here when it comes to the ladies. He's going to deal with modesty. And he's going to deal with order. Modesty and order. So let's just take those two things. First thing he deals with is modesty.

He says, Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing. Modestly and discreetly. Not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments. Now one of the things that I've learned as a man. Is one thing I should never instruct my wife to do. Is how she should dress herself. As a matter of fact. If you remember. If you go all the way back to the fall of man.

Adam and Eve. The first thing that they realized when they sinned. First thing that they realized is that they were naked. Because they had been clothed in the righteousness of God. And that righteousness was removed on the day that they sinned. And so it says, Adam took fig leaves and clothed he and his wife with them. Now everything that I understand. Is that fig leaves are potentially one of the most itchy leaves you could wrap yourself in.

And so from that point on. Men have had no say in anything that men or women wear. That's always been something that a woman is supposed to do. But when it comes to this. Paul gives some instruction. He says, I want them to adorn themselves with. And he gives a handful of things. First of all. Proper clothing. That word proper means. That which is good and appropriate.

That which is good and appropriate. Now I just have to be really honest. And say that if there was ever a statement that needed to be made to the culture. In any generation. It's this. It's that it is so important for young ladies. Especially to learn. That it is so important to clothe yourselves properly. And for the occasion. To know how to handle yourself in that way.

Is such an important thing. That Kenneth Wiest gives a little bit of wisdom on this. When he says. What he indicates here is apparel that is both fitting to the gender. And their position as Christians. Apparel that is both fitting to the gender. And to their position as Christians. The second thing that he says that they should clothe themselves in. Is that they should clothe themselves in modesty.

The word modesty again is an interesting word. The word modesty means reverence and respect. Reverence and respect. In other words. Clothing should be reverent. In that God would approve of it. But also there should be respect for oneself. In the way that a woman clothes herself. And listen. I'm speaking to all ladies here. And I just want to be completely honest.

The thought of you respecting yourself. Should not make you think that that makes you anything less. It should actually show that you realize that you're so much more. Because that idea of being respectful in the way that you clothe yourself. And saying you know what. I am a precious individual. And there are parts of me that no one needs to see. And I will clothe myself in that respectful sort of way.

So first of all properly. Second of all modestly. Third he says discreetly. Or sober minded and self controlled. And then the fourth one that he says is somewhat cultural in nature. But we can make a current application. He says not with braided hair. Or basically fancy jewelry. So if you showed up here this morning with braided hair. All I'm saying is you absolutely violated scripture.

And I'm going to need you to deal with that immediately. No that's not what he's saying there right. Like it's always important to go is this cultural. Or is there a principle that we need to pull out. Well in this particular instance it was cultural. But there's a principle that we need to pull out. He says with braided hair. Or fancy gold and pearls and jewelry.

In other words the things that we put on our body. Should not be the thing that we try to attract everyone with. And honestly this could be used for men sometimes. I remember the age in the 80's. When men were wearing gold chains all the time. Right the Mr. T era. I actually watched an incredible clip with Mr. T here recently. And all of the wisdom that Mr. T gave.

And I saw all of the gold that he was wearing around him. And I thought maybe Paul would have something to say to him too. About not clothing himself with all of that gold. So he says listen. You are to adorn yourselves properly. Not with or with modesty discreetly. Not with braided hair and fancy jewelry. Instead this should be how you should clothe yourself.

Notice what he says. But rather by means of good works. As is proper for women making a claim to godliness. But instead with good works. Literally translated the idea of good works is helping others. But I added my own flair to this. And that is the content of one's character. You see the thing that should be looked at more than anything. Is the content of a person's character.

Because that is what you are known by. That is what everybody truly sees that shines through you. That is why some of the most beautiful women in the world. Are some of the most horrific to be around. Because while on the outside they may be clothed amazingly. On the inside there is no character. And so when you are around them you say. Man you may look good but you are not fun to be around.

