Bible Study Series: The Powerful Influence Of A Woman, Genesis 1 and 2

 THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF A WOMAN

 

BASIC INFLUENCE

From the beginning of mankind, God gave women the power of influence over men.

You can see it in Adam’s response when he first saw Eve;  he liked what he saw.

Adam claimed her as his.  “ Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh”.

 

Before Eve said a word, the sight of her  influenced his thinking.

She influenced Adam’s presence and his future.

In Eve, Adam saw togetherness

In Eve, Adam saw permanence

In Eve, Adam saw an unbreakable bond.

   

God gave man a natural desire for a woman. He did not make man first companion a man.

He gave man’s first companion a woman with the ability to bear children                                       

And thus the birth of family.

 

Originally, they were both made naked.   But had no sexual desire.

Genesis 2:25

 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

 

From the beginning,  they were happy together.

They were equal partners, but one had more influence.

 

It had nothing to do with sex.  Eve was a suitable helper with influence.

There was no sexual desire. No plan for children.

They didn’t know they were naked until they ate from the tree of knowledge and good and evil

After sin entered their lives, God gave them sexual desires, sexual agenda.

Genesis 2:25

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Why did they do it?

They noticed a difference in their body parts.

 

Adam sinned because he loved Eve more than obedience to God.

Adam had full knowledge of what he was doing.

Hosea 6:7

Like Adam, they have broken the covenant.

 

1 Timothy 2:14

 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

 

Throughout history, women have had a powerful influence over men. Some were good and some were not so good.

 

In this lesson, we want to talk about the good influence God designed for women over men

 

Women have a powerful influence over men in three areas: the home, the church, and the world.

Tonight, we will deal with the home.

 

THE MISSION OF THE WOMEN

From the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over His perfect creation. They were equal partners. 

Genesis 2:15-16

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

 

Genesis 2:20-22

But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

 

From the beginning, the woman was given the job of helping man in the home and with the work he was assigned.

 

Proverbs 14:1

 The wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands, the foolish one tears hers down.

 

God expects the woman to be the foundation of the home. Everything rests on her love and compassion and wisdom.

God loves a humble spirit. Reverence to God starts with humbleness.

 

Ephesians 5:22-24

 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

God has a divine order.    God, Man, Woman, children

 

While this may look like a sexist statement, it puts the wife in position for great pillow talk influence.

The wife has an extra set of eyes, an extra set of ears and most importantly an extra mind controlled and enlighten by the Holy Spirit.

 

HER VALUE

A good wife adds value to the family foundation.

Proverbs 31:10-12

 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

 

Men must look for a good wife

      Every woman is not prepared to be a good wife

      Every man is not prepared to be husband

 

Look at what Proverbs 31 states:

God gave you the insight into quality of character.

God gave you value.

God gave you confidence building influence.

God gave you the capacity to be good in all circumstances.

God gave you long suffering capacity.

God gave you the inter strength to sick it out in good times and bad.

 

HER WORK AND POSITION

The wife’s responsibility is to her husband.

    Note: It is important that a woman marry a man who has God as

              The head of his life.  Don’t assume that every man is husband material.

Ephesians 5:25-29

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

 

MEN, God tells us how a wife should be treated

   She should be loved by her husband.

   The husband and wife should study the Bible together

   The husband should lead by doing the right things

   

The objective of the husband should be to make his wife stand out

    The husband should love unconditionally.

 

Wives, what if you don’t get all that?

 

What if you or I object?

1 Corinthians 7:16

 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

 

If you object, you miss the opportunity to use your divine influence.

 

THE POWER OF HER PRAYER

The prayer life of a woman is powerful and effective.

Matthew 15:22-28

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

This text teaches us the influence of a woman’s prayer

 

1.     A willingness to trust Jesus

2.     Prayer must be done in the posture of worship

3.     Prayer strengthens the mind against Satan.

4.     Prayer must be purposeful

5.     Prayer must be persistent

6.     Prayer accepts yes as the answer

7.     Prayer must be without doubt

8.     Prayer[m1]  must be with faith

9.     Prayer influences the mind of God.

 

HER CHILDREN

Proverbs 14:8

 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,

Proverbs 22:6-7

 Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old, he will not turn from it.

 

The mother must spend time with her children.

She must get to know their interest .

