1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,940 How many moms I got in the room? 2 00:00:01,940 --> 00:00:02,880 We got any moms? 3 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,920 God bless you. 4 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:11,420 (congregation applauding) 5 00:00:11,420 --> 00:00:14,860 You know, moms are pretty awesome. 6 00:00:14,860 --> 00:00:21,440 As babies, obviously, we're so attached to our mothers 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,920 and then you grow and you're about four or five 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,640 and I remember thinking my mom 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,280 was the most beautiful person in the world 10 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:29,580 and I wanted to marry her. 11 00:00:30,340 --> 00:00:35,340 And then I hit about 10, 12, 13 12 00:00:35,340 --> 00:00:40,640 and asked her a lot of questions and really irritated her. 13 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,740 And then you grow up and you get to be a teenager 14 00:00:44,740 --> 00:00:47,100 and you kind of despise the authority 15 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:48,540 that they have over you 16 00:00:48,540 --> 00:00:52,560 and think they take stupid pills and all that. 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,900 But then you get into your 20s and your 20s and 30s 18 00:00:56,900 --> 00:01:00,380 and you're thinking, wow, she kind of knew 19 00:01:00,380 --> 00:01:02,300 a little more than I did. 20 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:07,300 And you kind of appreciate the wisdom that they had. 21 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:10,620 Your eyes are fully open at that point. 22 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:14,340 Your brain is close to being fully developed. 23 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,140 Mine's not quite fully developed yet. 24 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:22,360 But then you ask them, then you fellowship with them 25 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,240 and you can compare notes 26 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:29,240 and there's a pretty sweetness that happens there 27 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,400 as you get older with your parents 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,720 or it was for me anyway with my mother. 29 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,720 I could always talk to her and then you miss talking to them 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,220 because they're gone. 31 00:01:42,220 --> 00:01:46,680 And so that kind of struck me this week 32 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,600 as I was thinking about this message 33 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,840 and just the importance of a mother 34 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,700 and God's heart in the whole matter of making them. 35 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:02,560 And obviously there's a reason that we're here. 36 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:07,200 I know that's elementary, but it's true, right? 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:15,380 You know, praise God, on May 9th, 1914, 38 00:02:15,380 --> 00:02:20,380 President Woodrow Wilson declared a national day 39 00:02:20,420 --> 00:02:23,120 to celebrate mothers, right? 40 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,520 And I've heard a lot of bad things about Wilson, 41 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,260 but I'm gonna give him a thumbs up on this one, right? 42 00:02:28,260 --> 00:02:32,380 And I loved looking at some quotes. 43 00:02:32,380 --> 00:02:36,520 You know, "Being a mother is like being a gardener of souls. 44 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,180 You tend your children, 45 00:02:38,180 --> 00:02:41,820 make sure the light always touches them." 46 00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:42,660 Right? 47 00:02:42,660 --> 00:02:45,000 That was Karen White that said that. 48 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,520 And M. L. Steadman, he said this, 49 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,140 "Such a mysterious business motherhood, 50 00:02:53,140 --> 00:02:56,800 how brave a woman must be to embark on it." 51 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,640 Boy, ain't that the truth. 52 00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:04,760 Or Robert Browning said this, 53 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:09,760 "Motherhood, all love begins and ends there." 54 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,680 And my mom taught me how to love. 55 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:14,960 She was a lover. 56 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,360 She was a lover of people. 57 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,120 She loved her children. 58 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,840 And it's a powerful legacy. 59 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,840 She impacted me and my siblings with her incredible love. 60 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,840 You know, you've heard that saying, 61 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,000 "Only a mother could love that face." 62 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:37,000 Well, and maybe all of us have been there at times, 63 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,880 you know, when they wanted to kill us. 64 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,560 But what a blessing. 65 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,400 What a blessing moms are. 66 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,980 And so somebody has rightly said, 67 00:03:46,980 --> 00:03:49,220 "When God wants to do a great work, 68 00:03:49,220 --> 00:03:50,920 He gets a hold of a man. 69 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,260 When He wants to do an exceptionally great work, 70 00:03:53,260 --> 00:03:55,180 He gets a hold of a woman." 71 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:56,020 Right? 72 00:03:56,020 --> 00:04:01,040 Now I am not a feminist, right? 73 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,400 I think we have our roles. 74 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,040 God's created us differently. 75 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:08,940 Go figure. 76 00:04:08,940 --> 00:04:13,740 For a reason, right? 77 00:04:13,740 --> 00:04:16,680 I tell people my wife is everything I am not. 78 00:04:17,180 --> 00:04:18,580 Right? 79 00:04:18,580 --> 00:04:21,160 And I am stronger than her though. 80 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,680 Right? 81 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,260 Strong back and a weak mind. 82 00:04:25,260 --> 00:04:26,700 That's why I need her around. 83 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:32,500 But as you look through scripture, 84 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:33,900 you see where God, 85 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:36,700 He uses these women in such a powerful way. 86 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:37,780 You think about Eve. 87 00:04:37,780 --> 00:04:40,500 She was called the mother of all living. 88 00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:42,480 Bless her heart, right? 89 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,020 She didn't have any Lamaze classes to go to. 90 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,800 (congregation laughing) 91 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,300 Or no one to teach her how to breastfeed 92 00:04:51,300 --> 00:04:56,080 or how to, you know, take care of a kid. 93 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,460 God just gave it to her. 94 00:04:57,460 --> 00:05:00,840 And then one woman that we don't hear hardly anything about, 95 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,280 how about Noah's wife? 96 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:04,100 Right? 97 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:05,920 The mother of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, 98 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,680 where we all came from those three boys. 99 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,640 All of us in this room came from those three boys. 100 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,840 We don't hear anything about her, 101 00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:15,760 but I'm sure she was a great woman. 102 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,280 And then we have the mothers of the patriarchs, 103 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:23,760 Sarah and Rebecca, the mother of Isaac and Jacob. 104 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,700 And then you hear the story of the faith of Jochebed. 105 00:05:26,700 --> 00:05:29,580 You guys remember that name? 106 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:31,180 Who her boy was? 107 00:05:31,180 --> 00:05:32,020 Right? 