Because you have no character inside of you. I always when I do. Pre-marital counseling with couples. I talk about the different types of love. And I talk about the fact that the eros love is important. Because there should be attraction. But that should not be the only thing that is there. There should also be that content of character. And I always explain to them.

And I will explain to you guys the same thing. I think my wife is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And I am incredibly attracted to her. More so as the years go by. It is amazing how that can happen. But what I am truly attracted to about my wife. Has less to do with how she looks on the outside. Although as I do like to say. I like to be interested in what is on the outside.

So that I can get to know what is on the inside. But it is not just what is on the outside of her. That drew me to her and made me go. There is no way I can spend my life apart from her. What really drew me to her. Is that she was compassionate. And that she is caring. And that she is understanding. And that she is accepting. And that she is honest. And that she holds me accountable.

And that she is my best friend. And I remember. I went through a really hard time. When we first started dating. Because I had been in a really bad relationship. And because of that bad relationship. I had a great deal of fear going into that current relationship. And I am a guy. I always like to say that guys do not care what is on TV. They only care what else is on TV.

And so I was still a guy. And I remember I broke up with her three times. I am outing myself 100% here right now. I broke up with her three times. And every time I broke up with her. You know what all I could think was. Gosh I would like to talk to her. I just miss her so much. Because I cared so much about who she really was. Because she was not just adorned with the things on the outside.

Beautiful yes. But that is not what drew me to her. Because while she was beautiful on the outside. What drew me to her was her heart of good works. Was the fact that the content of her character was irreplaceable. Was the fact that who she is on the inside. Is what I cannot get myself away from. Because I just love her so much. Because I just love her so much.

And ladies I got to tell you. The most important thing that you can do. Is show the content of your character. Because that is what shines through on the outside. We spend way too much time talking to people. About how they look on the outside. And not nearly enough time talking to them about how to become the right person on the inside. And so he says. Listen you need to pay attention to the way that you dress yourselves.

And again Paul is speaking to a Roman culture that was very caught up in sex. He says. You need to adorn yourselves with proper clothing. Modestly. And discreetly. And not by all of the outward trappings. But with the content of good character. Now as we come to this. I want to tell you a couple of things. First of all I want to tell you what Paul is not saying.

Okay. I've grown up around a lot of legalistic Christians. And I've seen a lot of legalistic moments. In churches. And I'm always amazed at the rules that churches have. So Paul is not saying two things. Number one. He is not saying that you are not allowed to wear nice things. Or care about your appearance. Right. There are some churches who are like. If you don't come to church in a dress.

You're absolutely doing it wrong. And God is going to strike you down. Like that is living in sin. I don't see that in the Bible. I actually don't see that in scripture at all. There is an aspect of dressing according to your gender. But you can wear pants and be dressed according to your gender. Just like you can wear a dress and be dressed according to your gender.

That's no problem. And it also doesn't mean that. That. That if you wear makeup. That that's living in sin. Or that you care about your hair. That that's living in sin. That's not what he's saying. He's not saying you can't care about your appearance. He's not saying you can't care about the way that you look on the outside. He's also not saying. And I think this is an important one to pay attention to.

He's also not saying. That you are responsible for the purity of every single man. He's not saying that. And I think that that's a legalistic trip that gets put on a lot of young ladies. Is we put this on young women. And we say. You know. If you dress that way. You're going to give men impure thoughts. Listen. I've got news for you. Men have impure thoughts no matter what.

Okay. I don't know if that makes you think weird about me. I don't know if that makes you think weird about men. This is just honesty 101. And we have got to quit putting this on women. We have got to quit saying. You are the sole reason that a man is thinking impure thoughts. Because that is absolutely wrong. That's a legalistic place that no woman can ever live up to.

But what he is saying. Is this. What he is saying. Is that your value far surpasses your appearance. Your value as a woman far surpasses your appearance. And I think if there's ever a message that ladies need to hear right now. And I'm not a woman. As you can tell. But I'm around a lot of them. And I think if there's a message that ladies really need to hear right now.

