0:13 One of the difficulties I have is speaking to sisters. Even though there were six women in my home, five daughters and my wife. I find it easy speaking to brothers 0:34 and to children, but to speak to sisters, because various reasons, sisters are very sensitive. I know that having had five daughters and uh my wife thinks that you can say to 0:53 brothers, you have to be careful how you say to sisters. Not that we don't say it, but how you say it. And I I thought that what we heard this morning was so so blessed. You know, the world celebrates 1:12 International Women's Day. The great Women's Day message that you heard this morning. Now, if we take it to heart, it can do wonders in your life. It do wonders in the church. Because 1:30 sisters are the lifeline of the church. I don't know if you realize it. You're always in the background. And you know, you don't have much to do, and sometimes you think, you know, I'm not doing anything. But I want to tell you, sisters, you 1:50 have a very very important part in contributing to the life of this church. And you're in the background it's like you know, pumping blood 2:09 into the body. You contribute to that. And if there is to be health in the body of Christ in the church here, then you need to see that you're spiritually healthy also. And I thought this morning I 2:27 think I never heard what we heard this morning. Maybe we did, but I'm so glad what the Lord put on our both our brothers' hearts for sisters. Because that is a big, big problem. Internationally it's a big problem, 2:46 curiosity. That kills the cat like we heard. That brings spiritual death into your life, into the home, and into the church. So, when I say that 3:04 sisters are the lifeline of the church, I mean it. And the Bible says the very meaning of the first woman God made, Eve, means life. I don't know if you know that. Eve means life. 3:22 Before Adam and Eve had any children, God gave the the woman the ability not just to have babies, but to release life in a variety of its expressions. That's something I know years back brother Zach put out 3:42 uh when we had Hidden Treasures in there was an article by Francis Frankie Pain. And some very good things there. I'm going to ask brother John to get his hands on that. And maybe distribute it to sisters. 4:01 And another old lady hidden treasure that God needs women. God needs men, it's true, but God needs women, godly women. So, what I just said, the very name of the first woman that God created, God made from 4:21 the rib that he took from Adam's side. Eve meant life. So, I hope that you would live to that. Even before they had any babies, they were to release life, he says, in a variety of his expression. 4:40 In fact, one translation says that Eve means to enliven. That's what it means. And it says that, you know, when God created everything, everything was good. And at the end, he says, it was very good. But then he came across Then he 4:59 said something, it's not good for man to be alone. So, alone, Adam It was not good for him to be alone. Eve enlivened Adam, as this brother says, enlivened Adam in 5:17 ways no other creature on earth could. Adam could build a house. Eve made it a home. That's very true. Your husband may build a house, he may have a house one day. If you do have one, 5:35 but it's you, the woman, the wife, the mother, that makes it a home. Remember that. And when Adam named Eve life, he was not only speaking prophetic prophetically of the first mother, but he spoke out of his own experience. 5:51 Eve brought life into the structure of Adam's world. And that's why I say it's important. Sisters, you have an important part in the church. And the New Testament has has a lot to say about sisters. The Bible, in fact, there 6:08 are many many good examples. We heard of all the good examples. You know, the good examples of curiosity that can can bring health. And in the New Testament, there are many references the Holy Spirit mentions sisters who are hard workers. 6:28 And that's one thing I want to say. That that is characteristic. Not many people I hope your husband sees that you're a hard worker. I hope you are, sisters. If you have a home, if you're a wife and a mother, that you're a hard worker at home. 6:47 You may not be able to do much for the church, but you can be a hard worker in the home. Taking care of your husband, bringing up your children is hard work. I've seen it with six children, it's hard work. And it's a 24/7 job. 7:06 Unlike your husband, unlike the brothers who have maybe 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours. But for you, it's a 24/7 job. Those of you who are wives and mothers. So, the Holy Spirit commends sisters for 7:28 hard work. And so, whether you are able to do anything in the church, and if you do something in the church for CFC, I hope you do it wholeheartedly. I hope you work hard, not not negligently. It says, you know, cursed is the one who does the work of 7:46 the Lord negligently. And doing something for the church is is not just the work of the Lord. What you're doing at the in the home, looking after and taking care of your husband, taking care of your children, keeping the house, 8:03 and cooking the meals and many many things that you've got to do, that's the work of the Lord. I hope you recognize that. Cuz everything we do, we do it as unto the Lord and not unto man. And when we do it that way, then we'll 8:18 do it enthusiastically, we'll do it wholeheartedly. And um you'll not be negligent. So, there are sisters, I want you to look at some references. In Romans chapter 16, Paul says, you know, in the message Bible it says, 8:35 "Say hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa, such diligent women in serving the master." Romans 16:12. And then he says, "Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ." And Romans 16:6, it says, "Greet Mary, 8:55 who has worked hard for you." And there's so many others that Paul was grateful for, women who supported his ministry, women who 9:13 in different places welcomed him, helped him, supported him. And even perhaps financially supported the work of the Lord. And Jesus had women who accompanied him. It's a wonderful thing and I was thinking that 9:32 the women that accompanied Jesus, who supported him with of their own humble means. And they they took care of many things for Jesus and and the disciples. They went along with them. So, it's so 9:51 important that you work hard. I want to thank God for all our sisters who work hard and I'm as I said a little while ago, not just in the church, but if you work hard in the home, I hope you do. God sees it and there's a reward. 10:08 I don't know if you know that. The Bible speaks about that in Hebrews chapter 6 verses 10 to 12. It says God is not unjust. Hebrews 6, if you like to look at it. God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward 10:25 his name in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And I want to say, I hope that you see if if you don't have opportunity to minister to brothers, you know, like uh Paul had uh women who ministered, Jesus 10:46 had uh women who ministered to his needs. I hope you realize you have some saints in the home. If your husband is a disciple also, he's a saint. And so, whatever you do to take care of him, your children, if they have 11:04 becoming disciples, they're also saints. They have been set apart. So, don't just think, you know, many people think, "No, I'm not doing anything for the church. I'm not involved in anything. I'm not teaching the Sunday school." 