108 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:34,160 Jochebed was the mother of Moses. 109 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,160 And by faith, she builds this basket 110 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,560 and covers it and pitch and chucks it in the Nile River 111 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,080 amongst the crocodiles, 112 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,660 believing that God was gonna do something with this baby 113 00:05:44,660 --> 00:05:46,960 because there was something special about him. 114 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:52,060 And sure enough, he became the deliverer of Israel. 115 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:55,060 Or how about Jael and her tent pig? 116 00:05:55,060 --> 00:06:00,380 Yeah, she did away with Sisera. 117 00:06:00,380 --> 00:06:02,280 And Esther, for such a time of the zest, 118 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:03,860 I love Esther's heart, 119 00:06:03,860 --> 00:06:06,000 as she is gonna go before the king. 120 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,520 And she said this, 121 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:08,880 and I think this is just, 122 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,520 should be the heart of every believer 123 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:11,840 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 124 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,760 She said, "If I die, I die." 125 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,120 But for such a time as this, 126 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,520 God has called me to do this. 127 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,640 God has called us for such a time as this, folks, 128 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,820 to stand up and to be counted. 129 00:06:23,820 --> 00:06:27,700 And much like our hero of faith, Esther. 130 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:30,800 And then Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, right? 131 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,260 Being in labor, possibly in her 80s, 132 00:06:33,260 --> 00:06:34,580 that would have been a tough one. 133 00:06:34,580 --> 00:06:37,820 And then the young girl, Mary, 134 00:06:37,820 --> 00:06:39,540 that gave birth to Jesus. 135 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:45,640 My grandmother believed that a woman's purpose in life 136 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,220 was to give the world a son. 137 00:06:48,220 --> 00:06:52,640 And I know that even in our fellowship here, 138 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,320 there's people have had infertility problems, 139 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,720 and that's a heartbreaking thing. 140 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,840 But God has given, I believe, 141 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:05,360 He's given an instinctive mother's heart to all women. 142 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,040 And it's a very powerful thing. 143 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,200 And so we're gonna look at Hebrews, or excuse me, 144 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,760 Proverbs 31. 145 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,900 I've never ever taught through this before, 146 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:18,320 and I'm gonna skip a little bit of it. 147 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:23,080 The first nine verses there is, 148 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,560 many believe Bathsheba giving instruction 149 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:27,980 to her son, Solomon. 150 00:07:27,980 --> 00:07:32,300 And moms, I just want you to know, 151 00:07:32,300 --> 00:07:36,940 you have a huge impact on your boys. 152 00:07:36,940 --> 00:07:40,220 And so challenge them. 153 00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:42,840 I've said this before, challenge them to be men, 154 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:48,160 and maybe even use some of Bathsheba's words here. 155 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,040 And before we read, let's pray. 156 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,080 Lord, we thank you. 157 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,080 Thank you for moms, Lord, 158 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:59,080 that they've truly made our life vital and real 159 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:05,600 and really blessed, 160 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,540 even though we've all sinned 161 00:08:07,540 --> 00:08:09,560 and fallen short of the glory of God. 162 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,500 Lord, you've used these women in our lives, Lord, 163 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:15,700 to bring us into this world, Lord, 164 00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:19,700 that we would have an opportunity to leave a legacy. 165 00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:21,820 And so I just pray for that blessing on them. 166 00:08:21,820 --> 00:08:24,660 I pray the blessing of your holy word, Lord, 167 00:08:24,660 --> 00:08:26,860 as we look at it this morning 168 00:08:26,860 --> 00:08:30,740 and celebrate the lives of these women, Lord. 169 00:08:30,740 --> 00:08:32,040 And we thank you. 170 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:33,540 Thank you that we can, 171 00:08:33,540 --> 00:08:35,600 we're free to say that word, women. 172 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,660 And Lord, we just, we love you and we praise you. 173 00:08:38,660 --> 00:08:43,360 And we know that you have a heart to nurture. 174 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,360 You have a heart for us, Lord. 175 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,980 You compare your holy spirit to that helper 176 00:08:48,980 --> 00:08:51,540 that the Lord made for the man in the garden. 177 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:54,620 And Lord, I just pray that we would be yielded 178 00:08:54,620 --> 00:08:57,900 to that spirit even today in Jesus' name, amen. 179 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:01,680 So the first nine verses there, 180 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:03,460 as she encourages her son, 181 00:09:03,460 --> 00:09:05,080 she says these things. 182 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,340 She instructs her son saying, 183 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:11,360 don't be a womanizer, don't be a drunk. 184 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,860 Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves. 185 00:09:14,860 --> 00:09:19,060 Do what is right in judgment and help the needy. 186 00:09:19,060 --> 00:09:23,360 And here is a guy that was gonna ascend to the throne 187 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,800 in place of his father, David, 188 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,980 and his mother's telling him, right? 189 00:09:28,980 --> 00:09:30,540 You better be careful. 190 00:09:30,540 --> 00:09:32,460 You better tread lightly. 191 00:09:32,460 --> 00:09:34,380 And you better be wise. 192 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:39,380 And arguably, Solomon's possibly one of the wisest people 193 00:09:39,380 --> 00:09:46,380 that we see in scripture, except for his Achilles heel. 194 00:09:46,380 --> 00:09:49,620 And guess what it was? 195 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:52,420 Them girls, them girls, 196 00:09:52,420 --> 00:09:54,620 them girls that would worship false gods. 197 00:09:54,620 --> 00:09:59,340 And he listened to his mom pretty much mostly, 198 00:09:59,340 --> 00:10:04,340 but then he didn't listen to her in other areas. 199 00:10:04,340 --> 00:10:07,860 And there's a proverb that I used to share with, 200 00:10:07,860 --> 00:10:09,620 especially with the little boys 201 00:10:09,620 --> 00:10:11,680 that would be given their mother's fits. 202 00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:16,540 Now it was sad because as the school pastor at Water Springs, 203 00:10:16,540 --> 00:10:18,860 many times I would get called 204 00:10:18,860 --> 00:10:23,120 to do the disciplining of the children from parents. 205 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,540 That's not my job, that's your job. 206 00:10:26,540 --> 00:10:29,780 In fact, I want them to like me, you know? 207 00:10:29,780 --> 00:10:32,640 And, but I would bring them in, 208 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:33,780 especially the little boys 209 00:10:33,780 --> 00:10:37,520 when they would despise their mother 210 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,400 and be extremely rebellious 211 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,840 and disrespectful to their moms. 212 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,080 I would bring them in and I would read this proverb too. 213 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,660 It's found in Proverbs chapter 30, verse 17. 