GOD’S ESTABLISHED ORDER

1. “NOW DEBORAH, A PROPHETESS, the WIFE OF LAPIDOTH, WAS JUDGING ISRAEL AT THAT TIME.
2. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”
   Judges 4:4,5 (NKJV)

• God can use a woman as well as a man in fulfilling His purposes.

• If God has deposited His gifts in a woman, or place a call for ministerial assignments on her, such a woman should not shy away from taking the responsibility.
• Being a woman does not mean you cannot fulfil what God has purposed you to be.

• In our text, Judges 4:4,5; Deborah was a wife, a prophetess, and a judge.

• Deborah had three prominent or major roles, and she was able to strike a balance.
  SHE needed to juggle her marital role as a wife and mother at home; her ministry as a national prophet; and her public affairs, a judge or ruler.
• Deborah’s roles as the national prophet and the judge or president of the nation of Israel, did not affect her functions at home.
• She was a judge and a prophetess, but that does not stop her from being a wife to somebody, Lapidoth—she was still able to live with a husband.
• Some would become a leading figure in their field or a figure of authority, it would be difficult for them to live with a husband, they want to emasculate their husbands.
• Whoever found himself or herself in a leadership position, it should start at home—right in your immediate family.
• If you cannot take responsibility either as a man or woman into your family, you cannot lead others—especially in the church of God (1 Timothy 3:4,5,11).

• A good leader would first of all be a good follower.

• A man who wants lead in the family or any sphere would be a good follower of Jesus Christ.
  SOMEONE who cannot follow Christ or submit to Him would not be able to lead successfully.
  APOSTLE Paul said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ"(1 Corinthians 11:1).
• In a similar way, a woman who has the privilege to lead in any field of endeavour should first of all be a good follower, follow the husband as he follows Christ.
• Deborah was still a wife in spite of her position in the society: a prophetess and a ruler or president.

• No experience can negate the Word of God, whatever your situation or the condition of your home, if you distort God’s order in your life or family, there would be chaos.

• If a wife submitted as she supposes to, the husband will love. And if a husband loves as he supposedly, the wife will submit (Ephesians 5:22-25,33).

1. “WIVES, SUBMIT TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, AS TO THE LORD.
2. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
3. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
4. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER.
5. Nevertheless LET EACH ONE OF YOU IN PARTICULAR SO LOVE HIS OWN WIFE AS HIMSELF, AND LET THE WIFE SEE THAT SHE RESPECTS HER HUSBAND.”
   Ephesians 5:22-25,33 (NKJV)

• Although in some instances, some husbands are abusive, regardless of the submissiveness of the wife; while some wives are also abusive regardless of the love shown by the Husbands; yet that does not negate or nullify the Word of God.
• The few exceptional cases of abusive relationships, husbands or wives, should not lessen the effects of the Word of God in marriages.
• The fact that some men are abusive does not mean every woman should start disrespecting their husbands.
• And also, the fact that some women are insulting, not submissive, does not mean there are no submissive women who respect and honour their husbands.

• Build your marriage on the Word of God: if you are obedient to the Word, you live in line with the Word of God, God will defend you, fight your cause, if your spouse becomes abusive.

• A number of people who are in abusive marriages and relationships, that is, those who have abusive spouses, are not always obedient to the Word of God.
• Some who claim their husbands are abusive, such have sharp tongues; they are rude, and they nag, and are full of abusive languages, when they have issues with their spouses (Proverbs 14:1; 21:9,19; 25:24).

“They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips.”
Psalm 140:3 (NKJV)

"Better to dwell in the wilderness [in the land of the desert], THAN WITH A CONTENTIOUS AND ANGRY WOMAN."
Proverbs 21:19 (NKJV)

• A woman who practices the Word of God would not use foul languages or words when she has an issue or a misunderstanding with her husband.
• Also, a good number of women consider honouring one’s husband as a thing of old, that whoever does it, is old fashioned about relationships and marriage—because of the feminism theory or ideology (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1,2,5,6).

1. “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
2. THAT THEY ADMONISH THE YOUNG WOMEN TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, to love their children,
3. to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, OBEDIENT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, THAT THE WORD OF GOD MAY NOT BE BLASPHEMED.”
   Titus 2:3-5 (NKJV)

1.Wives, likewise, BE SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, that even if some do not obey the Word, they, without a Word, may be won BY THE CONDUCT OF THEIR WIVES,

1. WHEN THEY OBSERVE YOUR CHASTE CONDUCT ACCOMPANIED BY FEAR.
2. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, BEING SUBMISSIVE TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS,
3. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, CALLING HIM LORD, WHOSE DAUGHTERS YOU ARE IF YOU DO GOOD AND ARE NOT AFRAID WITH ANY TERROR."
   1 Peter 3:1,2,5,6 (NKJV)

• The Word of God is not outdated; no modernity or modernistic idea can negate or nullify the Word of God.

• It is difficult today for a number of women to accord full respect and honour to their husbands.
• The Scripture says, “…Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughter you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror” (1 Peter 3:6).
• Men want honour, respect, and that is what the Bible says you should give to your husband: “… and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).
• Whatever level of leadership you found yourself as a woman, either in your field or in government, you should not subvert, undermine or weaken, the authority of your husband at home.
• Your success in any field of endeavour does not lessen or relegate the position of your husband at home—he is still your head (Ephesians 5:22-24).

• Deborah the prophetess:

• Deborah was an instrument in the hand of God, and she was fruitful in her heaven-sent assignment.
• God used her to receive direction for Israel about steps to take on the enemies who were oppressing them—the nation of Israel (Judges 4:6,7).
• A judge at that time in the history of Israel as a nation, was a president.
• God used her to spearhead a revolt against the Canaanites who were oppressing them.
• She summoned General Barak to take a battle against the Canaanites, and she accompanied him to the war, because Barak was having sense of inadequacies (Judges 4:6-9).
• God used Deborah to do a great exploit in Israel because she followed God’s order, yielded herself, and does not swell with pride because of her position or lifting—she was still a wife of someone, Lapidoth.
  IT was not difficult for her to live with a husband even as a figure of authority in the nation.

• Women in ministry:

• Submit your gift or ministry to your husband.
  YOU need the cooperation and support of your husband as a woman in the assignment God has given you.
• You cannot disobey God’s Word, disregard His order, and claim you are working for Him.
• Authorities set up over your life are God’s representatives (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 5:22-24).

1. "FOR THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE, AS ALSO CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH; and He is the Saviour of the body.
2. Therefore, JUST AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT TO CHRIST, SO LET THE WIVES BE TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING."
   Ephesians 5:23,24 (NKJV)

• God knew those authorities were there before He gave you the assignment, and would not want you to disregard or disobey them [your husband and the spiritual authority over your life] on the pretext of working for Him (Hebrews 13:7,17).

• If you are called into the ministry work as a woman, or you are given a national assignment, you would do well to obey the Word of God and not forsake your primary assignment—your home.

• Take care of your husband and children: (Titus 2: 4:5)

1. “that they admonish the young women TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN,
2. to be discreet, chaste, HOMEMAKERS, good, OBEDIENT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, that the Word of God may NOT be blasphemed.”
   Titus 2: 4:5 (NKJV)

• If you failed as a woman, in your home front which is your primary assignment, it will show in your public ministry.
• Your private life, your home, is of importance and should be given attention and priority.

• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!