Dearly Beloved,
WOMEN ARE PILLARS OF SUPPORT!
“Warriors became fat and
sloppy, no fight left in them. Then you, Deborah, rose up; you got up, a mother
in Israel” (Judges 5:7 MSG).
“Say hello to Priscilla and
Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me in serving Jesus” (Romans 16:3
MSG).
Priscilla (also known as
Prisca) was a Christian woman who with her husband, Aquila, worked together
with Paul at Corinth. According to history, Priscilla and Aquila came to
Corinth after the Roman Emperor Claudius expelled all the Jews from Rome (see
Acts 18:2). They were Paul's co-workers who Paul left at Ephesus where they
ministered effectively, especially to Apollos (see Acts 18:18-26). Apart from
the fact that Priscilla was prominent in the Early Church, she is named before
her husband in the majority of biblical passages (see Romans 16:3; 1
Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19). Undoubtedly, this indicates her strength of
character and/or her exceptional usefulness in Christian work (see Acts 18:26).
She was indeed a pillar of support to her husband and other early Christians.
Priscilla was not the only one
that was a pillar of support to other menfolk in the Holy Bible. Deborah was
another spectacular woman. In fact, she was a judge and a warrior who delivered
the people of Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites and led the people.
She was indeed “a mother in Israel” (see Judges 4-5). Other exemplary women in the Bible were Miriam
(the sister of Moses and Aaron) who was referred to as a leader of the people of
Israel along with Moses and Aaron in Micah 6:4; Abigail who saved the life of
her husband (see 1 Samuel 25); Huldah whose counsel was sought by Hilkiah the
then high priest and Josiah the king (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22); Mary
who was highly favoured to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-28) and played
prominent roles in His life and ministry; Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of
Cuza, Susanna, Mary the mother of James, Mary and Martha and other women that
served Jesus during His earthly ministry (see Luke 8:2-3; 10:38-42; 24:10); Lois and Eunice who mentored Timothy (see Acts 16:1-2;
2 Timothy 1:5); Phoebe, a deaconess of the church in
Cenchrea and other women like Mary of Rome, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, mother
of Rufus, and many others that were pillars of support in the Early Church (see
Rom 16:1, 6, 12, 13). Sadly, there were also bad examples of women that were
pillars of support like Jezebel, Ahab's wife, famous for extending the cult of
her own Phoenician gods to the land of Israel, and influenced her husband to
take evil decisions (see 1 Kings 18:4,13,19; 19:1; 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22), and
the bloodthirsty Athaliah (interestingly Jezebel’s daughter) who reigned both
as Jehoram's consort and as queen regnant (2 Kings 8:18; 11:1-16).
Women are indeed pillars of
support wherever they find themselves. Although, the support may be positive or
negative. As a woman, are you a good pillar of support to your husband,
siblings, co-workers and other people around you? In what way can you really
support these people?
Happy Mother’s Day!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Prayer Points:
1.
Pray that as a woman, you will be a good pillar
of support to people around you.
2.
Pray for women that have been positive pillars
of support in your life that God will continue to use them to support you in
His own way.
NB
This message is dedicated to my
wife, Florence Opeyemi Afolaranmi, who has been my reputable pillar of support
for almost two decades.
_________________________
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+2348055159591
BB PIN:2BFAD68F
http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
https://www.facebook.com/pastorbayo.afolaranmi.1
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+2348055159591
BB PIN:2BFAD68F
http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
https://www.facebook.com/pastorbayo.afolaranmi.1
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
__._,_.___
Posted by: Bayo Afolaranmi <spiritualdigest@yahoo.com>
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