214 00:10:49,660 --> 00:10:53,900 It says, "The eye that mocks father 215 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:56,980 and scorns obedience to his mother, 216 00:10:56,980 --> 00:11:00,900 the ravens of the valley will pluck it out 217 00:11:00,900 --> 00:11:03,140 and the young eagles will eat it." 218 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:06,780 And I would say, "Boy, you want your eyeballs plucked out 219 00:11:06,780 --> 00:11:08,820 and eaten by birds?" 220 00:11:08,820 --> 00:11:09,660 "No, no." 221 00:11:09,660 --> 00:11:11,660 I said, "You better listen to your mama." 222 00:11:11,660 --> 00:11:20,100 I gained a little bit of ground with that, you know? 223 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:24,940 That's some pretty serious stuff there. 224 00:11:24,940 --> 00:11:27,920 That many question whether Solomon made it into heaven. 225 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,420 And I think that he saw the error of his ways 226 00:11:31,420 --> 00:11:35,720 and we can glean from the end of the book of Ecclesiastes 227 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,100 that maybe he came to his senses and think, 228 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:40,740 "Man, mom was right after all." 229 00:11:40,740 --> 00:11:44,380 This is man's all, to love God and obey His commandments. 230 00:11:44,380 --> 00:11:47,620 And so it is with you and I. 231 00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:52,460 And many of us, God has given mothers and grandmothers 232 00:11:52,460 --> 00:11:56,060 to point us to the Holy One. 233 00:11:56,060 --> 00:11:58,340 And so let's read here. 234 00:11:58,340 --> 00:12:00,900 I'm gonna take this in four or five verse chunks 235 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:04,540 and we'll get through it here and get at... 236 00:12:04,540 --> 00:12:05,560 Who all is getting baptized? 237 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:07,820 Can I see who's getting baptized? 238 00:12:07,820 --> 00:12:09,020 Hey, right on. 239 00:12:09,020 --> 00:12:10,700 All right, praise the Lord. 240 00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:11,540 That's awesome. 241 00:12:11,540 --> 00:12:17,300 And we'll get to that in celebration 242 00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:19,100 of this incredible day. 243 00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:23,060 Starting in verse 10, it says, 244 00:12:23,060 --> 00:12:25,900 "Who can find a virtuous wife? 245 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:29,260 For her worth is far above rubies. 246 00:12:29,260 --> 00:12:31,980 The heart of her husband safely trusts her 247 00:12:31,980 --> 00:12:35,740 so that he will have no lack of gain. 248 00:12:35,740 --> 00:12:38,940 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. 249 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:42,940 She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands. 250 00:12:42,940 --> 00:12:45,720 She is like the merchant's ships. 251 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,860 She brings her food from afar. 252 00:12:48,860 --> 00:12:51,500 She also rises while it is yet night 253 00:12:51,500 --> 00:12:54,420 and provides food for her household 254 00:12:54,420 --> 00:12:57,180 and a portion for her maidservants." 255 00:12:57,180 --> 00:13:00,700 I thought, wow, this is a pretty cool lady, right? 256 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:04,940 It starts off with saying, who can find? 257 00:13:04,940 --> 00:13:06,620 Who can find a virtuous wife? 258 00:13:06,620 --> 00:13:08,220 What does virtue mean? 259 00:13:08,220 --> 00:13:11,460 And in this sense, it means a wife, 260 00:13:11,460 --> 00:13:16,040 listen, a wife of valor, of valor. 261 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,440 That in other words, this woman is extremely courageous. 262 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,040 And as I look back at my 30, 263 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,280 almost 37 years of marriage to my wife, 264 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,800 I'm thinking, man, this woman is extremely courageous. 265 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:33,800 She's, it can mean an army valor here or virtuous 266 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:40,260 in the sense of all forms of excellence like warriors, 267 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:42,200 right? 268 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:43,600 And that's a mom. 269 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,940 You know, a lot of people are sideways with their moms 270 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:52,180 and you know, thinking, well, she wasn't that good a mom. 271 00:13:52,180 --> 00:13:56,560 I read Proverbs 31 and my mom wasn't nothing like that. 272 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:58,800 I remember my mom telling me about her mom, 273 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:00,680 who I thought was an angel. 274 00:14:00,680 --> 00:14:03,320 And my mom told me, Scotty, 275 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,260 you do not know the woman that I know. 276 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:09,760 Right? 277 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,080 And yes, it's the whole grandparent thing. 278 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:12,900 I don't know what it is. 279 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:16,020 My grandma Jones was a glorious woman. 280 00:14:16,020 --> 00:14:22,040 But what the fact is, is what you gotta learn to do, folks, 281 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:26,680 don't hold a grudge against your mother, right? 282 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:27,520 Let it go. 283 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:28,980 I don't know what she's done to you. 284 00:14:28,980 --> 00:14:31,680 But listen, if you can glory in one thing, 285 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,020 well, I can't even find anything to be thankful for. 286 00:14:34,020 --> 00:14:35,920 You're here, aren't you? 287 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:36,920 Right? 288 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,600 She chose to go through labor 289 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,140 and bring you into this world, right? 290 00:14:41,140 --> 00:14:43,480 And maybe from then on, she failed. 291 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:44,920 Give her that one, would you? 292 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:46,480 Just give her that one. 293 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,560 You know, the Bible says that we're to honor 294 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:49,900 our father and mother. 295 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:51,320 We're to honor them. 296 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,500 Doesn't say that we're to honor them if they deserve it. 297 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:56,440 Because I know there's probably a lot of parents, 298 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:57,360 a lot of mothers, 299 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,400 they don't deserve the honor of their children. 300 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,120 They fail them miserably. 301 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,120 But you can give them that. 302 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,800 You can give them that. 303 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:07,680 Right? 304 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,320 Because listen, they probably did the best 305 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,100 that they could do in their own thinking 306 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,900 with what they had when they had you 307 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,960 and they didn't kill you, right? 308 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:20,520 Maybe they tried occasionally. 309 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,880 I know my mom, when I was a teenager, 310 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,600 if she thought she could have gotten away with it, maybe. 311 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,880 Shallow grave, you know? 312 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:30,140 Get rid of this punk. 313 00:15:30,140 --> 00:15:35,040 But ain't nothing like a mother's love, right? 314 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,400 She had an unconditional love for us. 315 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,840 But this woman is, 316 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,880 it's a courageous thing to be a mother 317 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:51,480 and to go through bringing a child into this world. 318 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,080 Even those who have chosen to give their little ones up 319 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,680 for adoption instead of abortion. 