It's that your value. Is not attached to your appearance. When my wife and I first started dating. She shortly before that had worked for a very high end department store. And was even a fashion major at one point in time. And so every now and then we'd go to that high end fashion store. And she would show me things that were incredibly high priced. I mean like prices that I can't even fathom.

Somebody ever paying for clothing. Right. It's kind of like paying $600 for a pie. Anyway. Amounts of money that. And I said what. I said what on earth. Right. Here I'm an Arc City boy. You know. Like what on earth makes that article of clothing worth that much money. Because that is ridiculous. And I will never forget her saying. It's because of who designed it.

It's because of who designed it. And I'm here to tell you right now. Ladies. Your worth. Is so valuable. Not because of how you look. And not because of what you can do. But you are worth so much. Because of who designed you. Because the person that designed you. The God that designed you. Is the creator of the heavens and the earth. And he doesn't make mistakes.

And I want you to know. If you take nothing else away from this morning. I want you to take this away. My value far surpasses my appearance. My value far surpasses my appearance. My value far surpasses any of those things. Because what truly makes you valuable. Is the content of your character. Which has been given to you. By your designer. And that's God. I have two beautiful daughters.

Sometimes I look at them and I'm like. Man. I hate boys. Right. Because I just look at my daughters. And I'm like. Gosh. You know. And I want them to know one thing. Yes. I want. I want to make sure that they understand. That in their dad's eyes. They're beautiful. But what I really want them to know. Is that that's not where their value is. And this is something that the Lord has been impressing upon me a lot here lately.

Is that. Is that I need to. As often as I possibly can. As their father. As the. As the right now central male figure in their life. I want them to know. Your value is not based upon how you look. Your value is based upon your creator. And that value can never be taken away from you. That value can't be taken away by age. That value can't be taken away by what a scale says.

That value can't be taken away by what a filter does. That value can't be taken away by what an online bully does to you. That value cannot be taken from you. Because that value is instilled upon you. It's given to you by your creator. And if he's always going to be faithful. Then that value is always that great. And I want to tell them that in as many different ways.

In as many different portions of scripture as I can. I just keep pouring it into them. Girls. You have so much value. And I know that there's some young ladies in here today. And I want you to know. You are more valuable than your looks. You are more valuable than what a boy is going to attach to you. You are more valuable than what this world is going to attach to you.

Because that's what Paul is saying. Adorn yourself by who you really are. Not by what you think the world wants you to be. That's what he is saying. The second thing. That he absolutely is saying is this. Seek to bring glory to God through your appearance. If we put everything that we do. And ladies if you put the way that you clothe yourselves through this test.

Does this bring glory to God? Does it bring glory to God? Then all of a sudden you don't need a dress code anymore. Right? Like everybody hates dress codes. I hate dress codes. Right? But sometimes they have to be given. When I was a youth pastor. And we would go to places where there was swimming. We would always give the main dress code. Modest is hottest.

Right? I mean that's just. It's a rule to live by. So you have to put these dress codes on things. Because you have to be under the law until you can be under grace. But once you are living under that grace. And you start living according to. Does it bring glory to God? Then all of a sudden all dress codes go out the window. Because you don't need them anymore.

Because you realize this does bring glory to God. This brings glory to my body. This brings glory to my body. So this is what he's saying. He says do what brings glory to God. And ultimately. And I had him put this up there. Proverbs 31 verse 30. Proverbs 31 verse 30 says this. Charm is deceitful. And beauty is vain. But a woman who fears the Lord is greatly to be praised.

And if there's anything that we can continue to impress upon the women that are around us all the time. Is that if you will put God first. In your life. God will handle everything else. Because all of the outward trappings of this world. They can only get us so far. At the end of the day. A woman who fears the Lord. Man. She's out of this world. Amen. So he deals with the aspect of modesty.

Everybody's still here so far. That's good. Nobody's walked out on me. I don't know if anybody's taken a. Not tuned in online. But so far so good. But we're about to get controversial. The next thing that he deals with is order. Order. And this is what he says. First of all he deals with order in the church. He says a woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.

