Good morning Cedar Grove!

What a sweet day of gathering it was yesterday. I hope that when we prayed for those who are sick, we did so in faith. God is more than able!

I wanted to emphasize a point that was made yesterday regarding women with the gift of teaching. This was brought to my attention by a fellow brother in the Lord after service (thank you Bill Sanders). We know that a woman is not to exercise authority over a man especially by the way of teaching. This is not something that limits a woman, but rather brings things to the correct order in the house and family of God. However, we do know that God uses women to teach and to greatly influence others. The verse that we focused on for a moment was 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

This is much more straight forward than many like to make it. This was not to a specific church in a specific context but rather to Timothy as a pastor. This sets a precedent rather than a cultural norm. Timothy, though, was a young man being trained up and discipled by Paul. We know this, but many may not how we are introduced to him.

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1–3.

Why is it so emphasized that his father was a Greek? Well, everyone that would have read this would have known that this meant Timothy's father was an unbeliever. How then did Timothy end up the way he did? Paul explains this...

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:5.

Do you realize what Paul said? Timothy has sincere faith because his mother did. His mother had sincere faith because her mother did. Don't miss that! A woman influenced one of the few pastors named in scriptures. Wow. We need men and women with sincere faith teaching others to have sincere faith. Be that for someone today.

I love you Cedar Grove and I thank you for letting me be your pastor. I pray we do not take for granted what God is doing at our church. I will see you at midweek. Happy in the Lord, amen. Buh-bye.

Pastor Jacob