320 00:15:58,680 --> 00:15:59,600 It's a powerful thing. 321 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,220 It's a courageous thing. 322 00:16:01,220 --> 00:16:04,480 And I praise God for that heart. 323 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,840 It says her husband's trust in her. 324 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,860 He has a confidence in his wife. 325 00:16:08,860 --> 00:16:13,920 Being confident of your wife is a powerful thing. 326 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,800 That's one thing I've always been so 327 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:22,800 comfortable with my wife and who she's around 328 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:26,200 and because I have such a confidence in her 329 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,200 that she's committed to me and I'm committed to her. 330 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,680 And we started our marriage actually right. 331 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,920 We had no physical interaction prior to saying our vows 332 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,040 and to committing our lives to one another. 333 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,360 And that is a powerful thing. 334 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:46,480 That is the reason I have that kind of confidence in her 335 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,040 is 'cause she waited for me. 336 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:52,680 And it's a powerful thing. 337 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:57,680 And to not be suspicious or questioning, 338 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,880 does a man's heart good? 339 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,120 The Bible talks about a jealous husband 340 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,280 and that is one miserable person 341 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,120 is somebody who is jealous of their wife. 342 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:13,760 It says she is bent on doing good to him all her days. 343 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,000 When I do marriage counseling, 344 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,200 I take couples through Ephesians chapter five 345 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,140 and in verse 33, it says, 346 00:17:20,140 --> 00:17:25,000 "Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular husbands 347 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,720 so love his wife as himself and let the wife see 348 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,400 that she respects her husband." 349 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:32,320 Right? 350 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,360 That that respect that she gives him, 351 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:36,760 that builds a confidence in him. 352 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:41,760 And she helps him to become all that God has created him to be. 353 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:49,580 She willingly works with her hands. 354 00:17:49,580 --> 00:17:52,860 She gets up early and makes sure, right? 355 00:17:52,860 --> 00:17:58,200 I love people who are early risers. 356 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,400 They just seem to get more done. 357 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,860 And when I was young, I had a job where I had to get up early 358 00:18:03,860 --> 00:18:07,000 and it's just like from six o'clock to 10 o'clock, 359 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,400 you can get more done than you can all day long. 360 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,520 From six of that four hours, from six o'clock to 10 o'clock, 361 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,360 you can get more done than working all day, 362 00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:18,860 working a 12 hour shift. 363 00:18:18,860 --> 00:18:20,840 It's fascinating. 364 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,000 We see Jesus doing it, getting up early before the son 365 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:26,360 and seeking the father. 366 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:29,640 It's a powerful thing. 367 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:34,400 When a wife gets up early, she gets work done 368 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,280 and everyone is taken care of. 369 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,960 My grandma, she used to get up early. 370 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:42,800 She was always dark when she got up. 371 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:47,800 And her first thing on the list every morning 372 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,520 was to get in God's word and to write notes 373 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,480 about what the Lord was teaching her. 374 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:58,020 And then to make sure all of her husband, her kids, 375 00:18:58,020 --> 00:18:59,460 and her grandkids were fed. 376 00:18:59,460 --> 00:19:00,880 She only had one kid. 377 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,020 She gave the world a son. 378 00:19:02,020 --> 00:19:04,080 She had one and she had four grandkids. 379 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:05,240 That's all she ever had. 380 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:06,920 But that was her whole focus. 381 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,320 And that's what it talks about this woman, 382 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,200 that she's diligent. 383 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,800 Verse 16 says, "She considers a field and buys it 384 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,080 from her prophets. 385 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,240 She plants a vineyard and girds herself with strength 386 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,240 and strengthens her arms. 387 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,260 She perceives that her merchandise is good 388 00:19:28,260 --> 00:19:30,940 and her lamp does not go out by night. 389 00:19:30,940 --> 00:19:33,900 She stretches out her hands to the staff 390 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:36,460 and her hand holds the spindle. 391 00:19:36,460 --> 00:19:38,300 She extends her hands to the poor 392 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:40,780 and she reaches out her hands to the needy. 393 00:19:40,780 --> 00:19:43,620 She is not afraid of snow for her household 394 00:19:43,620 --> 00:19:47,580 for all her household is clothed with scarlet. 395 00:19:47,580 --> 00:19:49,580 She makes tapestry for herself. 396 00:19:49,580 --> 00:19:52,480 Her clothing is fine linen and purple." 397 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,920 She's a working machine. 398 00:19:55,220 --> 00:19:56,060 This woman. 399 00:19:56,060 --> 00:19:59,980 And she's not lazy. 400 00:19:59,980 --> 00:20:02,140 She's not idle at all. 401 00:20:02,140 --> 00:20:08,020 Her life is a blessing to those around her. 402 00:20:08,020 --> 00:20:10,460 The poor and needy. 403 00:20:10,460 --> 00:20:12,400 She's a philanthropist. 404 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:13,460 Did I say that right? 405 00:20:13,460 --> 00:20:18,140 You know what a philanthropist is? 406 00:20:18,140 --> 00:20:22,740 It's a philanthropic person. 407 00:20:23,380 --> 00:20:26,720 (congregation laughing) 408 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:35,400 No, it's people who use what God gives them to bless others. 409 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,320 And this woman, she's just, she knows how to make money. 410 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,840 And as God blesses her, she blesses others. 411 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,360 It's a cyclical thing, right? 412 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:48,280 And that's what we're called to do 413 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,980 as believers in the Lord, as the Lord blesses us. 414 00:20:50,980 --> 00:20:53,440 It says that we're to bless others. 415 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:58,100 And when it's within your power to do good for somebody, 416 00:20:58,100 --> 00:20:59,680 then do it. 417 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,680 And this woman, she's a go-getter. 418 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,680 And from her goods, it says actually from her buying 419 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:10,800 and selling and her wisdom with money, 420 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,160 she's able to buy a plot of ground and plant a vineyard. 421 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:15,320 And I don't know if you know what it takes 422 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,680 to plant a vineyard, but man, that's some serious labor. 