11:16 I used to tell my wife that through the years when we had six children and and many requests for her to teach in the Sunday school. And I I used to tell her, "See, we have a Sunday school in the home." I have no objection to you becoming a 11:32 Sunday school teacher. No, Brother Newton many times said, "Why don't you let Sister Vicky uh teach in the Sunday school?" I said, "Yeah, if she wants to, but we have a Sunday school in the home." So, I always felt through the years 11:49 that the home had priority. The family has priority over the church. We've heard that very clearly if you've been coming here. It's the Lord first, then the family, your husband, or 12:07 wife, or children. That is priority. That is number two. Then comes the church, and then comes fellowship. Now, if we keep that order, then we can contribute not only to the health in in the family, in our home, we can 12:25 contribute to the health of the church. And so, when I was reading this word, I want you to remember that. It says, "God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His Name, in having ministered and still 12:39 ministering to the saints." So, if that's all you do, that you minister to those in your home, you're doing a great job, sisters. God sees that. He will reward you. And it says here, "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence 12:56 so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators who through faith and patience inherit the promises." In the Living Bible, it says, "God is not un- unfair. How can He forget your hard work for 13:13 Him, or forget the way you used to show your love for Him, and still do by helping His children? And we are anxious that you keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, so that you will get your full reward. So even if it's a few that you can bless 13:32 and help and encourage and you work hard at it, God sees us and God will reward you. But we like we heard earlier, there were bad examples of a bad examples also in the churches in Paul's time in 2 Thessalonians in 13:50 chapter 3. We I think we read this word. The child read it in the last meeting. 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 11 and 12. It says, "We hear that some among you This refers to uh brothers and sisters. We hear that some among you are leading an 14:07 undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. In other words, you know, mind your own business. Take 14:25 care of your own home and family and don't act like a busybody. And Peter reminds us that we are not to suffer as a busybody. You know, there's a suffering. Busybody are clubbed together with thieves and murderers. There's a 14:42 suffering that comes from being a busybody, being curious of what somebody else's affairs are, what what somebody has got in their home or what somebody buys for their children and how they do this and what and what what are they doing that situation? 14:59 We're curious and that's being a busybody. And we're not to suffer that. And Paul said that if some with a bad example, they lead an undisciplined life. When you are a busybody, you lead you lead an undisciplined life. Cuz always you're 15:15 always curious. A busybody, just like you know, just like a a bee or a or a fly going from insect to insect. They're not quiet. You're busybody. You want to always at unrest. We should not 15:34 uh lead such a life. And so, we need to take heed to that. And uh you sisters particularly to take heed to curiosity. Kill it before it takes root, you know. Why should you be curious? Why should you bother? Take care of your own home and 15:54 family. Sisters are called to be workers at home. You may have a job. You may need to work. But to mind your own business and take care of your own fam- family. Then you will not suffer. Then you will you you will contribute to peace in the 16:12 home. You will contribute to the health of your family, and you will contribute to the health of the church. You know, I There's something that came to me when Brother Charles uh read from Job. It was very interesting. 16:30 And it really spoke to my heart. I want you to turn there what Brother Charles had read from Job. You know, sometimes it's not just words that we speak. But sometimes silence also can 16:50 be destructive. I saw this when Brother Charles read this in Job chapter 1. When it was Job, his of course his wife told him later, "Curse God and die." But in Job chapter 1, you know, he says when Job arose and tore his robe after he heard all the 17:10 calamities that took place, his all his children were lost. They were killed. Lost all his property, everything. He arose and tore his robe and shaved his head. Chapter 1 verse 20. And he fell to the ground and worshipped. He said, "Naked I 17:25 came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Through all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God. And then you look at the next chapter, 17:44 what we Not what we heard this morning. These These three friends who came to visit him. And when verse 11, when Job's three friends heard of all his all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from 18:02 his own place. Mentions all their names there. They came to sympathize with him and comfort him. What did they come to do? To sympathize and comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes at a distance and saw Job, they did not 18:20 recognize him. They raised their voices and wept. As each of them tore his robe, and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. Then they sat down on the ground with him for 7 days and 7 nights, with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw 18:40 that his pain was very great. Just picture that situation. There are 7 days, like we heard, not a word. Amazing, isn't it? We We can't keep quiet for 1 minute. But 7 days to sit there and not speak a word, not say anything. But think of all 18:59 the thoughts that would have been going on in their mind. They came to comfort and sympa- sympathize with him. But their silence for 7 days, you know, sometimes I've I've met brothers who who have never godly brothers who hardly 19:15 speak a word. Who don't have any ability with the word, but you know, I've been in conversations, I've been in fellowship together, and particularly one brother comes to my mind. You know, long many years ago brother Zanco also testified, he hardly 19:31 the name brother by the name of brother Ekholdt who came here many years ago. And you share very briefly hardly speak and then whenever we used to have conversations. But I tell you that brother sat so silently, quiet, without even saying anything, but his 19:50 spirit blessed me. And brother Zanco also testified to that, even said that publicly in the church. You know, that silence when somebody keeps silent their spirit blesses us. I've come across certain brothers and sisters like they don't 20:08 speak much. But their spirit blesses us. But here are these three people they came to comfort and sympathize but their silence did not bless Job. Cuz the next verse chapter 3, afterwards Job opened his mouth. 