24 On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the LORD confronted him and was about to kill him. 25 But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone.
Exodus 4:24–26 (NLT)
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)
13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. 14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.
15 Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”
Malachi 2:13–16 (NLT)
Today’s readings and sermon will seem like am on a feminist agenda, but just stay with me till the end and God through the power of the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of your heart to gain more revelation. Last week I had to comment on a blog (which I hardly do), because the Spirit of God will not allow me to rest without defending the faith. For His word says in Matthew 10:33 (ESV), “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven”. The writer claims to have read the book “The Power of a Praying Wife” by Stormie Omartian and found some inconsistencies which she thinks readers need to be careful about. So, she published her one-page review on her website. Well, in as much as I don’t like to pass judgement on people, I checked the main aim of the website and wasn’t surprised. I went further to read some of the comments by readers and I felt sorry for Stormie, but even sorrier for the readers who commented. Because there was not even a single one of what I read said, well the book had some good parts. They were all negative. So I posted my comment which was quiet lengthy but at least was able to drive the message down home. An excerpt of my reply was:
“I think we shouldn’t condemn the book, just, call it a supplementary book. It shouldn’t replace your BIBLE. What worked for her might not necessarily work for all of us. It is her testimony that she is sharing and added some advice. What I have witnessed with some of believers (Christians) is that, we substitute the bible to some of these books. Instead of studying the bible and asking the Holy Spirit to direct us in situations, we seek advice or counsel from some of these books and even Pastors. If things doesn’t work out for us, it means the book is bad or the writer or Pastor lied to me.”
And her reply was;
“Maurice, the problem is that the things that she specifically teaches in the book make marriage worse and enable abuse. We’ve measured it.
You can say, “it’s okay if she says things that are harmful because you should just go to your Bible anyway”, but that’s not how life works.
We shouldn’t say, “people are allowed to say harmful things because you shouldn’t really be listening to them anyway.” Real people are getting hurt. And telling them, “you shouldn’t have taken the book seriously” is not really the answer.”
You can go on the website baremarriage.com to read the full comment.
Basis of this Authority:
Brethren, the sovereign God is still in charge of this world and over sees every marriage and knows what we do in secret, including the secrets in our hearts and minds. No one will escape His judgement, whether man or woman, President or a commoner, Man of God or church member. And Oh, including us who give counsel (godly or ungodly counsel). Let us all bare that in mind and allow our God to do his work. If you think God cannot send down an instant judgement in this 21st Century, you are wrong. Let us read Acts 12:20-23 “…Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him (King Herod), because he didn't give God the glory. He was eaten by worms and died." My advice goes to all of us, to be mindful of where we seek advice or counsel to shape our lives. Friends, family members, Men of God, Counselors, Social Media bloggers, etc. The best counselor you can ever have, is your bible, not even the Man of God. Romans 3:4 tells us, “Let God be true and every man a liar”. We, Preachers, are supposed to led you (the faithfuls) to the source of all truth, that is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and not to stand in the way.
My sisters, mothers, wives, and women; as we read in all three scriptures, I hope you see how God has endowed you with a lot of spiritual authority than men. Peter writes that we men should treat our wives well “in order that your prayers may not be hindered.” And Malachi’s prophecy also tells us God does not pay attention to our prayers and worship because of our unfaithfulness to our wives.
Brethren, doesn’t this make you tremble as a husband or a man? See, I have been searching and so far, I have not seen anywhere in the bible again where there is such a caution against women that their prayers will be hindered. Do you have an idea when God says I will not listen to your prayers? My brother, it means suffering for you here on earth and also in heaven.
I am a husband and father of three, and I love my wife very much. There was a time we were going through challenges and my mother in-law quoted this scripture to me – 1 Peter 3:7. I read it and in my distress I went before God and asked Him, what about me - the husband, not being threated right. He gave me an answer, and that answer is what I will talk about after dealing with us the men. Brothers, for the fear of God, whether I provide everything or not everything that will make her happy, the least thing I want to engage in is abuse her and make her feel worthless. Malachi even talks about unfaithfulness as well. Let’s not limit unfaithfulness to only extra-marital affairs, but unfaithfulness in every aspect of life. My men, I believe you heard the reply of the blogger to my comment. Abuse, abuse, abuse, whether physical, emotional or psychological. Abuse is abuse and we need to watch out, because God our Father, doesn’t take it lightly. Not because any feminist, NGOs, Government Institutions for women affairs says it, but God, our Sovereign God says it. Your answer is already in 1 Peter 3:7 and Malachi 2:13–16. Until you repent and start doing what is right, this scriptures work against you.