423 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,440 Right, putting those things in the ground 424 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,300 for the vines to grow on and all that 425 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:25,040 and keeping them in rows. 426 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:30,040 And back then, no doubt it was extra manual labor. 427 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:35,200 Not afraid of hard work. 428 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:41,560 Proverbs 14, 23 and 24 says, "All hard work brings a profit, 429 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,660 but mere talk only leads to poverty." 430 00:21:45,660 --> 00:21:47,960 Right? 431 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,360 God has designed us folks to work. 432 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:55,720 We're finding as our society spirals down, 433 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,340 I talk to employers all the time. 434 00:21:58,340 --> 00:22:02,040 Man, the struggle to find people that will just show up 435 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,720 on time, work a full shift, right? 436 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,240 Work a full shift to give you all they got for eight hours. 437 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,180 It's a rarity. 438 00:22:12,180 --> 00:22:16,360 It's sad. 439 00:22:16,360 --> 00:22:20,880 When I see young people that like to work, 440 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:22,440 I'm going, good on you, 441 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,100 God's gonna bless your socks off, right? 442 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:27,580 'Cause you're willing to put in some work. 443 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:30,020 You're willing to do what God has called you to do. 444 00:22:30,020 --> 00:22:32,400 I believe that we're all called to do this, 445 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,880 to do this work and to be smart. 446 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:38,020 You know, it's talking about making money. 447 00:22:38,020 --> 00:22:44,980 Money is the single most thing that Jesus talked about 448 00:22:45,380 --> 00:22:47,820 than anything else was money. 449 00:22:47,820 --> 00:22:52,360 And why is that? 450 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:56,940 I believe it's because it is his biggest rival. 451 00:22:56,940 --> 00:23:01,560 The love of money is the biggest rival 452 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,720 to the Lord Jesus in our hearts, right? 453 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,180 Didn't he compare that, made the comparison? 454 00:23:06,180 --> 00:23:08,400 You can't serve God and mammon. 455 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,420 You're gonna love one and hate the other, right? 456 00:23:11,420 --> 00:23:13,320 What do you love? 457 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,980 And so this woman, she's using the blessings 458 00:23:18,980 --> 00:23:22,520 that God is giving her from her hard work to bless others. 459 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,680 She's reaching out to the poor and the needy. 460 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,080 She possesses so much success, 461 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,440 it's as though she's royalty, right? 462 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,140 'Cause it says her clothing is fine linen and purple. 463 00:23:36,140 --> 00:23:40,800 That's a sign of royalty, right? 464 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:44,160 She's a pretty snazzy dresser, right? 465 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,800 But she's doing it. 466 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,520 And actually there's a beautiful picture here 467 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:53,360 because in 1 Peter chapter two, 468 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:56,920 it talks about us as believers in the Lord. 469 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:01,720 It says, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood." 470 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,500 And the priest would wear, these are priestly colors 471 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:07,000 that it's talking about here. 472 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,720 You are a holy nation, his own special people 473 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,200 that you may proclaim the praises of him 474 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,140 who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 475 00:24:16,140 --> 00:24:19,720 who once were not a people, but are now a people of God 476 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,600 and who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 477 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:28,600 This woman, her purple is not to promote herself, 478 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:35,160 it's to promote her God and how great he has blessed her. 479 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:41,760 Verse 23 says, "Her husband is known in the gates 480 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:45,120 when she sits among the elders of the land. 481 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:48,160 She makes linen garments and sells them 482 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,760 and supplies sashes for the merchants. 483 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,640 Strength and honor are her clothing. 484 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,580 She shall rejoice in time to come. 485 00:24:56,580 --> 00:24:59,000 She opens her mouth with wisdom 486 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,820 and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 487 00:25:01,820 --> 00:25:04,480 She watches over the ways of her household 488 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,840 and does not eat the bread of idleness. 489 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,360 Her children rise up and call her blessed. 490 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:12,040 Her husband also, and he praises her, 491 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,600 many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." 492 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:22,340 This chick is stellar, right? 493 00:25:22,340 --> 00:25:25,700 And you've heard, I've heard in Christendom 494 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:29,780 since I've been a Christian about the Proverbs 31 woman. 495 00:25:29,780 --> 00:25:32,200 I haven't met very many. 496 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,500 And there's a reason for that and I'll get to that. 497 00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:39,540 But notice her life is a blessing to her husband, 498 00:25:39,540 --> 00:25:43,740 so much so that she makes him better. 499 00:25:43,740 --> 00:25:49,060 Can I see the hands of the men, your wife make you better? 500 00:25:49,060 --> 00:25:50,900 If you don't raise your hand, 501 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:52,500 you're probably gonna be in trouble. 502 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,820 (congregation laughing) 503 00:25:55,820 --> 00:26:03,340 My wife is a companion to the Holy Spirit 504 00:26:03,340 --> 00:26:06,240 when it comes to Scottie Brown, right? 505 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,020 And she does make me better. 506 00:26:09,020 --> 00:26:13,880 And there are restraints that I have 507 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,860 because of my wonderful bride. 508 00:26:16,860 --> 00:26:18,900 And that's what it talks about here. 509 00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:23,900 She makes him so good that he's elevated 510 00:26:23,900 --> 00:26:28,400 to a person of status in the community, right? 511 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:29,240 The old saying is true, 512 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,500 "Behind every good man, there's a pretty good woman." 513 00:26:32,500 --> 00:26:33,340 Right? 514 00:26:33,340 --> 00:26:36,040 "Behind every good man, there's a pretty good woman." 515 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:40,740 And because he sits among the elders of the land, right? 516 00:26:40,740 --> 00:26:42,940 And in the place of leadership, 517 00:26:42,940 --> 00:26:46,100 she's clothed with strength 518 00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:48,540 and has a great attitude for the future. 519 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:51,920 How many people I talk to 520 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,900 that are seeing what's happening in the world 521 00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:56,900 and getting all watered up about stuff? 522 00:26:56,900 --> 00:26:59,940 Do we not know who's in control? 