20:28 They still had not opened his mouth, but afterwards Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. You see the effect their silence had on Job. And then you know the rest and all that they said you know, trying to 20:44 get Job to see what his problem was, why is he going through this, all these things. Uh chapter 4 verse Eliphaz, when he opened his he said, "One ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?" And he says, "You have you have 21:00 admonished many, you have strengthened weak hands, your words have helped the tottering to stand, you have strengthened feeble knees, but now it has come to you. And all the words, you read all the words they spoke to Job. 21:13 The effect that it has is so that really spoke to me. That, you know, when I do not speak a word, whether it's in a conversation, whether in the family, whether in fellowship with brothers. And what is the spirit I have? 21:31 Is it a spirit to bless or is the spirit to judge, to find fault? And you these people, like we heard, were curious, why has all this happened? Something that we can take to heart. That even when we don't open our mouths, 21:47 that my spirit can bless that meeting. That my spirit can bless whatever may be maybe this a lot of uh agitation. And I keep quiet. I think I'm doing a I'm a very humble brother. And I shut my mouth. I'll not open my mouth. Maybe in 22:06 the family, maybe in the home. But maybe learn something from this. My brothers and sisters, that we would keep our spirits pure. So that we can bless even when we don't open our mouth. That's something that's that came to me as a revelation and I 22:25 pass it on to you to take heed to that. To see that, you know, my spirit is pure. I'm not only cleansing myself from all defilement of flesh, but also, like it says in in 2 Corinthians 7:1, from all defilement of the spirit. We cleanse 22:42 ourselves from the defilement of the flesh, the words we speak and the our attitudes and our motives, but defilement of the spirit. Why did I say that? Why did I think that? Why did I make such a comment? That that is the cleansing that we all need 22:59 to be in. And then when we even when we sit in a conversation or we sit to fellowship and we don't say anything, our spirit will bless others who are with us. So, that's something that we can take heed to. So, there are some 23:17 warnings that we need to take heed to if you sisters need to take heed to in making your contribution effective in CFC. We want to contribute to the health of this church. What you heard this morning, you know, I said to 23:34 the brothers, I said, "You made the cake. Now I'll just put the icing on it." So, I hope that you will eat the cake. And you will see the results it will produce in your life. To to really take heed to that, what we heard, curiosity. 23:53 I'm afraid that as CFC as the church has grown larger, that has really permeated the life of this church as I have observed through the years and feedback I get and comments that are made. You know, like you heard very 24:12 practically, things we say to others doesn't minister life. We are so curious. We are such busybodies. We want to know, I have a right to know. I was saying that even in the home, in the family, that's where I need to deal with it 24:31 first. I first deal with it in my life, then I need to deal with it in in my own family. And to deal with it, I have to see that I I need to be in submission. I need to have a submissive spirit. I need to be be willing to take 24:50 correction. I need to be willing to learn. Otherwise, I can never deal with it. It will plague me all It'll plague you all the days of your life and you will end up just remaining in the same place that you are in. You cannot help 25:09 your children cuz you're always curious. You're always comparing yourself and thinking about this one and that one, what somebody said, why did they say it, and why did this system make that comment. And you know, we can 25:24 get into a lot of unrest. So, a few things that I want to alert you to and that is to guard against this independent spirit that today is there in today's 25:42 generation of women. You know, this women's lib movement, this feminist movement, sadly, it is entering Christian homes and Christian families. And sadly, it can pollute It can not only pollute your 26:00 home and family, it pollute your life and pollute the church also. The spirit that makes women independent, self-sufficient, because you know, nowadays, I hear that women earn much more than men. You know that. And some 26:15 of you may be earning much more than your husbands. And that is that is the generation of women that we have today. And they celebrate it. The The women's lib feminist movement, it is there. Make sure, my dear sisters, that that doesn't get into your life. 26:34 You know, this self-sufficient, I don't need you. I don't need your money. I've heard that from CFC sisters. When I from the ones that I had to help and counsel. 26:53 I don't need your money. I can take care of myself. And that's how it is and that that's the spirit that gets in the home. Yeah, I can take care of myself. You can you can do your own thing. I can move out and take care of the 27:10 children. That's the spirit that has come into many homes. And that can destroy your home, destroy your family. Sadly, it has done that in some in some homes that have 27:29 have been in the who have been here and sat in the meetings. And that's the spirit that you need to guard against. I can take care of I don't need to be I don't don't need to be told. I know what to do. It is true that you sisters are fellow heirs of the 27:49 grace of life. And that's why husbands are commanded to live with their wives in an understanding way, giving them honor. Because she's a weaker vessel, because she's a woman. A fellow heir means that it doesn't mean that you're independent, that you can 28:03 you can do what you like. I don't need you. I I earn enough. I can take care of myself. If need be, I can move out and take care of my children. You know, that is a spirit that is creeping into many Christian homes today, dividing up homes. And when the 28:18 devil succeeds there, it's not long that he can divide up a church. Not long that he can pollute the church and decline sets in. So, I want to encourage you to really be on on the alert against that spirit, that independent, self-sufficient 28:34 spirit. I can manage. We all think that way. And I can man I can handle this by myself. But we have to see that I need my brother. I need my sister. You have to see sisters, you need your husband. Maybe you can 28:53 you do a lot of things, you're very capable and able, but you need your husband. He may not be as capable as you. He may not be as spiritual as you. You still need him. God has given him to you. And that's the spirit that your children 29:06 must see. We can What's the good of sending them to Sunday school and and teaching them from the Bible and reading the Bible to them if by example they don't see that Mommy values Daddy. Mommy values Daddy's opinion. 