Woman of God
THE FOURTH MESSAGE OF UJU ACCORDING
TO THE SCRIPTURE TO
CHRISTENDOM
A message from Uju a servant of Christ Jesus by the grace of God through Christ Jesus, according to the word in the scripture,
2. To CHRISTENDOM; glory and honor be unto LORD God Almighty and Christ Jesus our Lord savior forever and ever. Amen.
3. According to Amos 7.14-15:
“Then Amos answered Amaziah, I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, “Go prophesy to my people Israel.”
4. So am I, Uju, a worker of art by trade; the Word of God, the Spirit of God, in the name of Christ Jesus appeared to me in a flame of fire from the Scripture; and I immediately prophesied saying, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” to people of the world.
5. I am no pastor, evangelist, prophet nor an apostle, but by the grace and mercy of God the father of Christ Jesus, I am writing this message to Christendom according to the scripture.
WOMAN OF GOD
Faithful to the End
6. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” – Gen 1:1.
7. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness;” Gen 1:26.
8. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27
9. And God blessed them, and God said to them “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the that birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Gen 1:28
10. Note the phrase – “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it;”
11. To fulfill this phrase, Then the LORD God said, (Gen 2:18)
“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
12. Man did not take delight as a helper of all created by God for him, according Gen 2:20,
“The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him.”
13. Note the phrase again – “but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him.”
14. And to fulfill this phrase,
“So, the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from man he made into a woman and brought her to the man,” Gen 2:21-22
15. And the man was delighted in the woman God brought to him. Then the man said,
“This at last is the bone of my bones and the flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.” Gen 2:23
16. The man – Adam, called her Woman, because she was taken out of man: the only creation of God taken out of man as a helper, which the man delighted in as the bone of his bones, and the flesh of his flesh – a wife; and for this reason, the scripture said in Gen 2:24-25,
“Therefore, a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
17. The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living, according to Gen3:20.
18. It is evident that the first woman of God before the fall of man was Eve. She was created such that in continual obedience with her husband Adam to God they would give birth to the lineage of holy children to this day.
19. Eve, consequently wasn’t faithful to the end to God. She became the transgressor, because she was the one deceived by Satan – 1 Tim 2:14.
20. A woman of God therefore, is she who has the fear of God, and remain faithful to him to the end through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Woman of God: who is she?
21. A woman of God therefore, is she who has the fear of God, and remain faithful to him to the end through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
22. Who is she?
23. The scripture noted remarkable women of God who had the fear of God, and remained ever faithful to God to the very end. These holy women some of whom were single, married or widows never relapsed in their faith in God, no matter the challenges they faced in their course of obedience to God.
24. These holy women some of who were single, perhaps were unmarried daughters of holy men and holy families; some of who were married perhaps were married to holy men; and some who were widows perhaps were married to late holy men of God.
25. According to the scripture the first reputable woman of God was Sarah, who was referred to as our holy mother, maybe as she was married to Abraham who was the father of many nations – a herald of righteousness and faith.
26. Abraham, who was made a father of many nations by God in his promise to him, had a wife, Sarah, who was also, a mother of many nations, in equal but subordinate and submissive standing to Abraham. Sarah in that persona maybe accomplished that which Eve failed to do.
27. The allegory of Sarah and Hagar is a testimony by the scripture suggesting that Sarah is the mother of children saved by the Lord – Gal 4:21-31.
28. In 1 Peter 3:6, the scripture also testified that Sarah is the mother of obedient children of God through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, compelling other women of God to follow her holy living.
29. These outstanding women of God in the scripture served in various holy capacities to God; some were known to be prophetess, while many were indispensable helpers to the spread of the word of God and gospel of the Lord; and uncountable number of them were virtuous wives to their husbands, of unparallel comparison.
30. Among these holy women who were prophetesses are: Mariam (Ex. 15:20); Deborah (Judges 4:4); Huldah (2 kings 22:14; 2 Chron. 34:22); wife of Isaiah (Is. 8:3); Anna (Lk. 2:36-38); and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9).
31. The faith of some of them was tested through the affliction of barrenness, among who were: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Samson’s mother, the Shunammite woman and Elizbeth the wife of Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptist.