She promotes the children interest in a Godly way.

She is careful to mold their minds to know Lord

She is careful to share decisions regarding the children with her husband in private so

There is one voice

 

DISCIPINE

She along with her husband, agree to chastise and discipline with one voice in love

 

Proverbs 13:24-25

He who spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

 

She teaches the children respect for their elders.

Exodus 20:12-13

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

 

We must teach our children the consequences of respect.   Long life and possessions

 

HER DESERVED ATTENTION

We are living in tough times. We need to find joy and excitement in the home.

Do not let your man leave the house with you in rollers all the time.

Men don’t walk around the house ignoring your spouse.

 

Once you see your spouse as ordinary, you open the door for Satan to slip in.

 

Outside your door every day is Susie beautiful and Tony handsome. They would be

Satisfied with what you got.

 

You know what you did to get your spouse. Do some of that to keep the excitement in

The relationship

 

Ladies, Makeup, lip stick, perfume and an enticing outfit.

Men, Colone, fresh shave and sexy clothes.

 

When your spouse ask, where you are going, say here with you.

Men need a constant reminder of your beauty before he leaves the house.

Make you house a place he can’t wait to get back too.

 

Use the same enticing tactic to keep man you used to get him the first place.

 

When your spouse is out the house. He/she ought to be in rush to get back to you.

 

Plan some date nights or days

Don’t get too busy to spend time with your spouse     1 Corinthian 7:4-5

 

Look at Solomon’s love language

 

Song of Solomon 1:12-16

12 While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

13 My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

14 My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

from the vineyards of En Gedi.

 

15 How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how beautiful!

Your eyes are doves.

 

16 How handsome you are, my lover!

Oh, how charming!

And our bed is verdant.

 

LOVE LANGUAGE

It was the look, the smell, the conversation

 

I know the institution of marriage is a lot.

 

Working together you can find the balance

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

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This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Overcoming Grief. Getting Back To Work:, John 21:1-14, 2/27/2022

 OVERCOMING GRIEF, GETTING BACK TO WORK

 

John 21:1-15

 

After the resurrection, Jesus had met with His disciples on two other

Occasions.

The first time He meet with them behind closed doors, ten of the disciples

Were present. Thomas was not there. The meeting took place on the first

Day of the week.

Jesus identified Himself by showing them

The holes in His hands and side. John 20:19

He blessed them with four things  

1.     He blessed them with peace.

2.     He gave them their mission.

3.     He offered them the Holy Spirit.

4.     He gave them the authority to forgive sins.

Jesus met with all eleven disciples a second time behind locked doors

A week later.

He did four things with them.

1.     He satisfied Thomas's doubt.

2.     He gave the doctrine of faith.

3.     He gave the doctrine of eternal life.

4.     He performed miraculous signs before them.

You would think the first two meetings with Jesus would have excited

The disciples and moved them to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus.

You would think they would have been filled with joy.

Yet they were lifeless, confused, and without purpose.

They went back to their old ways.

THE NEED FOR FRIENDS

V:21.1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

A.    In times of grief, we need our friends. We need someone to stick with us

While we try to return to a normal life without our loved ones.

1.     The disciples had grown together during the three and a half years

With Jesus.

2.     Without Jesus leading the way, they were lost in a sea of grief.

3.     They had the comforting knowledge of Jesus resurrection, but

Were stuck in the past.

B.     Sometimes the best thing you can do in times of grief and sorrow

Is to keep busy.

1.     They got out of the house and did the things they were familiar

With.

2.     The act of doing something gives you some comfort.

3.     The process of healing and getting to a new normal includes using the

Talents you know until you figure out what to do next.

4.     The road to emotional healing is aided by fellowship with friends

And relatives.

 

JESUS SHOWS UP WHEN YOU NEED HIM

V:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.

6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

A.    When you lay aside your grief, and get busy working for the good of

Others, the Lord will show up in unexpected times and unexpected ways.

1.     The disciples came together and went fishing.

2.     They worked all night and caught nothing.

3.     The road to recovery is a struggle you have to take for yourself.

4.     It will not be easy, but it is a start.

5.     You may meet with failure, but that is part of success.

B.     What we must remember, Jesus has not abandoned

 us but is with us In our struggle.