29:27 Even though she's very gifted and capable. That takes a breaking. That takes humility to say God has made me a woman. God has made me one to give life to my husband, to enliven his life, to 29:45 give life to my children. Not only physically but spiritually. So, I will submit to my husband. God has given him as a covering. I'm afraid that many sisters are without covering even though they may live 30:05 exist together in their home. They don't have a covering because they don't have that spirit of submission. Submission is not slavery, sisters. To be under authority is not slavery. There's a power. I have known that in the 44 years I've been in 30:24 the church. There's a power in submission. To submitting to authority, I can testify to that before God. There's a power to be willing to take correction to get help when I need help 30:43 and not think I can manage on my own. Another thing that we have to watch against, you know, brother Charles had referred is gossip. Sometime, you know, take a concordance or even in your Bible and just look up the word gossip. You find seven 31:01 references there. I don't have time to read all of them. But the New Testament has much to say about gossip. And particularly in regard to sisters. Not that like we heard, not that brothers don't gossip. There are brothers who behave 31:15 like sisters who gossip. There are brothers also who are curious. Well, they have to work on their own salvation and obey the the scripture which which tells brothers act like men. Be be on the alert. Be strong. Act like 31:31 men. And let all that you do be done in love. But now, you know, I'm speaking to sisters. It says in Proverbs 20:19. Proverbs 20:19. It says, "Do not associate with a gossip." Somebody who's likes to gossip. 31:55 Verse 19. It says, "He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets. Therefore, do not associate with a gossip." You know, slander and gossip are twins. We heard brother Stephen saying that 32:15 1-minute, 2-minute message that he shared. It was so powerful that when you slander somebody, you spill his blood. Always remember that. And to slander somebody is to put somebody in the bad light. You don't know all the facts. 32:32 And with half truths, you say something, you pass on something to somebody else. You've slandered that person. You spilled his blood. You spilled her blood. And you know what? God told Cain when after he spilled his brother's 32:51 blood and killed him literally and murdered him, said, "The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground." And I thought of that when Stephen shared that. That when I slander somebody, put somebody in a bad light, give wrong 33:10 report, give wrong information, I assassinate somebody's reputation and character, I have spilled that person's blood, and that person's blood will cry out to God against me on the If not in this life, on the final day. Remember that. 33:29 Remember that before we make a comment, remember that before we report anything. That what I Ask myself, "Why am I doing this? Do I want to help that person? Or is it because I have some jealousy? Or because I don't like something about 33:47 that sister? And I say something. I spill that sister's blood, and that sister's blood will cry out to God. Remember that because slander and gossip go together. It says there, "He go He who goes about as a slanderer 34:05 reveals secrets. Therefore, do not associate with a gossip." You know, one in the margin it says, "One who opens his lips." But such a person, whether it's a sister or a brother, who has this habit of gossip, 34:24 every time they open their lips, they have some juicy bit of news to give. Don't associate with them, the Holy Spirit says. And it says, you know, death and life, Proverbs 18:21, death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat 34:44 its fruit. So, if you love life, you'll use your tongue to speak words of life. If you love death, you'll use your tongue to speak words of death. You'll always be gossiping. And you can spend your life that way, 35:02 and that's why you wonder, "Why am I Why is it not going good with me? Why am I not making progress? Why am I still this way?" And you've You've You become moody, you go into depression, you have bad moods, because you're always 35:19 in this habit of wanting to wanting to gossip, wanting to Instead of encouraging some somebody else, you want to get the latest news about that sister, about that sister, about that family, family, this family. I want to encourage you, my dear 35:34 sisters, kill gossip in your home. If you kill it in your home, it will not have place in the church. I'm afraid a lot of decline has come in among us 35:52 because of gossip. And so, if you don't if you don't deal with it in your own life, you're contributing to the decline of this church. As I said earlier, you're the lifeline of this church. 36:10 You are to bring life. Eve means life. That was the first woman. So, you are the one who brings life to the church. You contribute to life, even though you don't get up here and speak God's word, or you don't do anything, you're not in 36:23 the Sunday school ministry, you're not in the youth and teen ministry, but you have a tremendous responsibility as a sister. And if your husband is one who is a disciple and follows the Lord, maybe he's not got any responsibility in the church. Still, you 36:38 can contribute to life in the church. And I want to really ask you to take this seriously. Deal with gossip. I saw something the other day. It says, "Gossip dies when it hits a wise 36:55 person's ear." Gossip dies when it hits a wise person's ear. That's where gossip meets its death. Oh, we can have all our sisters that way, wise women. 37:14 Gossip will have no place in this church, my brothers and sisters. We will We'll have a revival. I really believe that. So, kill it in the home, at the dining table, in how you and the things you speak with your 37:33 husband. Why be curious? You don't need to know. How is it going to help you if you have all those details? What happened to this one? Why is somebody's some member of someone's family, why why 37:52 they're not here? What has happened to this one? She's not coming. And such ones like we heard are afraid to come back to the church because of some who take it upon themselves. They are 38:11 They're self-appointed inspectors. Break free from that. Kill it in the home. If I decide through the years I've always told my wife, told my children particularly women, you know, daughters 38:30 particularly it's not your business. Even when somebody makes a comment if a negative comment I've told my girls through the years take what is good in it. Don't get a wrong attitude towards that person who makes such a comment or if 38:46 it's a correction or whatever it is, okay? Maybe somebody who's pushed like we heard brother John say pushed their boundary stone and said something to one of your children who said something to one of your daughters. I've never let them develop a wrong 39:03 attitude. I said take what is good there, see if there's something that you need to take and and deal with it. Throw the rest away. But if we contribute to that why did she have to say that? Well, she's always trying to find fault. 39:22 And when we go along with that spirit we bring death into the house. So I want to say if we are to see the end of gossip amongst us here in CFC Bangalore kill it in the home. My brothers and sisters that is not my business. 