On its face value. Listen to Lloyd Pulley on this. And he goes on its face value this could be a dangerous verse. And I was like that's the understatement of the universe. Of course on its face value this could be a very dangerous verse. Because he just told women that you're supposed to learn quietly in all submission. Listen. I have friends on my Instagram feed right now that would absolutely destroy me if I

posted this scripture. Because every. Matter of fact one of them just posted a clip of Gwen Stefani. And if you don't know Gwen Stefani's main song which she played with no doubt it was I'm just a girl in the world. And the entire song was her saying expletives I'm a girl. Right. And it's like I've got all this power because I'm a girl. And then you read this verse and it's like crickets chirping in the background.

Like I don't want to hear that at all. But let's talk about what he means. What does he mean when he says a woman must quietly receive instruction with all submissiveness. Well the first thing that I want to point out to you is this. The first thing I want to point out is he says that they must receive instruction. Now we hear that and we don't think anything about it.

But Paul is writing 2,000 years ago to a Roman world that was influenced first of all by the Greeks. Second of all by the Jews. And learning for women in the Jewish and Greek mindset at that point in time. Listen. Did not happen. Learning was not something that was important for the women at that point in time. Learning how to take care of the home. Yes. Learning the scriptures.

No. That was what the men did. And so for the Greek mindset they viewed women as property. They were only to be in the home. The men were the ones that went out and did the learning and talked about the philosophy. For the Jewish mindset the women remained at home. The men were the ones that went out and talked about the theology. They're the ones that went out and talked about the law.

They're the ones that went out and debated what the prophet said. And so Paul in addressing women says that they should learn. He just elevated women to the same plane as men. Who could both learn in the same church at the same time all of the same things. And we discount just how much Jesus and his word elevated women to an equal standing with men. Do you remember some of the times with Jesus?

What he did? Do you remember when Jesus went and he had to go through Samaria? He had to go through Samaria. Nobody went through Samaria. And he not only talked to a Samaritan. Someone that the Jewish people looked at as an enemy. But also a woman. And he sat and had a conversation with her. Not only was she a Samaritan. Not only was she a woman. But she was a Samaritan woman who had a really bad reputation.

Jesus sat and talked to her like she was a person. Because Jesus elevated women to being on the same equal playing field with men. Honestly that's what the gospel does. The gospel elevates women to a place of being on the same playing field with men. Because it says. The same problem of sin that keeps men from knowing God. Is the same problem of sin that keeps women from knowing God.

And the same savior that saves men. Is the same savior that saves women. And the same gospel that works in the life of men. Is the same gospel that works in the life of women. women which is why paul said in christ there is neither male nor female it doesn't mean there's no longer differentiations it just means they're on the same playing field as far as the gospel is

concerned and so the gospel does a great deal so he says women must learn and for all of the women sitting there they were like thank god but he tells them how they're supposed to learn he tells them first of all they're supposed to learn quietly now that does not mean that women are not allowed to speak in church that's not what that means and there are there are churches that teach that that's what that means you're like that's the dumbest thing i've ever imagined what does that word quietly mean well that word quietly what it actually means is without contention in other words don't be the argumentative people while learning in church now listen i'm gonna get myself in trouble here mama say it anyway and i hope it's gonna be funny either that or

it's gonna fall flat there's a reason why he told the women not to be overly contentious it's because y'all like to argue right i'm sorry that's just all that there is to it i live with three women okay i don't know how many times i'm like you're right i'm wrong okay i just let's just move on with it let's just be done you don't mean that would it matter if i did remember i grew up around all girls i am pretty used to this stuff right and then and i work with a lot of young ladies too that that are that have come to jesus and and they're like oh and then she said this and and then she said this and i'm like you know it's almost like y'all just kind of like to