1.     In every moment in our lives, Jesus is making preparation

For our recovery and well-being.

2.     While they were at work fishing, Jesus prepared a meal of

Bread and fish.

3.     Jesus is the bread of life and the substance of our existence.

4.     All we need to do, is come to the table.

C.     Jesus questioned His disciples on the results of their fishing.

1.     They fished all night and caught nothing.

2.     They were fishing in the wrong place for the wrong commodity.

3.     They had forgotten that Jesus had made them fishers of men.

4.     We can do nothing without the help of Jesus.

D.    When Jesus is your focus, success is assured,

1.     At Jesus's command, They threw the net back in the water on the right side Of the boat and caught 153 large fish.

2.     Sometimes our circumstances will block our view of Jesus.

3.     In our struggles in the deep waters of life, we must recognize that

Jesus got a plan for our success.

4.     No matter what we are going through, we must follow the commands

Of Jesus.

5.     Our faith in Jesus brings success into our lives

 

RECOGNIZING JESUS IN YOUR MIDST

V:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

A.    Our vision of the miracles of Jesus ignites the faith of others

Around us.

1.     It was The Apostle John who first recognized the large catch

Of fish was a miracle of Jesus.

2.     In respect to Jesus, Peter jumped in the water, because he did

Not want to be seen without clothes.

3.     The other disciples joined in to bring the fish to shore.

B.     Jesus always has a meal prepared for us.

1.     When we are weary, Jesus got a meal of comfort.

2.     When we are lonely, Jesus got a meal of friendship.

3.     When we are hurting Jesus got a meal of healing

4.     When we are lost, Jesus got a meal of directions

5.     When we are tired, Jesus got a meal of rest.

6.     All we need to do is show up and be fed.

7.     Jesus has made provisions for all of our needs.

 

JESUS PREPARES A FEAST FOR YOU

V:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

A.    When you follow Jesus you must follow Him all the way.

1.     They had caught a large number of fish

2.     Their nets were not broken

3.     They had a successful fishing trip.

4.     They could have easily capitalized on the fish and gone home.

B.     Work with Jesus is never done.

1.     When we come to Jesus we are commanded to bring an offering.

2.     Jesus gives us a daily invitation to come to eat the bread of life.

With Him.

3.     The meal was prepared early in the morning.

4.     We should start our day first with Jesus.

5.     Let me suggest that the bread represents Jesus and fish

Represents our mission.

 

 

THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION

  

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Humble Submission To The Father", John 19:16-30

 HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER

 

 

John 19:16-30

 

A DIVINELY APPROVED DEATH BY UNJUST MEN

 

Through his wife, Pilate came under the divine influence of the Lord.

Pilate had a note from his wife while he was on the judgment seat not to

Condemn Jesus

Matthew 27:19

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

 

V:16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

A.    Sometimes it is not what you do that puts trouble in your life, but who doesn’t like you.

1.     Jesus was tried by the court of public opinion.

2.     Mainly, He was tried by the chief religious’ officer of the community

3.     Pilate found no guilt in Jesus and placed the responsibility on the Chief Priest.

4.     According to the Jewish custom during the Passover festival, a prisoner could be released

5.     The Chief Priest chose Barabbas, a common criminal, a murderer to be released.

6.     They counted Jesus among the worst criminals.

B.     Jesus who had all power in His hands chose to bear the burden of the sins of the world on His back.

1.     The weight of the cross was about 300 pounds. The crossbar was about 90 pounds

2.     We don’t know what Jesus weighed, however some guess between 140 to 200 pounds.

3.     He showed his inner strength by bearing the cross without complaint.

4.     He could have easily called a legion of angels to bear the cross.

5.     He showed His humble submission, by bearing the shame of the cross before us and for us.

C.     The place of the skull represents death and mortality.

1.     Jesus brought immortality to the grave.

2.     His cross was placed between the crosses of two thieves

3.     The one on His right receives immortality at the grave.

4.     The suffering Jesus took time to bring salvation to a willing

Spirit on the cross.

5.     The one on the left refused Jesus and remained mortal.

6.     We are all in the graveyard of sin.

a.     We have a choice, Jesus or death.

b.     We have a choice eternal life or eternal damnation.