39:40 It's a great word what brother John read. God has appointed a boundary for me. My boundary is my husband, your boundary is your husband your wife uh your husband and your children. Your husband's boundary is his wife and 39:57 his children. If God has given him a bigger boundary some some responsibility in the church that's not your boundary. So remain within the boundary like we heard where God's love can reach you and bless you. And I want to really exhort 40:12 us all kill it in the home and you sisters have a great part in that. And you can tell your husband, "It's not our business." I will let's focus on ourselves upon our own family. In that way, we can 40:32 we can contribute to health in the church. And I want to look at another word in uh 1 Timothy in chapter 3. 1 Timothy chapter 3. Read it along with uh 40:52 in context. 1 Timothy 3:7. You know, it speaks there before that about uh deacons. You know, uh elders and deacons. And it says in verse 7, "He must have a 41:11 good reputation with those outside the church so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." Deacons like deacons likewise Likewise means, you know, what is there before. He must have a good reputation 41:28 with those outside the church so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. And then verse 11 says, "Women must likewise be dignified." Dignified means you command respect. That's what it simply means. 41:46 Command respect. You're a respectful woman. In your locality, in your neighborhood, people respect you. They don't see you as one who is frivolous, who one one who is likes to gossip, the one who likes to, you know, spend time in empty chat. 42:05 That's another thing that the Holy Spirit uh speaks there to women with empty chatter. Just chatter. I'm not saying we should speak only spiritual things. I'm not saying that we should only be speaking the word of God. We can speak 42:21 about many things. But why you speak about somebody else and what's happening in somebody else's home or what somebody else does? Why just not speak about ourselves? We have nothing else to speak. Like I said, speak about the weather. 42:37 So, it's not that we all the time we have to be talking spiritual things. But to have a good reputation, you know, that's what it says. And likewise women Verse 11, women likewise be dignified, command respect, not malicious gossips. 42:57 Now, this is not just gossip, but malicious gossip. Malice, you know. Gossip that is that wounds people, that hurts people. Things that we say that wound and help others a lot. 43:15 The Bible has to say the Lord and the the Holy Spirit has to say through Paul's letters to Timothy, malicious gossip, you know, spiteful, nasty. That's what malice means. That's what malicious means. Harmful, hurtful, mischievous, 43:35 you know, that just create some mischief, cruel, unkind. This is malice. This is what it means to be malicious, destructive, wounding, venomous, poison. In fact, in Romans 3, it says the poison of asps is under our tongue. 43:55 So, how we use our tongue and how we use our time and what the things we speak to others, that we are particularly careful that we speak life. So, like I was just saying, that we take it on our hearts, all of us, 44:14 to kill gossip in the home. If I speak something in the home at my at the dining table while we eat together, or in our conversation, and whatever it's with family members, that we make sure it doesn't lead to gossip. We have heard dear Brother Zach said 44:32 it's it's difficult for sisters to really have fellowship for more than half an hour. After half an hour it goes into gossip. Examine that. Really difficult for sisters to come together. If you come together for prayer, that's a good thing. 44:47 That's another thing I want to speak about that that's the ministry that God has given to women, to sisters. But if you come together for prayer, make sure that that time doesn't lead into gossip and empty chatter. Or if you go to fellowship with the with 45:05 somebody else, make sure half an hour, then you must know now my our conversation can branch off into something else and possibly into gossip and empty chatter. So, if we deal with these things in our personal lives and our home, my dear 45:22 sisters, you find, I guarantee you, your life will be different. If you take seriously what you have heard today in the last meeting and now into deal with gossip, that I'm not going to give myself, I'm going to become a wise woman so that all 45:40 gossip will die when it hits my ear. I tell you, you'll be another woman. The spirit of God will come upon you and make you into another woman. And that's one of the reasons why some of you have don't have the assurance of the 45:57 baptism of the Holy Spirit. And not just sisters, but even brothers who engage themselves in a lot of empty chatter getting, you know, getting into matters which does not concern them. And you pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, do you think 46:13 the Holy Spirit can come upon you? Your mind is full of this. You're You're always wanting to, you know, check up on somebody. You're always getting into somebody else's business. You think that God will give you the Holy Spirit? 46:28 Just check up and see. Say, "Lord, is that one of the reasons why I don't have the assurance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit?" You would have the baptism of the Holy Spirit because I I the way I use my time, the words I speak 46:43 in in my home to my husband, to my children. You have to speak firmly to you to your children, but to speak with grace. You know, that's what it says in in Psalm 45 about the king's daughter. The king's daughter is all glorious within. 47:02 Grace flows from her lips. I prayed that prayer. I still pray it. I said, "Lord, I want to cleanse my speech that grace will flow from my lips." I say sometimes, you know, we say things impulsively. To take it back, to ask for forgiveness. 47:21 I'm sorry. I'm sorry for that word I used. I'm sorry for saying this to you. Please forgive me. Do we do that? Or you think, "Oh, it's it's okay. He doesn't mind. My husband doesn't mind. My And we husbands think, 'Oh, it's okay. My wife, 47:39 I can speak to her like that. She doesn't mind. She doesn't take it seriously.'" No. There's one who listens. A lot of people have that, you know, Christ is the head of this house. The silent listener to every conversation. Do we really really 47:54 believe that? That he's a silent listener to every conversation that I make with my wife, the words I speak with her. Let's cleanse ourselves, sisters. I really taken that seriously. I said, "Lord, I want grace to flow from my 48:10 lips. I want my speech always to be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt." Pray that prayer. And you can't do it in your own strength. The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Say, "Lord, I need the power of the Holy Spirit, yeah." 48:27 Humble yourself, repent of all sin, and confess your sin when it has to We have to confess our sins to one another, and particularly to our partners, do it. And say, "Lord, I need the power of the Holy Spirit. I want my speech to be 48:41 always seasoned with grace. I want to speak with grace to my wife. I want you sisters to speak with grace to your husband, to your children. And never never become a malicious gossip. There's a lot. As I said, take your your mobile 48:58 sometime, or take a concordance and and look up the word gossip. And there's seven references that you can take heed to. 1 Timothy 5:13, 2 Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:3. And there's a word to young widows there, 1 Timothy 5. 