By Deborah Ross – 2007 – http://www.deborahrossministries.org/
AGAPE LOVE - “Excel them All”
PASS OUT:
Guest Book / New Outlines / Marriage Prayer / Scripture Verses
***Turn OFF Cell Phones
1) Play Song – LEGACY by Nichole Nordeman
2) Prayer
3) Have each woman introduce herself. Is there any topic that you feel needs to be addressed more in our study time together? What has been your favorite study or reading, so far?
4) Explain THE REMNANT WOMEN and how ladies can join.
AGAPE LOVE - “Excel them All”
PASS OUT:
Guest Book / New Outlines / Marriage Prayer / Scripture Verses
***Turn OFF Cell Phones
1) Play Song – LEGACY by Nichole Nordeman
2) Prayer
3) Have each woman introduce herself. Is there any topic that you feel needs to be addressed more in our study time together? What has been your favorite study or reading, so far?
4) Explain THE REMNANT WOMEN and how ladies can join.
5) If this study has been a blessing to you and your group, would you prayerfully announce to your group that you will be taking up a love offering for DRM on lesson's six and seven. Your group or individual offering(s) can either be submitted through our Web-Site Pay-Pal or mailed into the ministry office by the postal service. Thank you for your support!
Human love is conditional.
Agape love is unconditional.
You can tell a person’s spiritual maturity by their “LOVE WALK”.
TODAY we are going to study some women of the Bible that had good "words"…
The Bible mentions "WORDS" 523 times. Words are very important to God.
Power of words –
Proverbs 18:21 – your tongue has power!
Proverbs 17:27-28 – Listen more and talk less…
Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth…AIM TO PLEASE GOD!
1 John 4:1-21 – LOVE!!!
VS 7 = People that are BORN-AGAIN choose to LOVE! God is LOVE and LOVE dwells in the Child of God.
VS 8 = People that don’t LOVE, don’t know God.
What kind of LOVE is John speaking of??? Not human LOVE. Even lost sinners LOVE someone or something. John is speaking of AGAPE LOVE / UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
VS 9-10 = LOVE sent His won Son to die for a people that did not LOVE Him!
VS. 11 = We should do as God did. We should LOVE those that don’t love us AND be ready to lay our lives down to reveal God’s LOVE in a powerful way. (Pull down Strongholds in the other person with LOVE.)
VS. 16 = If you dwell in LOVE, you dwell in God and God dwells in YOU!!!
VS. 17 = LOVE causes the other person to safely TRUST in its motive. “Perfect LOVE cast out all fear.”
VS. 19 = We love God, because He first LOVED us! Could it be that your spouse will LOVE you when you first LOVE THEM?
VS. 20-21 = Don’t be a liar. If you say you LOVE God, you are commanded to walk in LOVE. This includes LOVING those that disappoint you, frustrate you, abandon you, and spitefully use you. Unfortunately, some of you have spouses that have done just that.
Proverbs 31:10-31
VS 10 – She is capable, intelligent, and virtuous.
**Virtuous = conforming to moral & ethical principles; upright; pure of heart; valiant; pure modesty; virgin
VS 11 – Her husbands heart trust confidently in her wisdom from the Lord. She has an unwavering desire to see him succeed in all things.
VS 12 – She comforts and encourages him. She will always do things to bring goodness to her husband…as long as she has life in her body.
VS 13 – She works with her hands to develop goods for her home.
VS 14 – She feeds her family “healthy” foods. She researches the “truth” about the foods that are available to her family and makes sound decisions (that promote health) about the meals that she prepares for her household.
VS 15 – She gets up early to seek God before planning her day. (Maids = she must be a well off and prosperous woman to have maids)
VS 16 – She considers new (fields). She considers means of cultivating good things for her household.
VS 17 – She guides herself with spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given tasks.
VS 18 – She makes sure that her testimony is strong. She keeps oil in her lamp. (Remember the parable of the virgins? (Matthew 25:13) The oil in the lamp represents the Holy Spirit.)
VS 19 - She works with her hands to provide clothes for her family. (Buying, mending, making, yard selling, organizing, etc.)
VS 20 – She gives to the poor and needy in body, mind and spirit.
VS 21 – By her PRAYERS her family is clothed in the blood of Jesus. She does not fear for her family.
VS 22 – She is dressed divinely! Not as the world says but as a godly woman. How does the world define being dressed appropriately? How does a godly woman dress appropriately? Cleavage, legs, belly button, cheap???
VS 23 – Her husband is respected in the community because she looks after his well being…encouraging, respecting, submitting, reverencing = MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOUR HUSBAND BY TREATING HIM AS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD even before he knows his position before God. (God calls us great things BEFORE we ever become it. Think of Abraham – father of many nations. Think of Jacob becoming Israel. Think of Peter becoming the rock from which Jesus would build His church. Can you think of others?)
VS 24 – She makes things to sell or helps bring in income (if needed) in some way. SHE IS NOT THE BREAD WINNER FOR A LAZY HUSBAND.
VS 25 – She rejoices over the future, knowing that she and her family are ready for it.
VS 26 – She is full of godly wisdom. She gives godly advice and counsel to others.
VS 27 – She does not gossip. She is not discontent. She does not walk in self pity. She works diligently at SAFEGUARDING her home. (Safeguarding our homes means watching out for magazines, television shows, computer images, and so on that promote free spirited sexuality or other ungodly acts. Men are visual creatures, so help them guard their heart by keeping your home free from worldly paraphernalia.)
VS 28 & 29 – Her children and her husband see Jesus in her. Her husband thinks she is the “prize” of all women. She “excels them all”.
