"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
1 Samuel 17:45
Sometimes I can feel like that...David - a little "nobody" facing a mighty warrior - Goliath! Yet we can overcome in Christ in all our battles. And because most often the saints walk alone, we can be surrounded by our "enemies" too! But we love our enemies and neighbours and want to tell them the truth of the good news of Christ.
For us women we are to have a meek and quiet spirit yes, but we can be mighty warriors in the Word of God and stand boldly for His truth. It's to do with not fearing man really. I have to work on that myself.
I like this one...
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
Acts 4:13
...just simple people with the power of the Spirit and having seen the life of our Lord and seen the risen Saviour!
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
2 Peter 1:16
And Paul asked for prayer for boldness in the gospel...
"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Ephesians 6:19-20
Let us pray for one another also, that we may be strong sisters standing for truth and the gospel, boldly. May we dig into the Word to know His truth and the Spirit will reveal it to us.
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Proverbs 28:1
Let us strive to shine our lights and be a living and powerful witness to our Lord...and be bold as a lion.
This morning I was reading and I came across this verse. And I was thinking deeply about it and how it relates to other scriptures and life as believers.
"He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue."
Proverbs 28:23
Ponder that.
And this one...
...and this one...
What great love God must have for us to chasten, rebuke, and correct His children! What a mighty caring Father!
Psalm 12...
"Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted."
(Does it not remind you of what is coming out of the church pulpits today?)
Beware women! Do not be deceived by their flattery.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Romans 16:17-18
People want to hear what their flesh wants to hear. They want to be told all is well with them (even if it isn't). True love tells the truth and does not flatter anyone.
Ponder this one...
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:2
God's Word is so good...it tells us all these things that we see today!
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
2 Timothy 4:3-4
But you women can do your own study on flatter in scripture and see the depths of it.
There are many verses about wicked women flattering with their lips; a warning for us to thoroughly examine all our speech and also to beware of others doing it to us. It could be and is very dangerous. Similarly there are also warnings for us women on not being gossips and in Titus 2 not false accusers either.
"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
Psalm 148:3
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
Matthew 12:36-37
Love in Christ,
...from a daughter of God
See the gospel to eternal life here.