Just for Ladies by Camille Stahl
Listen to Sunday Morning’s Message at Jersey Shore Baptist Church.
Today’s Passage – Psalm 119 (Click on the references to hear the audio)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 19 – 20; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)
Scripture Memory for July – Hebrews 1
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1
A Study of Women in the Bible
This Week – Lot’s Wife
“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:24-26)
Lot’s wife is not mentioned in the Bible account of Abraham’s family as they journeyed from Ur of the Chaldees, or as they left Canaan to go down into Egypt. The first mention of her is at Sodom. This could mean that she was from Canaan or perhaps she was from Sodom. Regardless of where she was born, Lot and his wife had two daughters who left Sodom with them, and at least two other daughters who, along with their husbands and possibly children, refused to leave. We do know that in Genesis 18:32, God’s promise to Abraham was not to destroy the city for the sake of 10 righteous. This could have included all of the family of Lot if they were, in fact, all saved. Apparently Lot’s family were not.
Lot’s wife was a privileged woman. She was married to a “righteous man”. Genesis 13:12 says, “Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Just a side note, in the very next chapter of Genesis the Bible says, “And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” Notice it say in Sodom. Anyway, there was very little chance that Lot’s wife would be able to withstand the evil of Sodom unless she was very strong in the Lord. It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 15:33, which states: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Lot’s wife was warned of the coming danger from God himself. Whether she really believed it or not, she did follow her husband and left. When leaving, she must have heard the cries of the people when fire and brimstone fell from Heaven. Her heart must have broken as she thought of her daughters and possible grandchildren being destroyed. But then she committed the sin. She looked back.
In our day, we have a tendency to minimize and downplay sin and its consequences. The consequence of sin without Christ is death. Lot’s wife suffered the consequence of unbelief.
A Few Lessons That Can Be Applied:
To the Christian Woman: Once you’ve come out of darkness (saved), never look back. Stay far away from the world’s influences. 1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Study and obey the word of God. Teach your children to study the Bible, and obey His word. Start as early in their life as you can. When God speaks, listen. I am sure there are many other lessons that we can learn from Lot’s wife.
To the non-Christian Woman: Christ also warns us of the danger before us. He spoke more about Hell than the apostles. Jesus tells us of the judgment day, when the wicked “will go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”. (Matthew 25:46) I urge you to call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved.
Our church website www.jerseyshorebaptist.com has a link “The Bible Way to Heaven” where you can read and understand the way to Heaven.
“In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” (Luke 17:31-33)
Rushing wind blow through this temple. Blowing out the dust within. Come and breathe your breath upon me, I’ve been born again. Holy Spirit, I surrender, take me where you want to go. Plunge me by your living your living water, plant me deep, so I can grow. Jesus, your the One, who set my spirit free. Use me Lord glorify, your Holy name through me. Separate me from this world Lord, sanctify my life for you. Daily change me to your image, help me bear good fruit. Everyday your drawing closer, trials come to test my faith. But when all is said and done Lord, you know, it’s been worth the wait.” (Keith Green)
Thank You and God Bless 1 John 5:13
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Just For Ladies, by Camille Stahl
Here is the message from Sunday Morning. Many could not get out to church due to the storm damage and power outages.
Today’s Passage – Psalms 86 – 89
Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3
Scripture Memory for July – Hebrews 1
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8
THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
Hagar, The Heathen Woman Whom God Loved
Good morning and welcome back. In this weeks lesson, I would like for you to think of Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.” (Genesis 16:1-4)
“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” (Genesis 22:9-10)
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.” (Genesis 21:14-20)
Hagar was an Egyptian woman. Growing up she learned to serve many gods, a heathen. Abraham and Sarah bought Hagar as their slave. How sad for Hagar. She was taken from her family, moved to a far country and was commanded to bare a child with another woman’s husband. According to the law, at that time, this practice was allowed. If a baby was born out of this kind of arrangement, the baby was legally considered to be the child of the true wife. What a sad existence for Hagar. No one to love her, not even her child. Hagar did not even have control of her own life as she was a slave. When Hagar conceived, Sarah got angry and beat Hagar. Remember, Sarah was the one who told Abraham to go into Hagar so she could give birth to Abraham’s seed. Fearing for her life and the life of her child, Hagar ran away. Where is the justice. No one loved her and she was all alone, or was she? While in the wilderness, by a spring of water, God called to her and asked her why she was there. After she explained what happened, God did not rebuke her, although He could have. He simply told her to go back and subject herself to Sarah’s authority. A young heathen woman who did not belong to the people of God, the mother of an unborn child, came before God in extreme need, and God was there. Then Hagar obeyed God and turned back . Instead of speaking out for her own rights, she humbled herself before Sarah.
