A Vanishing Species: The Apostolic Woman of 2012

Why is the Apostolic woman a vanishing species? Loss of habitat is one cause of a vanishing specie. Another cause is a shrinking population, hence repopulation shrinks at a commensurate rate. As time moves on there are fewer and fewer of the species alive to reproduce.

Our habitat is diminishing. Our world is reducing our Apostolic living space. There are fewer and fewer places where we find wholesome environment.

Morality and sexual prominence in every way, like magazines, advertising, and entertainment, encroach on our living space more each day. Emphasis is daily placed on a woman’s body and appearance rather than on her spirit and demeanor. This is tragic because the world then sees women as a possession or a thing, something to be used, rather than her God given and elevated place of equality in God’s providence.

In the Bible women were honored, respected and cherished.
Proverbs 18:22 (KJV)
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Many things have contributed to this denigration of women. Hollywood and Women’s movement are two things that have drastically affected our Apostolic lifestyle.

Women have played an immensely important role in the Bible. Names like Deborah, and Sarah, and Rachel, Job’s wife, Mary, Dorcas, Lydia, Eunice, all speak of Godly contributions to what we are today as an Apostolic.

2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

What makes a woman truly Apostolic?

First of all she must be of the faith. The new birth is a must.

She must second of all have an absolute commitment to live by the Word of God. She cannot accept the changing scenery of society as her way of life. Modern ideas, and modern rationale cannot be her measure of life. She has to have an old fashioned commitment to the Bible. If the Bible teaches it, then she embraces it without question.

Thirdly she must manifest a life defined by God and not by contemporary mores. (An example of this is her home life and her interaction with her husband).

Let’s discuss the characteristics of an Apostolic Woman.

1. She is not ashamed of her life! Everything from her demeanor to her appearance is guided by the Word and not by any other source.
2. She manifests to the world the spirit of Christ in several ways. (Ex: Shamefacedness)
3. She maintains her relationship with Jesus Christ at home, at church, and in the market place of the world.
4. She understands her role in God and is unwilling to be pushed into any role that violates her commitment to her Lord and savior.
5. She is not ashamed of her place in God’s kingdom. In fact she values it as a role only she can play! (As a wife, a mother, a saint of God, a prayer warrior).

6. She is unwilling to be conformed to this world. Her desire is to please God, not to “fit in” with her society.

7. She recognizes and embraces that God placed her under the protection of a head in her husband and her pastor. She sees this as protection and not bondage. Her husband and her pastor protect her and provide for her. This frees her to pursue the things God designed her for. She is free to be the woman God created her to be.

8. She is content with the beauty that God gave her. She desires to be beautiful and acceptable in the eyes of God, not in the eyes of this world. Her heart says God, what is it that you think is beautiful? She then proceeds to seek and achieve that.

Battles an Apostolic woman must contend with.

The workplace has become a battleground for women. The glass ceiling concept, the salary discrepancy issue, and others have created an antagonistic environment for women in general. Then the fallout of over reacting men who shout equal production for equal pay then muddies the water even more.

So what happens is the role of a woman is now so opaque that we cannot even raise up Godly young women!

The church is the representative of God in the earth. The church is likened to a bride. We will be God’s wife in the future. What attributes does God seek in us now?

Prayer
Humility
Honesty
Helpful
Godly

My prayer is that the Apostolic women of 2012 can have a wholesome self image of their self as they live in a world that gives them less and less of a chance to show their faith. That our ladies can have a true revelation on the inward and outward person of who an Apostolic lady is in 2012.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (MSG)
10 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.
11 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
12 Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.
13 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.
14 She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.
15 She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
16 She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
17 First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
18 She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
19 She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.
20 She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.
21 She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
22 She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.
24 She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
25 Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
26 When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
28 Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:
29 “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!”
30 Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD.
31 Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

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