32. Some gained the favor of God by unflinching humbleness and loyalty like Ruth and Esther.
33. Among them were real and faithful widows such as, Ruth, Anna, Abigail, Tamar and widow of Zarephath.
34. One had an outstanding grace well above all women known as Mary, the mother of Jesus, who became the Messiah.
35. Some contributed charitably to Jesus and his disciples in spreading of the gospel among who were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Jesus, and Salome.
36. Some were friends of Jesus because of their holiness like Mary and Martha the sisters of Lazarus who the Lord resurrected from death.
37. Some supported the apostles in the spread of the gospel among who were Phoebe, a deaconess, Prisca, Mary, Junias (Rm. 16:1-7); Lois and Eunice the grandmother and mother of Timothy because of their great faith impacted on Timothy.
38. I strongly believe that the Lord is still using holy women to this day to spread the gospel of salvation and uplifting their families and the general public in holiness.
39. Today, we still have a lot of women world over who have the fear of God through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes!
Virtuous Woman
1. According to Eccl. 7:28,
“One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.”
2. From the above stated does it imply there are no women of God? The answer is No! Righteousness is associated with men who have the fear of God; while women of God are known by their virtuousness.
3. Remember this identity stemmed from the LORD God from creation going by the scripture in 1 Cor. 11:3,
“I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”
4. The scripture went further to set the identity and category straight stating that man is the image and glory of God, while woman is the glory of man. Secondly, man was not made from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. And in turn man is born of woman; and in the Lord the two are interdependent and interrelated.
5. The role of a virtuous woman as a wife in the life of a righteous man as a husband in the Lord is clearly defined by the scripture.
6. First, who is a virtuous woman? It takes a virtuous woman to be a virtuous wife to a righteous man!
7. According Prov 31:10-31 the characteristics of a virtuous wife are expressly stated:
“A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels, the heart of her husband trusts her, and he will have no lack of grain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds her loins with strength and marks her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out to her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
8. In summary, a virtuous wife is a true helper from God to her husband. She is an independent successful woman, kind and generous to her household, the poor and the needy in general. She is very humble, and respectful to her husband; and above all she has the fear of God.
Women Who Profess Religion in the Lord
9. From creation women have played a pivotal role in the course of life, and have welded an unalloyed influence on men, family and society. Their influence has turned out to be virtuous, and sometimes evil.
10. Because of the subtle influence women have over men and their affairs, they are as a result perceived or associated with negative connotation. While growing up every male child is warned by his family against close relationship with women, either as a female child or grown up one. Even aspiring young men in pursuit of their careers are warned against getting entangled with women in order to have secured success.
11. Even the scripture remarked that notable men were known to be ruined by women of unsteady minds, traceable to Eve; the scripture noted that Adam wasn’t the one deceived but Eve, and Eve became the transgressor. As such every bad woman is assumed to be a daughter of Eve.
12. King Solomon was one whose knowledge of women is unsurpassable, and in Proverbs warned men against the entanglement and danger associated with unsteady women.
13. Women are known from the scripture to be the weaker sex, maybe by their propensity to emotional influence witnessed in the event of Eve and the serpent – the Devil on the one side, and Eve and Adam on the other side. Both scenarios were marked by Eve’s unsteady emotional attitude.
14. Luckily enough the emotional nature of women has sometimes played a positive role – from repentance unto salvation.
15. Recall the incident of Mary Magdalene: she was quick to follow Jesus immediately after her deliverance to be the first to see Jesus when he resurrected; the same applied to the woman of issue of blood; Mary and Martha……etc. They were all saved by their holy emotional obeisance to Jesus.
16. Women who profess religion in the Lord are known to have holy emotional obeisance to Christ Jesus. This consecrated homage these women paid to the Lord to this day brought salvation to them.
17. Consequently, women who profess religion in the Lord have distinguished characteristics from the rest of other women notable in their lifestyles.
18. One outstanding character of such women is humility – humility to authority. And the first authority to a woman is her husband. The scripture says that the head of a woman is her husband; the second authority is the church of the saint; the third authority is Christ Jesus, and the fourth and final authority is God in ascending order.