D.    They took Jesus out of the city so as not to defile the Passover festival.

1.     They claimed to be clean on the outside but were rotten on the inside.

2.     They had hundreds of pools inside the city for ritual cleansing.

3.     They thought nothing of spiritual cleaning.

4.     It was the mission of Jesus to provide a way for spiritual cleansing.

 

THE KING SUFFERED FOR THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM

V:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."

22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

A.    Even though Pilate didn’t know Jesus, he was under the influence of divine guidance.

1.      It is also significant that this title was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Hebrew represents Hebrew religion, Latin represents Roman politics, and Greek represents Greek culture. These three together represent the entire world, all of mankind. This signifies that the Lord Jesus was killed by and for all mankind. Not long after the Lord’s death, certain Jews, Romans, and Greeks were saved. The Lord Jesus was put to death for the entire human race as represented by these three languages. Therefore, the title written by Pilate is a sign. (ministrysamples.org)

2.     What the chief priest didn’t want known about Jesus was printed in full view for everyone to see.

a.     He was King of Kings.

b.    He was the King of the entire universe.

c.     Jesus foreknew and controlled every event of His crucifixion.

Isaiah 53:12

 Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

NIV

3.     We ought not feel sad for Jesus, but glad He chose to bear our sins on

The cross.

 

COMMON GRACE FOR ALL, SPECIAL GRACE FOR THE ELECT

V:23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it."

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,

"They divided my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing."  So this is what the soldiers did.

A.    The grace of our Lord Jesus is unlimited.

COMMON GRACE

1.      His common grace is equally divided among all the world.

2.     The outer garment may represent all that we see that benefits the world

3.     Everyone gets the benefits of the son and the stars.

4.     Everyone is refreshed by the rain.

5.     Everyone is nourished by the fruit of the ground and the fish in the sea.

SPECIAL GRACE

B.     The inner garment, the one close to his flesh was not torn

1.     The soldiers cast lots for it.

2.     It was seamless so they recognized its higher value.

3.     That higher value may represent God’s special grace reserved for his elect.

4.     The special grace is our salvation, eternal life.

5.     The lots may represent God divine sovereignty of choice.

6.     None of us know why we were chosen for salvation.

7.     None of us deserve salvation.

8.     Thank God we were chosen for His special grace

 

 

JESUS HAS TIME FOR YOUR SITUATION

V:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"  27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

A.    The Lord knows our needs.

1.     Even on the cross Jesus ministered to the saints.

2.     Jesus knew his mother nearing 50 years of age (married at 13 to 15 plus 33 years of Jesus life)

Needed someone reliable to take care of her.

3.     John his special disciple clinging to her perhaps needed Mary’s special insight into the life of Jesus.

4.     There were some things Mary held close to her heart about Jesus that no one would have known.

Luke 2:16-19

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

 

5.     In Jesus we are all family. And share the common bond of salvation.

B.     I find it odd that Jesus’ other half-brothers were not told to take care of Mary.

(Matthew 13:55-56

 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?")

 

1.     Why was Jesus other half-sisters not told to bond to their mother, like Ruth and Naomi

2.     Here we see the dynamics of Jesus' family.

3.     Some were faithful to Jesus and some were not.   

Mark 6:4-6

 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

 

4.     Friends are sometimes closer than blood relatives.

Matthew 12:46-50

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"  49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

 

ALL GOD’S COMMANDS FULFILLED IN JESUS

V:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.   30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

A.    The work of the Father in Jesus was finished on the cross

1.     He had taught the sheep and led them to greener pastures.

2.     The disciples were now ready to assume the duties of the church

John 14:12-13

 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.

 

 

3.     Perhaps Jesus was thirsty for the glory of the Father He had before He became man

4.     The wine vinegar may represent the bitterness of life all Christian share in Jesus Christ.

5.     From His lips comes the Word that is the source of our hope and eternal life.

B.     Notice Jesus' death was a voluntary act of love.

1.     With strength in His body and dedication to the Father, He gave up His spirit.

2.     His last act was to bow His head to the Father.

3.     His last words were humble submission to the Father,

4.     When we lay down to sleep, it should be in humble submission to the Father.

5.     We never know when our eyes close that we won't wake up in the presence of the Father,

Beholding our Lord and Savior.

 

THANK GOD FOR THE SAVING GRACE OF THE CROSS

 

Rev. M. Mitchell