Leadership is Influence.

Regardless of structures and restrictions, regardless of culture or perceived or real gender differences, regardless of how our faith and understanding of Scripture limits us, God uses whom he desires, how he desires, to lead, influence, persuade and transform others. So do we all.

Acts 13:50 Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.

No godly person desires to exalt himself or herself to position or title, but all the godly wish to be used by God to glorify God, even if it means letting go of the demand to be perceived in all things as equal.

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Like Jesus, our chief agenda is not that all equality be perceived and immediately honoured, but rather that God be exalted even at the expense of our humility.
How will God use you to lead others, influence others, persuade others, to a place where they recognize his glory and give him praise? By means of your humble, joyful, resourceful, responsible, risk-taking service to God.

1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives,

Are we all equal? Absolutely! Is proving that and proclaiming that the Christian agenda? No. Does God challenge our pride in a gender-distinct fashion? Why wouldn’t he? Why wouldn’t he meet us at our point of weakness, exactly where Satan attacks. Why wouldn’t he challenge a weakness until it became a strength? He wants to use you. Excuses won’t do. We are equal in our ability to be used to influence others, even if we differ in our suitability to a particular, gender-specific office.

Hebrews 12:7a Into Discipline... Endure

In preparation for this Sunday, I am recommending that you read through Hebrews 11 and 12 and consider the following outline. We always get more out of something when we have put more into it.

See you Sunday :)

Holding On to Holy Ground II
Interpreting suffering as schooling employs it as a means to holiness

1. View Difficult Circumstances As God’s Correction and Training in the Fight For Holiness
Hebrews 12:7a Endure hardship as discipline

2. Recognize That The Alternative is to Gaining Discipline is to Suffer Defeat
Hebrews 12:5 Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart

3. Know that God is Grooming You for Eternal Sonship
Hebrews 12:7b God is treating you as sons

"The authority of parents has been so eroded that discipline rarely if ever comes into play. It has generally ceased to be a part of sonship. It is small wonder that those brought up in such an atmosphere find genuine difficulty in understanding the discipline of God."
Donald Guthrie