are yes i know girls are drama i'm like oh you said it not me i'm just throwing that out there he says listen learn without contention don't be argumentative constantly in church don't be argumentative about these things now another one of the things that paul said back in first corinthians that got him in a lot of trouble probably at least in today's culture is is he told told the women not to speak in church that they could that they could ask questions at home and everybody everybody kind of went they're not allowed to ask questions in church well remember it's pretty new that men and women would gather together in a church service anyway and so they would segregate them men would be on

one side women would be on the other side now how many of y'all husbands and wives go what did he say did he just say women are argumentative did he really just say that right how many of y'all lean over and say things like that all the ding dong time right well if your husband or wife isn't sitting right next to you what's going on did he really say that it gets a little disruptive sometimes right he says let the women learn quietly a woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness oh that's the word right there that's if quietly was bad submissive is worse it sounds like such an ugly word right again men we're the reason it sounds like an ugly word because for years men have used that as a word

to control women you have to submit and it became a dirty word and ultimately fellas i feel like we are to blame for that and so let's restore what what's actually intended with that word that that word submissive or the word to submit it's actually a military term and it speaks of being under in rank it speaks of an order of things that that there's an order of rank now i've never been in the military but i've talked to a lot of military people and one of the things that they'll always tell you is rank has nothing to do with who's better it has everything to do with who's been given responsibility and if the guy that's higher in rank than you you're still smarter then you still have to follow him because he's higher in rank than you and

ultimately you have to submit to that authority i have been in a lot of classrooms though and the same thing works in a classroom i will never forget my junior year of high school being i won't even tell you what class it was or the teacher anything like that i don't throw anybody under the bus but in this class and this teacher was teaching it and I remember a lot of us at points in time going I don't know if he really knows what he's talking about I don't know if this guy actually understands what he's teaching us and there was another young lady in the class incredibly smart I think she got like a 34 on the ACT or something it's just a really really smart smart girl and every now and then he'd go what'd you get for this right and we're all

like she's actually smarter than him I think she actually knows more about what we're learning than he does but at the end of the day we knew she wasn't the teacher he is she may be smarter than him he's still the guy in charge he's still the guy I have to submit to because he's still the authority that's the idea of submissiveness is that there is a god-established authority both in the home and in the church the goddess taught established authority in the home is that you have God and then you have the covering of the husband and then you have the wife underneath of the covering of the husband who is submitting to God and the way that a woman submits to God is to submit to her husband I I

I know it sounds awful but it's the way that God has it set up even when he's wrong in the church God has established that God would be at the head the pastor would be the covering for the church the elders are under the covering and then the everyone else including the women in the church submit to that authority now this does not mean that you have to submit in a case of abusiveness because I bring this up because I know that there have been points in time in churches I don't think it's ever taking place here but there have been points in time in churches when this umbrella of headship is misused and it becomes abuse and they say you have to submit to me because I am the authority even though there is abuse going on within the church that's

not what he's talking about he's talking about God-given structure and order in the church he says let let the women receive instruction quietly and experience but as a moral and in all submissiveness in other words following the God-given order in the church and then he deals with positions in the church he says if the hits just keep coming okay but I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man but to remain quiet my favorite parts that he adds that last part in there but to remain quiet again non-contentious he says but but I don't a woman to teach now in the greek construction of the word teach there it's not just the idea of of someone teaching there can be someone who teaches he uses the construction of the word

a teacher that's the idea behind that word and it's the same greek construction and word that's used elsewhere in scripture when paul or or peter or any of them lay out the different offices within the church some are given to be evangelists some are given to be prophets some are given to be pastor teachers same word and so what he's talking about here is the office of a teacher as a matter of fact again i think kenneth weist does a really good job of pointing this out he says they are not to be in the position as a teacher exercising authorities in matter of church doctrine or discipline in other words women are not to be the pastors or the elders in the church incredibly unpopular opinion into this