You may say ‘oh, what about those who are still enjoying life and hurting women?’. It is not for you and I to worry our heads about that, because the bible can and will never lie about such people. When you read Psalm 37:35-36, it says “I saw a wicked and cruel man who looked strong like a healthy tree in good soil. But he died and was gone; I looked for him, but he couldn’t be found”. There is already judgement for such people even here on earth before they meet God. We say these things because we have witnessed situations like this before. Therefore, let us never think or assume that God doesn’t see the suffering of our women or wives. If you want blessings and success in every little thing you do, start doing the right thing. Shower blessings on your wife and encourage her to enter the secret closet (Prayer Room), and while you are on the field (at work), allow her to do the spiritual battle. I bet you, you will witness God moving in every aspect of your life. I have seen men who spent less time in church, some do not even attend church with their wife but succeed in many ways. This is because their prayer-warrior wife keeps funning the flames of hope. This doesn’t mean sit in the house as a husband and not God to church. Because if one person is keeping the flame active, you can imagine if the two of you are doing it.
Brethren, aside Exodus 4:24-26 which we read that Zipporah actually saved Moses from being killed by the Lord, there are other scriptural basis that show that God looks with favor on women or our wives. You can refer to Abraham and Sarah visiting King Abimelech of Gerar in Genesis 20, Queen Esther going before King Xerxes I in the Book of Esther, just to mention a few.
Exceptions to this Authority:
Now, having dealt with the good side, let’s now look at some exceptions to this authority our women have. Am sure, some husbands or men are eager to know what these exceptions are. I do not have to comment so much on this, because it is very clear and whoever is God-fearing will just pick it as it is and begin to run with it. Let’s read 1 Peter 3:1–6 (NLT).
“In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.”
There is a caveat to the verse 1 “accept the authority of your husbands”. Sometimes this is misquoted by some of us and we apply it wrongly. Your authority as a husband should be a godly one, like Jesus Christ. He had all power and authority but the bible tells us in Philippians 2:8 “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”. If you want to apply authority in your home, just be like Jesus. If you want to be a real man, be like Jesus.
My dear sister, wife, mother and woman, this is where many of you lose this great power or authority that God has given you in our homes and over your husbands. I do not need to say much, but I believe Peter was very much clear on the subject of winning your ungodly or unsaved husband, and the issue of outer and inner beauty. I have also seen women who have lost this authority in their home even though you see them always on their knees praying. The truth is that, you cannot go before God, then you come home and threat your husband with disrespect. No matter his status in society. Sometimes, you have the financial means and your husband is struggling because of that, you are always lashing out against him. How do you expect God to keep that power or authority in place? He will definitely take it away. As I said Peter’s message was very clear, all I want to do is read to you an excerpt from E. W. Kenyon’s book “Sign Posts on the Road to Success”.
“CILDREN'S lives are largely made up of words—the words of their parents and those whom they love and admire.
A mother can fill her boy's heart with zeal for an education and for a position in life, or she can, with words, destroy the finest spirit that was ever given to a home.
The children are word-made. What do I mean? Their lives are made up of words of their parents and loved ones.
The wife little appreciates the power of words on her husband's life. When he loses his job, she could scold him and tell him that he is no good. He was whipped before he came home, but he would then be doubly whipped.
Instead, she puts her arms around him and says, "That's all right dear. You will get a better position. You are worthy of a better job anyway."
He goes out the next morning thrilled by the touch of her lips and her words have filled him with courage and confidence. He leaves her heart filled with joy and gladness, and she says," What a man God gave me." He says, "What a woman you gave me, Lord."
They have learned the secret of words. A few devastating words could have filled his mind with confusion, his heart with pain, and his eyes with tears. Words give heartache, and words give strength and comfort and faith.
Let's be careful of the words we use.”
This should be enough for our sisters, wives, mothers and women.
My Men, husbands and fathers, think about it. Do you think many widowed women are happy to be single again and not have their husbands by their sides? Just thank about it. I believe there is something more than why God says He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I noticed something common about these men and other biblical men who walked with God which the Spirit of God revealed to me. The wives of most of these men rather pass on early. Not necessary for them to re-marry but probably to put the family in order and bless the children. Hebrews 11:21 tells us “when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons”. We are dying unexpectedly and even now at a much younger age and not blessing our children. My women, your spiritual authority makes a big difference in the home and on your husbands only if you apply it well.
Shalom and Peace to you.
Maurice Luther
Founder the Christian Migrant Network
thechristianmigrant@gmail.com