523 00:26:59,940 --> 00:27:03,140 I'm listening to Jan Markell, right? 524 00:27:03,140 --> 00:27:07,300 Jan Markell is a Jewish Christian 525 00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:10,480 who is very into prophecy. 526 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:14,880 And Jan Markell, as she sees the chaos around the world, 527 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,000 the chaos in Israel and all over the world, 528 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:20,660 she's the one that coined the phrase, 529 00:27:20,660 --> 00:27:22,920 "Things are not falling apart. 530 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:24,940 "Things are falling into place." 531 00:27:24,940 --> 00:27:25,780 Right? 532 00:27:25,780 --> 00:27:26,600 That's what Markell said. 533 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,560 I thought, "That is a smart woman." 534 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:29,400 Right? 535 00:27:31,980 --> 00:27:35,020 And so she would fall into line 536 00:27:35,020 --> 00:27:39,020 with the attitude of a Proverbs 31 woman. 537 00:27:39,020 --> 00:27:45,760 And she opens her mouth with wisdom. 538 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:53,420 And we hang on to that and we proclaim it quite a bit, 539 00:27:53,420 --> 00:27:56,720 especially when our mouth gets in trouble, 540 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:57,960 gets us in trouble. 541 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,140 James 1.19, "So then, my beloved brethren, 542 00:28:00,140 --> 00:28:02,500 "let every man be swift to hear, 543 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:04,900 "slow to speak, and slow to wrath." 544 00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:08,420 This Proverbs 31 woman, when she speaks, 545 00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:10,880 I'm telling you, people listen. 546 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,060 You've been around people like that in your life? 547 00:28:13,060 --> 00:28:15,200 That when they speak, you're thinking, 548 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,360 "I need to listen to this person." 549 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:19,260 They are full of wisdom. 550 00:28:19,260 --> 00:28:22,140 I remember hearing an interview with Elizabeth Elliot, 551 00:28:22,140 --> 00:28:25,940 the wife of the missionary that was killed, Jim Elliot, 552 00:28:25,940 --> 00:28:30,460 and just the wisdom that came out of her 553 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:33,240 is very, very powerful. 554 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:37,180 And so, girls, be careful. 555 00:28:37,180 --> 00:28:40,380 You girls, you have a little bend 556 00:28:40,380 --> 00:28:41,880 towards being a little wordy. 557 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,440 Right? 558 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,480 It's okay to keep a cap on that. 559 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,380 When you got something to say, say it. 560 00:28:50,380 --> 00:28:52,460 Otherwise, be careful. 561 00:28:53,580 --> 00:28:56,900 You know, and it says, "Her children respect her 562 00:28:56,900 --> 00:29:01,660 "and call her blessed as well as her man praises her." 563 00:29:01,660 --> 00:29:02,540 Why is that? 564 00:29:02,540 --> 00:29:05,060 Because she knows where everything is. 565 00:29:05,060 --> 00:29:07,440 She just does. 566 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,940 My wife, I don't know how she does it. 567 00:29:09,940 --> 00:29:10,760 Honey, have you seen this? 568 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:11,600 Honey, have you seen that? 569 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:12,540 Mom, have you seen my mom? 570 00:29:12,540 --> 00:29:13,540 Have you? 571 00:29:13,540 --> 00:29:16,380 She knows, she's jolly on the spot every time. 572 00:29:16,380 --> 00:29:18,260 She knows where everything is. 573 00:29:18,260 --> 00:29:20,380 No wonder they respect her. 574 00:29:20,380 --> 00:29:22,060 'Cause if they don't, they're not gonna get 575 00:29:22,060 --> 00:29:23,300 what they're looking for. 576 00:29:23,340 --> 00:29:26,680 (congregation laughing) 577 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:33,660 You know, 578 00:29:33,660 --> 00:29:40,440 well, verse 29 says, 579 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,940 "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." 580 00:29:45,940 --> 00:29:50,940 It's almost like she's perfect, the perfect woman. 581 00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:56,740 Proverbs 31, the reason I haven't seen 582 00:29:56,740 --> 00:29:59,260 many Proverbs 31 women 583 00:29:59,260 --> 00:30:04,140 is because I haven't met any perfect women, right? 584 00:30:04,140 --> 00:30:07,100 So when I read through this scripture, you guys, 585 00:30:07,100 --> 00:30:12,100 what I see is I see a bar set by our God, right? 586 00:30:12,100 --> 00:30:19,340 The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ is our example. 587 00:30:19,340 --> 00:30:20,180 Is he not? 588 00:30:21,860 --> 00:30:26,240 And I remember years ago, 589 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,840 I was asked to be in a group of deacons 590 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:35,840 and they had us read 1 Timothy 3 591 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,780 as the qualifications for deacon. 592 00:30:38,780 --> 00:30:42,160 And as I read through it, I can't do this. 593 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,820 I don't qualify, right? 594 00:30:45,820 --> 00:30:47,900 And I was just being honest 595 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:50,720 because I don't know any man that qualifies. 596 00:30:51,780 --> 00:30:54,600 And it's a bar set. 597 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:57,980 It's something to shoot at. 598 00:30:57,980 --> 00:30:59,900 Now I am convinced, 599 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:03,620 I am convinced that I missed the mark every day, right? 600 00:31:03,620 --> 00:31:06,540 That I've sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 601 00:31:06,540 --> 00:31:11,540 And Proverbs 31 seems to be that kind of a bar, 602 00:31:11,540 --> 00:31:15,800 just like what Jesus set for us. 603 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:20,540 And I think I had the scripture written down here somewhere 604 00:31:20,540 --> 00:31:25,540 where he's that example there it is. 605 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:31,700 It's in 1 Peter 2. 606 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:38,300 And it says, "For to this you were called 607 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:42,900 because Christ also suffered for us, 608 00:31:42,900 --> 00:31:47,620 leaving us an example that you should follow his steps." 609 00:31:47,620 --> 00:31:49,500 Does anyone in this room follow the steps 610 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:51,580 of Christ Jesus perfectly? 611 00:31:51,580 --> 00:31:52,900 No, you don't. 612 00:31:52,900 --> 00:31:56,880 But he's our example, right? 613 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:00,300 And if you're not shooting for that, 614 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:05,240 you're groveling, you're floundering in a puddle of sin. 615 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:11,500 And so, "Who," it says, "we should follow in his steps, 616 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:13,820 who committed no sin, 617 00:32:13,820 --> 00:32:16,700 nor was deceit found in his mouth, 618 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:20,620 who when he was reviled did not revile in return. 619 00:32:20,620 --> 00:32:23,460 When he suffered, he did not threaten, 620 00:32:23,460 --> 00:32:26,880 but committed himself to him who judges righteously, 621 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:33,460 who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree." 622 00:32:33,460 --> 00:32:39,020 And so that's what I think this passage of scripture is, 623 00:32:39,020 --> 00:32:41,180 because I think so many women just like, 624 00:32:41,180 --> 00:32:44,240 they read that and they go, "I can't do that. 625 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,140 I can't measure up to that. 626 00:32:46,140 --> 00:32:49,680 I'm not," here it is, "worthy." 627 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:54,420 No, you're not worthy, but Jesus is. 628 00:32:54,420 --> 00:32:56,640 And if Jesus lives in you, 629 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,160 as you keep shooting for that mark, right? 630 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:00,900 And you miss the bullseye. 631 00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:04,220 You and I, we keep shooting for that mark to be like Jesus. 632 00:33:04,220 --> 00:33:05,700 And we fall short. 633 00:33:05,700 --> 00:33:13,420 "You do," my brother is always famous at saying this, 634 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,520 "You do begin to sin less. 635 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:18,060 We will never be sinless, 636 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:22,920 but we do sin, less." 637 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:27,500 Is that proper, Dara? 638 00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:32,140 Right? 