49:17 Young widows. We do have widows. Widows have a place in the church. But as if they Paul says at the same time he he speaks about young widows, they learn to be idle. Don't take them on the list if they are under 60. That 49:33 means, you know, they get support from the church. As they go around from house to house, and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Sisters, he's not talking about women outside the 49:47 church. He's talking about sisters. He's He's particularly about widows. There is a place for widows in the church. We take care of them. But young widows, Paul says, you know, better that they get married. And they should the church should not be 50:05 burdened in supporting them. And And the problem in the early church, he said they go from house to house, not merely idle, and we we heard we read that in Thessalonians, doing no work at all. They have a lot of time on their hands, 50:22 but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want the younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, give the enemy no occasion for reproach, for some have already turned aside to 50:35 follow Satan. Do you believe that a young widow can follow Satan? The Holy Spirit says, "Some have already turned aside to follow Satan." And they still come to the church. They still come to the meetings. I hope that we don't have such sisters. 50:53 Whether you're a widow or married, that you don't be you don't become a gossip and a busybody. And if you go from house If you visit your neighbor or visit other other sisters' houses, that you do it to go and uh encourage them, to build them, build 51:11 them up. And not to get into any unprofitable talk. Cuz then you'll end up following Satan and not Jesus. And that's what the Holy Spirit says there in 1 Timothy 5:13-15. So, if there are young widows here, 51:31 take this to heart. I hope you don't turn aside to follow Satan. It says in Proverbs 12:4, it says, "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband." And I'm talking about married sisters. "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, and all you 51:50 single sisters, one day you're going to be married. Just remember this. You will be the crown of your husband if you take to heed what the Holy Spirit speaks particularly to sisters. Be the crown of your husband, but she who shames him is like 52:09 rottenness in his bones. Cancer, leukemia. A sister who's a wife shames her husband discusses him with somebody else talks about him, 52:27 all the negative things about him. You're like cancer in his bones. I hope there are no sisters sitting here like that. And if you've been doing that, repent of it. I tell sisters, I tell married couples, most problems, most problems, 52:47 99% of problems can be sorted out in the confines of your own home between husband and wife, mother and father, and if you have the problem concerns the children, all problems can be sorted out. Very rarely do you need help, but if you 53:06 need help, go to the right people. Go to the elders. Why go to some other sister unless she's a godly sister? Yes, she's a godly sister, by all means go to her. We'll give you the right counsel, but don't go to other younger 53:19 sisters who are also having problems with their husbands, and you keep badmouthing your husband, and she badmouths her husband, and both of you find fellowship. You're in fellowship with the devil. You've turned aside to follow Satan, my 53:34 dear sisters, if there's anyone like that. Don't badmouth your husband, his failures and his weaknesses. And whatever else you may have seen in his life, don't expose his nakedness to somebody else 53:53 who also exposes her husband's nakedness. This is happening in CFC. It's brought disaster. It's brought sorrow. And when there are children there, it's 54:14 it's treachery. The children are stumbled. If you have a problem, you've heard that Brother Zach has spoken often in the married couples meetings. Go and sort it out. Go and lock yourselves up in a room and sort it out together. Don't do it in 54:30 front of your child. It will it will stumble him. It will stumble her. And don't don't blame them when you find they grow up and do the same thing that you did. Take it to heart, my brothers and sisters. I'm speaking to you and this is 54:49 not all things I'm not preaching something to you. This is something that we have observed and which has contributed to the decline of this church. And don't let things get so far that you become physical 55:07 and do it in front of your children. Shame on such sisters. Shame on such brothers. Men who are husbands. Repent before God before it's too late. It says there that she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones. It's like 55:27 cancer. Instead, I want to encourage you sisters, you all younger sisters who want to get married one day, hope to be married one day. And we that's what we pray for that every single sister here who's looking for a partner will find a partner. We pray for 55:45 them. We do everything to help them to find partners. But decide I'm going to be married with my husband's wounds, not rottenness. Be a crown for your husband. Be the marrow in his bones. You will bless this church in in a a way 56:04 that you never blessed it before. That has been never blessed before. Become marrow in your husband's bones. And if there are problems that you are having in your home, don't talk about it to some family you're close with, 56:23 to to some sister you're close with. You have to talk and you need talk like I said a little while ago, talk to a godly sister. Or come to the elders. We're there to help. Whatever is the problem. But like I said, most problems can be 56:39 sorted out within the confines of your own home. So an excellent wife is the crown of a husband. I hope many of you young sisters looking for marriage, you'll be the crown of your husband. You'll not be one who will shame him and 56:54 become rottenness in his bones. Instead, you'll become marrow in his bones. Okay, and go on. The other thing is what I don't have to say much. We heard brother John speak on this of remaining within the boundary where God's love can reach you 57:09 and bless you. Remain within that boundary. Don't move your boundary stone. You get bitten by a serpent like we heard. Like the Bible says in Proverbs. And if God enlarges your boundary the way you can help and bless another family, 57:26 do it. But don't become a busybody in there. Don't pry into people's personal life. That's something else I want to say. Don't pry into someone's personal family life. And that is a sin. It's like taking their clothes off them. 57:45 If you have something to to contribute to help towards the health in that family and God gives you grace, do it, but do it in in a spirit of humility. Not like an expert. You know, that you know what to do. So, remain within the boundary where 58:05 God's love can reach you and bless you. And this and we have heard about this, about giving medical advice. But there are things that may have worked for you. Don't go around telling somebody, "No, see, you should take this. You should 58:17 take that." Don't give medical advice when you're not in the medical field. There are sisters who do that and brothers also. May work for you. Maybe it has worked for you. Let them go to their doctor. Why do you want to take the place of 58:31 their doctor? You're going outside your boundary. You're not a doctor. You're not in the medical field. I'm not saying, you know, uh certain suggestions that you give or certain foods that has helped you or helped your children. 