Thirteen years after Sarah’s son Isaac, was born, Hagar found herself, and her son Ishmael, back in the wilderness. When near death, crying out to God, God came again and provided for them both, just as He did for us at the cross.
As Ishmael grew they traveled to Egypt and Hagar brought him back a wife. Her time with Abraham and Sarah, and her two encounters with the Lord, did not completely change her life. Hagar was still a heathen. God knew that Hagar and Ishmael would choose to serve idol gods, God permitted her to be forced to live in a desert place. This changed history, and the sons of Ismael and the sons of Isaac are still fighting today. Yet, in spite of everything, Hagar is proof that Jesus Christ loves everyone. His help to Hagar proves that anyone who cries out to Him, He will answer. Jesus Christ, who was willing to reveal Himself to a heathen woman who reached the end of her rope, even now is available to everyone who seeks Him.
Is there something going on in your life today that is keeping you at the end of your rope? Is your heart heavy with sorrow and to the point of breaking? Do you feel abandoned, unloved? We have a great King who is waiting with a reached out hand. Will you take it? Just cry out to Him.
Psalm 86:7 says, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.”
Romans 10:13 say, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.”
Just as I am, without one plea, And that thy Blood was shed for me. And as Thou bids me, come to thee, oh Lamb of God I come.
Thank You
1 John 5:13 – 14
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Just for Ladies by Camille Stahl
Today’s Passage – Psalms 51 – 57
Second Milers also read – Revelation 12 – 15; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 26
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
The Study of Women in the Bible
This week: Sarah
Good morning and welcome once again to Women in the Bible. This week we will be looking at Sarah and how she walked ahead of God.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1 – 3)
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Genesis 15:1 – 5)
“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived:” (Genesis 16:1 – 4)
Abraham and Sarah lived a secure life in Ur, with friends and family . One day God appeared to Abraham and told him to leave his land and go to a place, which He would point out to him. Most women would find it hard to leave their home to face an unknown future, but Sarah got on board and stood behind her husband, obeyed God and went willingly. After moving over 600 miles away, God told Abraham to move again. All the while Sarah was waiting for the promise of God to bear a child.
Abraham and Sarah continued moving around, and because of a famine, they decided to move to Egypt. For the first time Sarah saw Abraham not take counsel from God. She must have really questioned her husband when he asked her to tell the people that she was his sister. Here was a man who walked beside God now running ahead. Sarah honored her husband, and God honored Sarah by protecting her in Egypt. Sarah knew from experience that to live a life of faith she would need to be patient. Faith and patience go together. You can’t buy them, you have to experience them. But Sarah was growing older and now past her days of child bearing. She suggested to Abraham that he take a Hagar as his concubine. Although these things happened frequently back then, it was still wrong because of her lack of faith.
A year after God appeared to them again, Sarah conceived and bore a child. Finally, receiving the promise from God.
Today we have two nations from the loins of Abraham: the Arabs, the descendants of Ishmael; and the Jews, the descendants of Isaac. They are still at war with each other, all because Sarah ran ahead of God.
We too must follow by God’s side; never running ahead or dragging behind. Moving when God moves us, and waiting when He is working. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” If you ever walked in the woods at night with a flashlight, you know you must walk next to the one holding the light. Too far behind or ahead, and you are in darkness. You might go down the wrong path, stumble, or fall. So let’s take the Saviour’s hand and walk together by His side.
In conclusion, I do not want to leave Sarah on a sour note. Sarah’s life had experienced many sacrifices. Her faith grew after the birth of her son, Isaac. She experienced hardships and disappointments, all without complaint. She was flexible with the changes that were made in her life. By her obedience to Abraham, she allowed him to obey God. In Hebrews 11, she was honored for the faith she had, not without having her failures pointed out.
Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy Blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come…
Thank You
1 John 5:13
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