639 00:33:32,140 --> 00:33:34,760 We're never sinless, the compound word. 640 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:37,040 Oh, he's sinless, he never sins. 641 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:38,780 No, that's not true. 642 00:33:38,780 --> 00:33:43,040 But as we keep shooting at the mark, 643 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,380 women, as you continue to shoot at the mark 644 00:33:45,380 --> 00:33:48,100 of the Proverbs 31 women, 645 00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:50,740 body of Christ, as we continue to shoot 646 00:33:50,740 --> 00:33:53,420 for the mark of Christ Jesus being our example, 647 00:33:53,420 --> 00:33:57,120 yes, we will slowly sin less. 648 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:00,740 And that's comforting. 649 00:34:00,740 --> 00:34:07,060 That's comforting to me that God is so gracious 650 00:34:07,060 --> 00:34:11,580 and so merciful that when we blow it, 651 00:34:11,580 --> 00:34:14,680 he gives us another chance. 652 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:16,680 His mercies are new every morning. 653 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:18,720 Joy comes in the morning 654 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:22,420 that we can put those things behind us. 655 00:34:22,420 --> 00:34:25,460 Last couple of verses here as we close this up. 656 00:34:25,460 --> 00:34:29,240 "Charmist is deceitful and beauty is passing, 657 00:34:29,240 --> 00:34:33,820 but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 658 00:34:33,820 --> 00:34:35,800 Give ear," oh, excuse me, 659 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:39,180 "Give her of the fruit of her hands 660 00:34:39,180 --> 00:34:42,180 and let her own works praise her in the gates." 661 00:34:42,180 --> 00:34:46,580 Beauty is passing. 662 00:34:46,580 --> 00:34:49,460 Amen. 663 00:34:49,460 --> 00:34:57,040 You know, the encouraging scripture 664 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:02,120 in the New Testament, 1 Peter 3.3-4 says, 665 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,720 "Do not let your adornment," right? 666 00:35:05,720 --> 00:35:07,720 That's what the word charm there means. 667 00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:09,620 "Adornment be merely outward, 668 00:35:09,620 --> 00:35:11,160 or raging the hair, wearing of gold, 669 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:12,620 or putting on fine apparel. 670 00:35:12,620 --> 00:35:15,320 Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart 671 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,280 with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 672 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:22,480 which is very precious in the sight of the Lord." 673 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:23,680 That's what God's desire. 674 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,480 It's the inside. 675 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:28,720 It's that hidden, quiet spirit on the inside. 676 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:32,940 I saw a picture of Ann Margaret here a while back. 677 00:35:32,940 --> 00:35:34,560 And Ann still looks pretty good. 678 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,160 She's in her 80s, right? 679 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:38,560 But one thing you're gonna notice 680 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,560 about women who get that old, 681 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:47,640 they've had a lot of work done, right? 682 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:49,320 My wife says, "Scottie, you can't say that. 683 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:52,200 That's offensive to women, that they've had work done." 684 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,380 Really? 685 00:35:54,380 --> 00:35:57,320 I don't find it offensive. 686 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:01,240 Now, I would not go up to a woman and say, 687 00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:03,640 "Wow, you have had a lot of work done." 688 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:06,980 (congregation laughing) 689 00:36:07,980 --> 00:36:10,980 (congregation laughing) 690 00:36:10,980 --> 00:36:12,380 But doesn't it just play? 691 00:36:12,380 --> 00:36:16,540 It just plays into what Moses was talking about 692 00:36:16,540 --> 00:36:19,400 in Psalm 90, right? 693 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:24,380 In Psalm 90, he says, right, 694 00:36:24,380 --> 00:36:26,660 "Teach us, Lord, to number our days 695 00:36:26,660 --> 00:36:29,480 that we would gain a heart of wisdom," right? 696 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:33,220 That the length of a person's life is 70 years. 697 00:36:33,220 --> 00:36:36,720 And if by reason of strength they live to be 80 years, 698 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:39,340 their only boast, check this out, 699 00:36:39,340 --> 00:36:42,980 is labor, work, and sorrow. 700 00:36:42,980 --> 00:36:48,280 They didn't get all the wrinkles with this facelift, right? 701 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,480 And I look like I'm from a different country. 702 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,820 (congregation laughing) 703 00:36:53,820 --> 00:37:00,540 No, I had one of my bosses one time, 704 00:37:00,540 --> 00:37:02,280 she got this facelift in a, 705 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:05,720 I mean, she looked like she had been in a barroom brawl. 706 00:37:05,720 --> 00:37:08,420 I mean, everything was swollen, both eyes were black, 707 00:37:08,420 --> 00:37:11,380 and I'm going, "You did this for beauty's sake?" 708 00:37:11,380 --> 00:37:18,940 It's just labor. 709 00:37:18,940 --> 00:37:23,940 It's work to try to keep whatever we got, right? 710 00:37:23,940 --> 00:37:28,780 No, this life's fading away. 711 00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:30,100 Girls, just let it fade. 712 00:37:30,100 --> 00:37:32,660 My wife goes, "No way. 713 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:36,040 I'm not getting rid of my Clairol." 714 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:39,240 (congregation laughing) 715 00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:42,140 I've asked her, I says, "Honey, just let it go great." 716 00:37:42,140 --> 00:37:43,440 Not gonna do it. 717 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,580 See, girls see this thing 718 00:37:47,580 --> 00:37:49,300 a whole lot different than we do. 719 00:37:49,300 --> 00:37:52,280 Bless your hearts, we love you. 720 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:57,980 But notice the contrast, right? 721 00:37:57,980 --> 00:38:02,780 Charm is deceitful, beauty is passing, 722 00:38:02,780 --> 00:38:04,780 and oh, does it pass, 723 00:38:04,780 --> 00:38:07,960 but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 724 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:14,380 26 years ago on Friday, 725 00:38:14,380 --> 00:38:18,240 my grandma, Jule Dean Brown, passed away, 726 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:22,300 and she was a woman who feared the Lord, 727 00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:25,740 and she put the fear of the Lord in us 728 00:38:25,740 --> 00:38:28,000 with her preaching finger. 729 00:38:29,220 --> 00:38:33,660 And I always tell the story of her washing Rick's mouth out, 730 00:38:33,660 --> 00:38:35,420 so my gosh, was that funny. 731 00:38:35,420 --> 00:38:39,360 But I got a few thrashings myself from Jule Dean. 732 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:44,460 But it's funny, when we talk about her now, 733 00:38:44,460 --> 00:38:49,060 26 years after her death, what do we talk about? 734 00:38:49,060 --> 00:38:53,700 Her fear of the Lord that impacted our lives so greatly. 735 00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:55,500 I remember weeping over her as she died. 736 00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:57,400 We were there when she took her last breath, 737 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:00,020 and I reached down and I gave her a kiss on the cheek, 738 00:39:00,020 --> 00:39:02,880 and she had passed, and I started crying, 739 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:04,340 and I said, "Grandma, thank you 740 00:39:04,340 --> 00:39:16,860 for sharing Jesus with us." 741 00:39:16,860 --> 00:39:22,420 And she still gets praised, right? 742 00:39:23,940 --> 00:39:28,000 And so she was testifying one time. 743 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,240 They were at a Bible study, and she went to a Bible study, 744 00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:31,520 and you had to be careful with Jule Dean 745 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:32,780 'cause she knew her Bible. 746 00:39:32,780 --> 00:39:37,760 And this guy that was leading the study said, 747 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:39,200 "Hey, has anybody got a little testimony 748 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:42,020 or a little praise the Lord, however you wanna?" 