culture incredibly unpopular and if you don't agree with me that's okay you'll have to take it up with scripture but but that's okay i can still love you and i know some some women that are pastors and i get along with them great and and and some of them even other than this theologically we are 100 on the same page and we can still fellowship with each other but i'm always going to disagree with them on this because i stick strictly to the historical interpretation of this particular section of scripture and so he says that they should not uh that they should not teach or exercise authority over a man now let's once again look at some context what paul is not saying and what paul is saying

what paul is not saying is that women are inferior and i have to say this because you have no idea how much teaching there is out there that paul was a male chauvinist who thought women were inferior who thought women were less than and that men were so much better than women i mean there's just all kinds of teaching out there about that even some of the commentaries that i read that brought up different positions on this scripture said that there are some who teach that paul thought that women were inferior and i just don't see that i don't see that in anything that paul has to say i don't see that throughout the entire bonds of scripture that women are viewed as inferior in

any way shape or form it has nothing to do with who's better or worse it has everything to do with responsibility so number one paul is not saying that women are inferior and number two he is not saying that women don't have a position in the church he's not saying that women don't have a position in the church as a matter of fact i put together a little list here of of some places where women are actually using very powerful positions within the church now these are just new testament there's some old testament ones as well but since we're dealing specifically with the church i stuck with the new testament but but these are some of the things that that we see women uh doing within the church first of all there were women who

supported jesus financially there's a point in time in the gospels where it said that there were some women who were of means and they began to support jesus financially there was a woman who anointed the feet of jesus and when she anointed the feet of jesus before his crucifixion he even went so far as to say what this woman did was so great her her act of service was so great that everybody that reads this gospel account is going to know what this woman did now you tell me that wasn't an important position that she had in the church to serve in that way that he said this is so great that i i want anybody that ever knows anything about me to know that this happened uh the the next one is remember uh the women were the last ones at the

foot of the cross and the gospel accounts are sure to point that out that all of the disciples all of the men fled and all of the women were at the foot of the cross as a matter of fact the very first ones to show up to the tomb the day that he resurrected from the dead were women they were the ones who showed up who saw the risen jesus for the very first time and received that first uh indication of the fact that jesus was alive not only that the women were the first ones to declare the truth that jesus was alive they were the first ones to herald the gospel if you will that jesus is alive um there was a lady who's actually specifically named in scripture her

name was phoebe and she was not only a deaconess meaning that she held a actual position within the church as as a as a female deacon somebody who who helped to meet the physical needs of the church but she went on to carry the letter of romans to the roman church so somebody that was used very powerfully by the lord early on um in the gospels we read about a prophetess and anna was at the temple on the day that jesus was brought there for his circumcision and he was dedicated to the lord and she actually spoke a word of prophecy over him and prayed over him because she had been day and night in the temple serving the lord through her prayers and so so we

see that that there's that gift of prophecy that women can have as a matter of fact when you move in to the book of Acts, there were prophetesses in the book of Acts. One of them actually prophesied something over Paul. We find that Timothy, the guy that he's actually writing this to, was raised in the faith by both his mother and his grandmother. And Paul even indicates, I'm so thankful for what your mother and your grandmother did in pouring into you spiritually.

So there's always a position for women within the church. As a matter of fact, that position of prophecies is oftentimes something that God uses very powerfully with women because y'all are usually more sensitive to the word of the Lord than we as men are. I personally have seen God use women in my own life in that gift of prophecy or exhortation that have spoken words into my life, both as a child, as a teenager, as a young pastor, and even recently I've had women speak a word into my life. It was incredibly life-giving to me. It was really important for me.

Again, throughout scripture, we see women doing that. As a matter of fact, when I came to Jesus, I credit a women's retreat to it. Not that I attended, but I was washing dishes there. I was washing dishes at a women's retreat, and I was listening to a pastor's wife give a message, and that's what God used in me to bring me to a place of faith, to bring me to a place where I truly surrendered my heart to the Lord.