19. The humility of women who profess religion in the Lord to their husbands as the first authority is as written in the scripture in 1 Peter3:1-3,
“Likewise, you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior.”
20. In humility and absolute submission of these holy women to their husbands, Sarah was used as an example, wherein the scripture observed Sarah’s obedience to Abraham, calling him lord – 1 Peter3:6.
21. And in return to their humility their husbands are urged and compelled to love their wives, dealing with them considerately and bestowing honor on them as the weaker sex – 1 Peter3:7.
22. Humility to the second authority – the church of the saint: women who profess religion in the Lord are counselled by the scripture to be subordinate in the all the churches of the saints as written in 1 Cor. 14:34-35,
“As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the laws. If there is anything the they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for woman to speak in the church.”
23. The church of the saints as mention above implies the gathering of the elders; the council of the elders.
24. A church in the Lord is a people holy to God through Christ Jesus. It could be in your house, in an assembly or group for a specific purpose. Among these holy people of the Lord are elders – renown leaders of the people.
25. Sometimes these elders gather for a defined purpose accompanied by their wives. In such gathering or council their wives or women are expected to play a subordinate role. This setting is also common in different cultures of so many lands as to this day more especially in Igbo culture of South East of Nigeria.
26. This behavioral pattern promotes order and peace in the gathering, and projects the men as heads in holy capacity. In such situation men are commanded by the Lord to raise holy hands in prayers in the gathering.
27. Today, religious organizations in Christendom have twisted the setting for lack of knowledge and selfish ambitions. What is understood as a church today is quite opposite to that of the early disciples of the Lord.
28. As a result of the prevailing situation, Christendom have misplaced the role of women in their religious settings and abused the functions of men in a holy capacity. Because they don’t have proper understand of what is called the body of Christ, how much more having the gathering of the saints – it became impossible for them to function as a body of Christ.
29. The humility of women who profess religion in the Lord to Christ and the Father is their ultimate goal crowning them as holy women of the Lord.
30. In this capacity, they are expected to channel their holiness in a chaste acceptable manner to the Lord. This is observed in head covering according to the scripture in 1Cor.11:5-6,
“……. but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head – it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.”
31. In this command the scripture went further to say in 1Cor.11:10,
“That is why a woman ought to have veil on her head, because of the angels.”
32. The implication of the above stated revealed the shamefulness of a woman who unveiled her head while praying or prophesizing as though she is naked.
33. Yes, every woman who failed to veil her head while praying or prophesizing is spiritually naked, and the angels cannot behold such. Woman is not directly the image and glory of Christ but man, and therefore, is a mark of pride to the Lord for a woman to unveil her head while praying or prophesizing; and God resists the proud and give glory to the humble.
34. Conversely a man is commanded to pray or prophesy with unveiled head being the image and glory of God as stated by the scripture in 1Cor11:7,
“For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God;”
35. But today virtually all the women in Christendom who pray or prophesy don’t veil their heads. Why? I don’t know! They prefer wearing a make-up hear unveiled maybe for the public to admire them.
36. Another reputable character of women who profess religion in the Lord is modesty! Modesty is associated with faith and love and holiness. These holy women of the Lord are very considerate in dispositions to living, that’s why the scripture commended in 1Tim 2:9-10,
“That women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion.”
37. It is obvious what you wear influences your behavior: it could make you proud or humble. And in that instance God is involved. As women who profess religion in the Lord, the scripture urges you to the line of humbleness in your dressing to win the favor of the Lord.
38. But what is happening today in Christendom among various religious groups is abysmal. The so called ministers of God dress like superstars in the entertainment industry, and live a lifestyle larger than life.
39. Is it not impossible with this lofty baggage to pass through the sheep gate to the Lord?
40. Truly speaking the sum of the characteristics of women who profess religion in the Lord is summed up in a virtuous woman. And virtuous woman is a virtuous wife.
41. I fervently pray the Lord shall grant us mercy, while righteously paying everyone according to his or her work. May the God of glory be with you all through Christ Jesus till the end of time. Amen.