58:47 But uh we don't impose that. Don't put that upon another, "This is why This is why your child is like this. You know, this is why your child is so badly uh malnourished." You're going outside your boundary. And the other thing is, 59:04 you know, making alliances and and matchmaking. Don't spend your time. That's not your calling. You're out being outside your boundary there. There are sisters who have gone to another sister asking for alliance for their son or 59:20 brother or someone in their family. That is evil. As far as recently, and we have had problems in the past. We have had two mothers get together and say, you know, I'll give my daughter before your son. 59:39 It ended in calamity that marriage many years back. That marriage 1 week before it was disaster. 1 week before that marriage didn't take place. These two mothers initiated that and the brother who to whom that proposal was made when 59:55 these two mothers agreed had not even talked with the girl and Brother Zach said, I will not conduct this marriage unless you you have talked with the girl. And then after going and meeting the girl and talking with her 1 week before 1:00:07 the marriage, mind you, so Brother Zach had asked him, you mean to say you're going to talk to her on your wedding night only? I'll not conduct this marriage. And he goes and talks with her and he finds things that he didn't like. 1:00:21 And he comes back, you know, what do you want to do? Brother Zach says a broken engagement's better than a broken marriage. 1 week before the girl had brought her wedding dress, invitations were given out. That's because two sisters took it on 1:00:33 themselves to make an alliance, two mothers. Don't do that, sisters. That is not your calling. You're going outside your boundary. Leave it to those who have that responsibility. Leave it to the elders. Leave it to Brother Newton who we have asked to help 1:00:51 us there. Brother Newton is, by the way, is not an elder. Because of his health he is uh resigned from eldership, but we ask him to help us in finding partners, but he's not an elder. So even if he finds a partner you you should come and not that we 1:01:10 uh we need to know we need to uh tell you whether to marry or not to marry. We can give you advice, we give our opinion. But if you're part of a family, that's what you you need to do. If it's your son or daughter or somebody 1:01:26 who an alliance has been made for, but don't take it on yourselves to do that. Keep out of that. And uh seek godly fellowship. Encourage one another. That's what I would uh I said to you a little while ago. 1:01:44 And get help if you need help for yourself and encourage somebody else. Kindness, that's another that's another virtue of that's another thing that sister should really seek to have. Kindness. Kindness is if you look at Proverbs 31:26, 1:02:03 many things there about this this uh woman who is an example that her children rise up and her husband calls her blessed. Children rise up and praise her. Says, she opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her 1:02:19 tongue. Isn't that very nice for a sister? The teaching of kindness is on Do not It says Proverbs 3:3, do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Kindness, we have to speak firmly to our 1:02:39 children sometimes. We have to discipline them, but do it in kindness. Let all that you do be done in kindness and love. 1 Corinthians 16. So, even when we discipline them, I know when when my children were small, I had to 1:02:54 discipline them and we had to give it to them on the right place. We had a brush for the girls. We had the belt for the boy, only one boy. But, I put my arm around them and weep with them and say, "I'm sorry. I had to do this." 1:03:10 If I did it in anger, I'll ask them for forgiveness. I would my uh hi- arm around them. They would go to Mommy and Mommy will say no what Daddy has done is the right thing. She would not take their side. But every time, I can't think of a time 1:03:27 I ever missed that. When I put my arm around them and say I'm sorry, I had to do this for your good. And we'll pray together then and we'll weep together sometimes. The children have never forgotten that. And kindness that they got from their 1:03:44 mother and kindness you know, it's a different kind of kindness they get from dad. But for a for a sister, for a mother to have kind let your children know you for your kindness. I'm so glad to hear you know, my grandchildren 1:03:59 say that cup a sister uh in CFC who teaches at that school she's she's such a kind sister. She's so kind, Grandma. She's so kind, Grandpa. She's a CFC sister. I don't want to 1:04:19 mention her name not to embarrass her. I've heard that and there's another another lady there, another teacher who we met the other day. And my grandchildren they say so kind. It's so good. That's how it must be. I 1:04:40 want to encourage you sisters. The Holy Spirit will make you kind. It change you, transform you your temperament even though you may be you know impulsive and you may have your moods, but the Holy Spirit will make you into a 1:04:55 different woman. The other thing is don't compare yourself with other sisters. Just be yourself. Let God work in your life and the Holy Spirit will transform you. And what I've often said, take time with your children together with your 1:05:10 husband. This is important for building a good marriage and a peaceful home. Take time. I've said that to to couples. I've said that to families. Take time with each other. Take time with your children. Spend time together 1:05:24 with your husband. You have to vent. You can vent. Do it when the children are gone to bed and are sleeping. You have to tell him things that are bugging you. Do it. You don't have to bottle up and then one day explode like a pressure cooker. 1:05:39 I encourage all couples to do that. And there are those who have taken that come back to me and been thankful. It says it's it's done wonders in their married life. Take time. I know we're all busy, but take time to be together with your husband 1:05:56 alone. After the children are in bed, if you have to if somebody there to look after children, just go out together for a cup of coffee. Go and sit in some park. Does a lot. It brings a lot of health into your home and family. 1:06:10 And be a woman of peace. So important. When there's a man of peace and a woman of peace, that home will be an island of peace. Guaranteed. I want to tell you sisters, decide to be a woman of peace. 