And so Paul is not saying, women have no place in the church, that women have no place in ministry. As a matter of fact, women are used very powerfully in ministry, not only in the early church, but even today. It's just that Paul's saying that God has an order and a structure, and in an authoritative place, God has intended men to be there. Not because men are that much better, because this is what Paul is saying. Not because men are that much better, but what Paul

is saying is there is a proper order and a God-given responsibility that is to be followed. And as I always like to point out to the men, sorry guys, I can't leave you alone, even in a message of to all the ladies, and sometimes to the men. God will hold us responsible whether we ever take the responsibility or not. I will always say that every church that has a woman that's pastoring it, God will hold the men in that church responsible for the fact that nobody stood up. There's an account in the book of Acts when Paul came to, I believe it was Philippi,

and there was a lady there named Lydia. who was the seller of purple and there was no jewish synagogue at the time meaning that there weren't that many jewish men there and so her and a bunch of women gathered for a prayer meeting down by the river and they gathered there until god sent paul to start a church where he established both a pastor and an eldership there and and so god uses women very powerfully but there is a god-given order and a god-given responsibility and he goes on to explain why for it was adam verse 13 who was first created and then eve and it was not adam who was deceived but the woman being deceived fell into transgression the women will be preserved through the bearing of children

i will deal with verse 15 in just a second he gives two reasons why this is really important number one is the order of creation and this is why i don't believe this has to be cultural some people say well what paul was saying was very cultural to that time really because paul goes back to something that really predates culture and he goes back to creation he says this was the order of creation god created adam first and then he created eve and honestly if we really want to understand men and women roles we go all the way back to the beginning because god created adam and it's not good that man should be alone i will create for him a helper and i always like to ask couples in those situations when i when i do premarital

counseling like what does the word helper mean to you because that gives me a really good indication of where they're coming from with some things because usually when we think of the word helper and especially a lot of men and again this is one of the issues we have is as we think about the the person that carries my tools next to me right the my my little helper and that's not at all what that word indicates that word's actually a very strong word but in fact that same hebrew word for helper that god uses there if we were to travel all the way back all the way down to the psalms we will find that that the psalmist david says i lift my eyes up to the mountains where does my help come from my help comes from the lord same same hebrew word

for help there so it's a powerful word so what he's saying is is he needs someone who will be his strength he needs someone who will come alongside him someone who will be the greatest strength of his life and so god created adam first and then he created eve to be that powerful person right next to him giving him everything he needs to do what god has called for him to do and any of us that are husbands worth our salt know that the only reason we are who we are is because of the wife that god has given to us because my wife always makes me a better version of me and with that i don't know i think i'd just be in a pile somewhere so it was adam who was created first

and then it was eve but then not only does he go with the fact that there's an order of creation but he reminds us that eve was deceived notice we said it was not adam who was deceived but the woman being deceived fell into transgression now there's a mistake that can be made here that we think that somehow eve was gullible in what she did and we said you know women are women are gullible they just they just fall for anything that's not the idea that's given here if you really look at the account when did eve eventually fall into sin when she found out she could be like god you see when he says she was deceived it's not a gullibility thing it's the fact that that that she was uh trying to overturn the divine

power adam had responsibility in this too do you remember where was adam this whole time right next to her is the indication we're given in the hebrew when it says she handed him the fruit to eat meaning at any point in time adam who according to scripture was the one given the command could have stepped in and said this isn't what we're supposed to do that's not what god has called for us to do this is what god's word was to us but he didn't he abdicated his responsibility to the woman who is deceived with a desire to become like god and here we are today they were both to blame both in different ways and their greatest weaknesses are now our greatest weaknesses because what do men sometimes have the hardest time doing

taking responsibility what do women have the hardest time with not trying to take responsibility not trying to take the authority he says there's a reason there's a reason it's because adam was created first but also eve was the one who was deceived these are important things to pay attention to and these roles within the church are incredibly important and they're not just because when we follow what god's word has to say it's not always popular in the world and if we think it's going to be popular in the world you are deceiving yourself because god's word has never been popular in the world but it will be incredibly holy for us and then he goes on to give what every commentator no matter how they feel about all of the rest of this section every