749 00:39:42,020 --> 00:39:45,560 She goes, "Yeah, the Bible says, 750 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:47,840 'Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,' 751 00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:49,540 and I'm just a-saying so." 752 00:39:49,900 --> 00:39:53,240 (congregation laughing) 753 00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:56,660 And the guy said, "Man, maybe you should teach 754 00:39:56,660 --> 00:39:58,280 this Bible study." 755 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:01,060 She says, "No, sir, I'm not a preacher. 756 00:40:01,060 --> 00:40:03,540 I just raise 'em, right? 757 00:40:03,540 --> 00:40:05,000 I just raise preachers." 758 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:08,300 (congregation applauding) 759 00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:10,600 Rick and I were teaching Bible studies at that time. 760 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:12,020 My dad was teaching a Bible study, 761 00:40:12,020 --> 00:40:15,000 and my grandpa, her husband was teaching a Bible study, 762 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,660 so she just raised 'em. 763 00:40:16,660 --> 00:40:19,540 She kept us fed and kept us on track. 764 00:40:19,540 --> 00:40:24,220 But that fear of God, I'm just gonna tell you, 765 00:40:24,220 --> 00:40:29,220 moms and grandmas, you may not see it in your lifetime, 766 00:40:29,220 --> 00:40:31,420 the answer to your prayers, 767 00:40:31,420 --> 00:40:37,260 your labor for your kids and for your grandkids. 768 00:40:37,260 --> 00:40:40,560 But I'm telling you what, God has taken note. 769 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:44,000 This woman, this Jule Dean, her mother 770 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:46,640 prayed for Rick and I when we were in utero, 771 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:50,320 and I couldn't get away from 'em. 772 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:52,800 You couldn't get away from those prayers. 773 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:56,880 They were like, they were the most stealthy hounds of heaven 774 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:57,900 that you've ever seen. 775 00:40:57,900 --> 00:40:59,280 They never back off. 776 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:01,100 They just keep nipping at your heels 777 00:41:01,100 --> 00:41:02,160 and nipping at your heels. 778 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,280 They'd be like, "Okay, I quit. 779 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,440 My life's yours," right? 780 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:08,360 God knows which buttons to push. 781 00:41:10,380 --> 00:41:15,380 And so it's a powerful thing. 782 00:41:15,380 --> 00:41:24,640 Whatever fruit we bear, we will be partakers of it. 783 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,260 Verse 31, "Give her of the fruit of her hands 784 00:41:28,260 --> 00:41:32,180 and let her own works praise her in the gates," right? 785 00:41:32,180 --> 00:41:35,720 Your works follow you, good or evil, they follow you. 786 00:41:37,460 --> 00:41:42,460 And this person is the person who wants to hear 787 00:41:42,460 --> 00:41:45,660 at the end of their life, 788 00:41:45,660 --> 00:41:47,500 "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, 789 00:41:47,500 --> 00:41:49,520 enter into the joy of the Lord," right? 790 00:41:49,520 --> 00:41:52,640 And so this whole thing, right, 791 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:55,080 is that bar that set really high, 792 00:41:55,080 --> 00:42:00,080 but also this ultimately points to Jesus in his people. 793 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:05,980 This ultimately points to his pure bride 794 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:10,700 that he's coming back for, this Proverbs 31. 795 00:42:10,700 --> 00:42:14,840 This picture of the Holy Spirit in the people of God. 796 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:23,720 John Phillips writes, "Coming to the end of this poem 797 00:42:23,720 --> 00:42:27,100 in Proverbs 31 and the end of this book, 798 00:42:27,100 --> 00:42:29,620 this pinpoints the organizing factor 799 00:42:29,620 --> 00:42:32,100 in this brilliant woman's universe. 800 00:42:32,100 --> 00:42:36,100 It is her fear of Yahweh that enables her to see 801 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,580 that real greatness will come to her, 802 00:42:38,580 --> 00:42:40,980 not through self-centered aggressiveness 803 00:42:40,980 --> 00:42:43,820 and not through merely external beauty, 804 00:42:43,820 --> 00:42:47,200 but through godly devotion and the wholehearted commitment 805 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:50,580 of God's creational intention for her." 806 00:42:50,580 --> 00:42:53,200 And so it is with all of us, amen? 807 00:42:53,200 --> 00:43:00,800 We all have something to shoot at. 808 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,880 It's perfect, we'll never quite get there, 809 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:06,480 but please don't take your eyes off of it. 810 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:07,560 Let's pray. 811 00:43:07,560 --> 00:43:10,520 Father, we thank you so much for today. 812 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:14,260 Lord, that you're so good. 813 00:43:14,260 --> 00:43:15,900 You've been so good to us. 814 00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:19,220 Lord, your Holy Spirit, that comforter, 815 00:43:19,220 --> 00:43:22,300 much like what a mother is. 816 00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:28,980 And so Lord, I just pray your blessing upon these women. 817 00:43:30,260 --> 00:43:33,980 And Lord, that you would fill them with your Holy Spirit. 818 00:43:33,980 --> 00:43:36,860 Lord, that they would finish out their days 819 00:43:36,860 --> 00:43:41,860 being in a place of fearing you and producing fruit. 820 00:43:41,860 --> 00:43:48,620 Lord, that we would truly excel the world's ideals 821 00:43:48,620 --> 00:43:52,700 of what it's like, what it's like for moms, 822 00:43:52,700 --> 00:43:55,120 what it's like for the body of Christ. 823 00:43:55,120 --> 00:43:59,740 And only you can bring that excellence. 824 00:43:59,740 --> 00:44:02,160 And so Father, we love you. 825 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:03,780 And as we're in an attitude of prayer right now, 826 00:44:03,780 --> 00:44:06,260 I just wanna ask all the moms to stand. 827 00:44:06,260 --> 00:44:07,220 Stand to your feet. 828 00:44:07,220 --> 00:44:13,140 You moms, maybe you who just wanna be a mom, 829 00:44:13,140 --> 00:44:14,980 stand to your feet. 830 00:44:14,980 --> 00:44:16,080 I wanna pray for you. 831 00:44:16,080 --> 00:44:20,420 Father, we thank you. 832 00:44:20,420 --> 00:44:25,640 We thank you for the courage of these people in this room. 833 00:44:26,880 --> 00:44:30,900 Lord, who have chosen, Lord, to give life. 834 00:44:30,900 --> 00:44:35,380 And Lord, we ask your blessing upon them, Lord. 835 00:44:35,380 --> 00:44:38,440 As they pray for their posterity 836 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:41,440 and maybe as they pray for future little ones, 837 00:44:41,440 --> 00:44:44,380 Lord, I pray that you would bless, 838 00:44:44,380 --> 00:44:47,260 that you would bless the fruit of the womb. 839 00:44:47,260 --> 00:44:48,520 And Lord, that you would bless them 840 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:50,900 as they seek you with all their hearts. 841 00:44:50,900 --> 00:44:53,540 Lord, that they would rise up early 842 00:44:53,540 --> 00:44:58,540 and that they would be that voice of intercession 843 00:44:58,540 --> 00:45:01,060 for the ones that they've born 844 00:45:01,060 --> 00:45:02,460 and the ones that they will. 845 00:45:02,460 --> 00:45:04,220 Lord, we love you. 846 00:45:04,220 --> 00:45:05,140 We praise you. 847 00:45:05,140 --> 00:45:06,840 We thank you for them 848 00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:10,220 and pray your mighty blessing upon them this day 849 00:45:10,220 --> 00:45:12,600 in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus. 850 00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:13,440 Amen. 851 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:14,280 Let's all stand, shall we? 852 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:16,340 Yeah, give them a hand. 853 00:45:16,340 --> 00:45:17,340 Thank you, you guys. 854 00:45:17,340 --> 00:45:18,160 We love you. 855 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:23,060 I also have to remind the parents 856 00:45:23,060 --> 00:45:25,420 to go get your kids before the baptism 857 00:45:25,420 --> 00:45:28,120 lest they be hanging from the chandeliers. 858 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:29,460 (congregation laughing) 859 00:45:29,460 --> 00:45:32,040 (gentle music) 860 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:35,460 (congregation murmuring) 861 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:41,460 (gentle music) 862 00:45:41,460 --> 00:45:44,200 [MUSIC PLAYING]