Something changed between this...
“Susan, Eve’s daughter,” said Father Christmas. “These are for you,” and he handed her a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn. “You must use the bow only in great need,” he said, “for I do not mean you to fight in the battle. It does not easily miss. And when you put this horn to your lips and blow it, then, wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you.”
Last of all he said, “Lucy, Eve’s Daughter,” and Lucy came forward. He gave her a little bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond) and a small dagger.
“In this bottle,” he said, “there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your friends are hurt, a few drops of this will restore you. And the dagger is to defend yourself at great need. For you also are not to be in the battle.”
“Why, Sir,” said Lucy. “I think—I don’t know—but I think I could be brave enough.”
“That is not the point,” he said. “But battles are ugly when women fight.”
-The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
And this.https://youtu.be/EY-fhfuDEUA?t=1m10sGod makes basic gender roles pretty clear: Titus 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:3
YES, we are absolutely supposed to submit to our male authorities, and YES, we are absolutely supposed to be strong warriors for Christ. They aren’t mutually exclusive!
Submission: an attitude of the heart.
We Need....
1. A heart devoted to God & following His will
(Mark 12:30; Colossians 3:17)
2. Humility and willingness to serve and put others first—particularly family
(Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:1-5; 1 Peter 3; Mark 10:42-45)
3. Strength, wisdom, a hardworking spirit, and the determination to invest time wisely
(1 Timothy 5:9-14; Titus 2:3-5; Proverbs 31:10-31)
Going out to battle isn’t the only way to fight.
Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Satan doesn’t discriminate between men and women, but he wants to bring as much destruction as possible, so he likes to attack leaders in order to hurt the followers at the same time.
We are...
1. Prayer Warriors
a. Support from behind the scenes.
b. Who should we pray for?
b. Who should we pray for?
Family, especially the head of the household
Friends & prayer partners
Missionaries
Unsaved family/friends
Pastors
Anyone else God brings to mind!
2. Eye Protectors
a. 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Proverbs 11:22; Matthew 18:6-7
b. We can make life more difficult for guys, or honor them by dressing modestly
3. Healers, Counselors, Nurturers, Comforters...
a. Encouraging words
b. Being good friends to each other!
Galatians 6:7-8
4. Swordfighters
a. The Great Commission applies to all of us!
Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11
b. Satan attacks __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ , not just leaders
1 Peter 5:8-9
c. How can we face attacks without a weapon?
Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 3:12
d. How can we share the gospel if we’re not prepared?
1 Peter 3:15
Revelation 3:15-19, 22 – Are we lukewarm?
Young women today are not warriors; not healers; not really anything. Their brains aren’t turned on, and they’re not willing to think critically. They focus only on outward beauty that will impress others, not on inward beauty that comes from being in the presence of God. They try to please others for selfish purposes, not to bless them or witness to them. They spend plenty of time in selfish pursuits—makeup, Internet, chick flicks, talking to friends, or just being bored—but no time serving others. Their last priority is serving others, unless it makes them look good. They’re totally willing to comfort a friend who is struggling, but not so much willing to do a chore for an annoying sibling who will probably never notice it, give up an outing with friends to serve at a food pantry, or do anything else that no one but God will see. They may be willing to go on a mission trip with their youth group or share a testimony with a small group, but they’re not willing to spend hours on their knees in an inner room in prayer and Scripture reading, establishing a relationship with the Lord who gave His life for them. They cry at a movie’s sad ending, but shut their ears to the real needs around them. They’re lukewarm, and though they may look good to others, God wants to take them and use their lives to make a real difference...but they’re so caught up in “self” that they can’t hear His call.
If we want to make a difference in the world, we have to be ready to fight for it. Fighting’s no fun...it’s painful, it’s sacrificial, and it means giving up things that mean so much to us, it feels like they’re part of us. It’s a lot to commit, and it can’t be done all at once...it’s a gradual journey that will take all our lives...but Jesus calls us to take up our crosses and follow Him.
Are we willing to do it?
