Without Rival by Lisa Bevere

Author:Lisa Bevere
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL012120;REL012000;Christian women—Religious life;Self-esteem in women—Religious aspects—Christianity;Competition (Psychology)
ISBN: 9781493404988
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

Obey Your King

God is our high and holy King. Our King has commissioned and empowered you. He has asked you to speak to his people on his behalf. This being true, how could you ever allow those who lead under the King to deter you? Each of us must be a living, breathing declaration of Matthew 4:10:

We will worship the Lord our God and serve only him.

If obeying the King’s subjects means disobeying the King, then your real problem is with the King. We have an example of how to navigate this in Esther. The king of Persia had not called for Esther, and the statutes of his court forbid her to come before him. But Esther understood that obeying the king’s parameters meant disobeying God. Esther feared God more than she feared the displeasure of people, and she went. She approached the king strategically, but she did not dare remain silent when so many lives were at stake. I have to wonder how different our world is today. Many daughters are hidden away in strategic places and circumstances. Some are even now fasting and praying alongside their sisters, watching and waiting for the right moment to step in and intercede.

Having said this, I am not endorsing rebellion to your husband or to church leaders. I am hoping to heighten your awareness that there is a very real enemy who will not be content with simply silencing you. He is after your life and the lives of your children.

Truth time. If your husband forbade you from sharing the gospel, would you obey him?

I’m not talking about ascending the pulpit in the role of senior pastor or speaking publicly. I am asking, are you sincerely free and able to be a witness? Are you ready to give an answer, to pray, or to disciple a younger woman?

John and I were talking about this issue recently. He asked me why so many women seem to be looking for excuses to opt out of being an ambassador for Jesus. I shared that I believe some are simply afraid of the backlash. It was the same week I sat next to a man on a plane who shared with me that I was called a derogatory term behind my back. I answered, “And to my face as well!”

This is not the time for the faint of heart or the thin of skin. It is all-out war against the image bearers of God, both male and female. The last thing we need to be caught doing is fighting amongst one another! Having said this, I do think some women need to brave this conversation. They may have been taught that submission is silence, and they do not know that God has changed their names. What is God prompting you to do? Is there a young mother who needs you to disciple her? What about hosting a prayer group or Bible study in your home? Godly submission honors our husbands while obeying God.

Other women are afraid of their strengths because no one has ever taught them how to steward them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.