VS 30 – Her beauty does not rely on the outward appearance. Her beauty comes from within. Her godliness is her glory.
VS 31 – She WILL receive the REWARD of her faithfulness to God in due season.
Matthew 11:11 – John the Baptist – greatest – you are greater!
A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN as it says in verse 29 “excels them ALL.”
Who is “all”?
Let's look at some godly women of the Bible to see how we should strive to "excel them all."
Miriam = led nations of women in praise to God / sister of Aaron / prophetess / praise leader (dancer) - EXODUS 15:20-21
Deborah = was a patriotic military advisor / prophetess / wife of Lapidoth / righteous judge / brave / leader of warfare - JUDGES 4:4-10
Ruth = was a woman of constancy / devoted daughter-in-law / one that follows after God / one who recognizes the will of God / one who has favor from God / marries Boaz (a mighty man of wealth) - RUTH 1:16
Hannah = was the ideal mother / prayer warrior / worshipper / unselfish mother / married to Elkanah / she was beautiful inside and out (vs. 5) / joyful (ch. 2) / understood sowing her first fruits back to God – I SAMUEL 1:20 & 2:19
The Shunammite = was a hospitable woman / recognized the anointing of Elisha (the man or woman of God) / new how to hold onto God’s word / received a miracle and then when Satan tried to take it away from her, she clung to the man of God (the word or her prophecy) until God restored her child - 11 KINGS 4:8-10
Huldah = revealed God’s secret message to national leaders / prophetess / wife of Shallum / understood the “standard” of God and warned people to live by God’s “standard” if they wanted to avoid the curse / she was a truth digger - 11 KINGS 22:14
Queen Esther = risked sacrificing her life to help her people / beautiful inside and out more than any other woman in the land / chosen by the King / given favor by her husband / willing to sacrifice her life for the sake of righteousness and her people / leader of God’s people / an example to God’s people / a deliverer to God’s people - ESTHER 4:16
Anna = a prophetess / one who fasted and prayer (intercessor) / preached redemption through Jesus – LUKE 2:36-55
Mary (the mother of Jesus) =
Mary had the “privilege” of carrying the seed of God. Though she was chosen of God to bring salvation into the world, her life was far from easy. Many times, she had to flee those who wanted to kill God's promise (Jesus). She was required to obey the voice of God throughout her entire life, so that miracles could take place and God could reveal His glory. From the threats of King Herod to the cruel death of the cross, Mary lived a life of faith and bravery. What is God asking YOU to protect today? Is He asking you to protect your baby Jesus (your marriage) by living a life of faith and bravery? Every married person has been given the privilege of carrying the seed of God, much like Mary. That seed, is the salvation of your mate and the salvation of everyone in your household. Will you say, "be it unto me according to thy word"... as Mary did?
Deborah = was a patriotic military advisor / prophetess / wife of Lapidoth / righteous judge / brave / leader of warfare - JUDGES 4:4-10
Ruth = was a woman of constancy / devoted daughter-in-law / one that follows after God / one who recognizes the will of God / one who has favor from God / marries Boaz (a mighty man of wealth) - RUTH 1:16
Hannah = was the ideal mother / prayer warrior / worshipper / unselfish mother / married to Elkanah / she was beautiful inside and out (vs. 5) / joyful (ch. 2) / understood sowing her first fruits back to God – I SAMUEL 1:20 & 2:19
The Shunammite = was a hospitable woman / recognized the anointing of Elisha (the man or woman of God) / new how to hold onto God’s word / received a miracle and then when Satan tried to take it away from her, she clung to the man of God (the word or her prophecy) until God restored her child - 11 KINGS 4:8-10
Huldah = revealed God’s secret message to national leaders / prophetess / wife of Shallum / understood the “standard” of God and warned people to live by God’s “standard” if they wanted to avoid the curse / she was a truth digger - 11 KINGS 22:14
Queen Esther = risked sacrificing her life to help her people / beautiful inside and out more than any other woman in the land / chosen by the King / given favor by her husband / willing to sacrifice her life for the sake of righteousness and her people / leader of God’s people / an example to God’s people / a deliverer to God’s people - ESTHER 4:16
Anna = a prophetess / one who fasted and prayer (intercessor) / preached redemption through Jesus – LUKE 2:36-55
Mary (the mother of Jesus) =
Mary had the “privilege” of carrying the seed of God. Though she was chosen of God to bring salvation into the world, her life was far from easy. Many times, she had to flee those who wanted to kill God's promise (Jesus). She was required to obey the voice of God throughout her entire life, so that miracles could take place and God could reveal His glory. From the threats of King Herod to the cruel death of the cross, Mary lived a life of faith and bravery. What is God asking YOU to protect today? Is He asking you to protect your baby Jesus (your marriage) by living a life of faith and bravery? Every married person has been given the privilege of carrying the seed of God, much like Mary. That seed, is the salvation of your mate and the salvation of everyone in your household. Will you say, "be it unto me according to thy word"... as Mary did?
Can you think of other great women of the Bible and their legacy?
Are you willing to allow God to transform you into a woman that “excels them all”?
HOMEWORK:
HOMEWORK:
1) Work towards being a woman who "excels them all" this week. Ask God to help you safeguard your home, love your spouse unconditionally, speak words of encouragement and kindness, live in faith and bravery (believing God against all odds), look after your household, be a lover, and become more beautiful from the inside - out.
2) READ: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 every day for seven days.
Deborah RossMinistries
P.O. Box 2186, Indian Trail, NC 28079
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