commentator says this is one of the most confusing verses in scripture praise god that i get to teach it says but women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity self-restraint

what what does he mean by that well you know it it means that if women keep burying children that that's the sacrament of motherhood and it will ultimately lead to their salvation no i don't think that's what he's saying because when he says saved he's talking to those who already are because he says if they continue in faith and love and saying to thee with self-restraint restrained. And if that's what he's saying, it would violate everything else Paul had ever taught. See, the word saved there is the same word that's used throughout all of the New Testament, but it's used in at least three different contexts. Saved can sometimes speak of spiritual salvation.

Saved can sometimes speak of physical salvation, meaning like a healing from a sickness, or it can mean saved from a shipwreck. All three contexts of that word are used throughout the New Testament. So he can't be speaking of salvation because it's somebody who's already saved. So what does he mean by saved through childbirth? Oh, well, he's speaking about the

birth of Jesus. I don't see that there either. That doesn't make much sense either. What does he mean? Well, the best thing that I could come up with was something that I read. Again, unpopular, it got Harrison Butker nearly canceled. This is from W.E. Vine. It says, the idea seems to be that through motherhood, the woman can escape the social ills of the time and maintain the

testimony of her mother. The testimony of the local church. That through motherhood, she can escape the social evils of the time and maintain the testimony of the local church. Three of the women on my Instagram news feed will blast me later if that shows up, because they blasted Harrison Butker for it too. Listen, ladies, and those of you that are moms know this, motherhood is one of the greatest

blessings that God has given. I can't imagine, and I love watching my wife with my daughters. I love watching it, because she's so good with them, and she's so good with kids. Like, I wish I was that good with kids, and I'm just not. Once you hit the place where I can be really sarcastic with you, we start clicking, right? We start cooking. But until then, it doesn't work very well. I don't have that same nurturing way

that she does. And it is one of the greatest joys to watch her with them, because she's so good at it. It's her greatest blessing. I know that what my wife wants more than anything in the world is to see my daughters become godly women. And she's doing everything within her power to pour into them, to see them become that. Because she is well aware of the fact that that will be her greatest glory.

And somehow, we have told women in this culture today, listen, you raising kids, that's antiquated. That's not your greatest glory. Get a career. Make a lot of money. Make a name for yourself. And you know what happens almost across the board to women once they have gotten the career and made the money and made a name for themselves? You know what they want to start having? They want to start

having kids. You know why? Because it's really, really hard to fight God-given instincts. It's really, really hard to fight God-given desires. Now listen, I'm not saying that you should go out and just be barefoot and pregnant all the time. I am saying that motherhood is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to you ladies. And it's amazing. And it's amazing. And it's amazing. And it's

amazing. When a woman truly embraces that God-given gift, and they raise some really great kids, and they're able to look at them and say, look what God has done. And it's a testimony not only to the local church, but it's a testimony to the world. And so ladies, God has uniquely gifted you. God has uniquely created you. Find your worth. Find your value in Him. Find your worth

and find your value in Him. Find your value in the God who designs you uniquely and specifically to be you. Amen? Let's all stand.

And if you'd bow with me. Father, thanks so much for your word. As always, I just thank you for how good it is to our soul. Thank you for how good it is to our hearts. And Father, I pray that you would take your word this morning and continue to use it in our lives. As always, Lord, may the things of me fall by the wayside. And may the things that are from you, Lord, grow in our hearts. And Father, may you continue to

bless. We just thank you and we praise you for who you are. In Jesus' name. Amen. Be blessed. Thank you that we can run to you, Lord God, and trouble, Lord God. We can always come to you with whatever we are dealing with, Lord God. Whether that be a sin issue, or just struggling with depression, or anything like that, Lord, we just thank you. You are a loving Father.

Well, Lord, we thank you for your word this morning. I pray that you continue to minister to us as we leave here. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. You guys have a wonderful week. God bless you.