1:06:29 You look at Abigail sometime in 1 Samuel 25. She was a woman of peace. She prevented calamity. She had a foolish husband, Nabal. It's a great challenge. Read it sometime. She became David's wife later. A woman of peace. She deserved to become the 1:06:48 wife of such a king. He was a man after God's own heart. So a strong home will contribute to a strong church. I've said that many times. You read that in the Old Testament that the mother's name is mentioned when a king was evil or 1:07:07 when the king did good. So, a lot depends on the mother. Young Timothy had a godly mother, had a godly grandmother. What a heritage he had. That's why he became an apostle. So, think of it, my dear sisters, that your son 1:07:26 can be a become an apostle. Your daughter can be a blessing. Can be a crown for a husband if you do If you do your part and be a woman of peace. Let your children see Mommy is a woman of peace. 1:07:44 Don't be, you know, ready to pick a fight to have a fight with your husband. Particularly when he comes home from work tired. Leave all the problems you had for another time to talk with him when everything is quieted down. 1:07:59 Don't start right away when he comes. There's some practical things. You've heard all this before. Finally, I want to say and be a woman of prayer. That's something, you know, this this this brother that I spoke about, Francis 1:08:17 Frankie Pain, you know, I just read that to you and closed. Said, "Women excel in intercession, in spiritual in sensitive sensitivity, and the release of new beginnings. This doesn't excuse men from prayer. Women excel in intercession. 1:08:36 Today, he says, "We are fighting the advance of Satan in many areas, whether in wars or terror terrorist attacks, or the ever-increasing expansion of iniquity in the world. We need revival. The power God has placed in women must 1:08:54 be released. I'm saying that God is raising up an anointing a prayer army of women. The sisters, they are daughters of the living God. I've always reminded you, sisters, you're not slaves, you're not just friends, you're daughters of the 1:09:11 almighty God. God says that. He says, "Come out and I'll welcome you, be a father to you, father to you. You shall be sons and daughters to me", says the almighty God. So, always remember that you are a daughter of the living God. 1:09:29 And so, you know, the power God has placed in women must be released. I'm saying that God is raising up an anointing a prayer army of women. I hope this you will take that. That's a ministry all of you can have, even if you don't do anything else from 1:09:46 the church. And he says, "Women of God, the fact is that heaven needs you and the church needs you. You've been created by the almighty to birth breakthroughs on planet Earth. God has uniquely uniquely designed you with a latent ability to release life 1:10:05 through your intercession. Together with you, we men can build and establish, and we are learning to pray. But you have a special grace to release new spiritual beginnings. Whether your prayer focus is for your husband or church leadership, whether 1:10:23 you're interceding for your children, city, or nation, you possess in your spirit the seed realities that through prayer can release God's life into the world. Yes, indeed, there is a battle. There still exists enmity between the 1:10:42 serpent and the woman. Listen to this, sisters. Satan especially hates you because it was your seed that bruised the serpent's head. It is amazing to me that God chose to bring his son into the world not through 1:11:00 have not through the heavens or even through a woman impregnated by man but through a woman made pregnant by God. Awesome, isn't it? Remember that Satan hates Why is it he's after households? 1:11:19 Why is it he's after homes and families? Why does he target women? Because it was your seed. The seed of the woman that crushed the serpent's head. What a part you have in God's creation. And as a daughter of the living God, 1:11:38 it's amazing he says to me that God chose to bring his son into the world not through the heavens, not even through a woman impregnated by man, but through a woman made pregnant by God. That's how Jesus came. God himself came 1:11:54 to earth through the woman's power to give birth. Today the Lord is giving women a new grace, a new confidence against the powers of hell. They are not rebelling against men but praying for them. Through their intercession these godly 1:12:09 women will prayer birth powerful ministries on earth, both male and female. They will release new beginnings to the body of Christ. Revelation 12 speaks of a woman clothed with the sun. This word is not only talking about Israel or the church, it 1:12:27 also reveals how God sees spiritual women. They are honored and crowned with distinction. Pure and clothed with the glory of God. With confidence they tread upon the powers of night. Dear army of praying women, it is your 1:12:44 inherent destiny to birth that which shall rule the nations. I say amen to that. That's the article by this brother Francis Frangipane that brother Zach put out many years ago. Maybe brother John can discover it, get his hands on it, 1:13:04 take a copy and pass out to all of you. And also the other article, God needs women in an old hidden treasure. I would encourage you, dear sisters, read this and I hope you'll take up the challenge. Give yourself to this ministry. 1:13:21 God has called you to give life in the church to enliven your husband, to enliven your home, your children. God has called you to contribute to the life and health of this church. And you can do it even if you're not on your knees all the 1:13:36 time. You can be in a spirit of prayer even while cooking that rice and sambar. That you can be praying for somebody. You can be praying for the church. You can pray pray for our shepherds. We are targets of the devil. Brother Zach 1:13:52 and all those whom God is raising up in these days. And I pray that God will raise up shepherds among you. You can be shepherds. You don't need to be an elder, but you can be shepherds who can shepherd some of these young girls and 1:14:05 young women. Be a friend to these young sisters. Be a friend to the young girls growing up. I hope you'll take that on your heart and from today say, "Lord, I'm going to covenant with you to really pray for you." If you don't have time to get on your 1:14:23 knees, there may be times you can do that when all everybody's in bed, to go on your knees for a few moments and say, "Lord, I want to be part of what you're doing in these last days. I want to fit into the calling that 1:14:38 you've called me to as a sister, as a daughter of of the living God. Father, I I to give life to the church that you put me in. I want to give I want that life to begin in my family, with my husband, with my children. And you young girls, some of you waiting 1:14:57 for God to send a partner into your life. I hope you'll take up this challenge. Give yourself to seeking God in these days. Ask the Lord as he promised in Zechariah 12 to pour upon you the spirit of grace and supplication. 1:15:15 First that you will look on him whom we have pierced. That's where we begin. We begin at the cross. And I believe that uh like we sang earlier, something good is going to happen. The very best is yet to come. Amen.
