Lifting The Standard of God

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, 

nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth 

commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

There are many women in the bible that upheld the standard of God and many that did not. I want to share with you some women of the bible and the standard they held; both good and bad and then you decide where you weigh in.   Look at these women and see how you measure up, see your shortcomings and your strengths in terms of lifting the standard of God!

Queen Vashti.  The first woman of the bible I want to discuss is Queen Vashti.  This is a stellar example of someone who acted according to her standards.  She is probably the most controversial woman in the bible in terms of rather she was right or wrong to defy her husband; the king.  But that’s not what we want to look at.  This woman, though she did not serve the almighty God, Jehovah, held a standard that was commendable. The king asked her to parade her beauty in front of all the kings men and she said no.  She held on to a standard of integrity in spite of the consequences.  The thing that you should note about Vashti is not rather or not she was ‘saved’ but the stance that she took that she would not be belittled, abased, disrespected by a group of drunken men gawking at her.  She took this stance despite the fact that it was a request; first from her King and secondly her husband.  As a consequence the King divorced her and took her queen ship.

 

In this senerio, the point I want to make is regardless of the circumstances and the subsequent consequences of our actions our adherence to the standard of God must remain intact.   If Queen Vashti could hold on to her standard and she wasn't even serving a God that could come to her rescue, what about you and I?

Our belief, trust and love in God should be such that we are much more concerned with what God will do and how God feels than we are with the opinions and actions of man:

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:4-6

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8

Queen Esther was committed to the God she served.  She was in a place of position and yet had the same stipulations to be obedient to her husband, the king;  the same king that had banished Queen Vashti.  In an attempt to save her people, Esther goes to see the king without being summed by him.  Thus it is recorded her saying:

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.  Esther 4:16

When we are committed and sold out to God, we will be obedient to His ways:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  1 Peter 2:9

When we come out, we are held to a different standard than the world. Our actions, our behavior and our conversation has to be different. We are new creatures in Christ; the old has passed away (or has it?) and the new has taken hold:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Queen Jezebel – This next queen was ruthless and selfish beyond belief. She was married to King Ahab and was known for her mean and vindictive ways. She sought to kill Elijah and had a man killed over a vineyard just to please her husband.   She was a Phoenician who worshipped Baal even though she knew about God; she actively rejected him.  Her whole thought process was 'I’m in this thing for myself and only for me'; taunting and threatening Elijah and having the landowner of a vineyard killed for his refusal to sale his vineyard. 

This is a example of a standard that we, as women of God, certainly do not want to portray.  God does not call us to be ruthless in our actions and our attitudes, instead, he says:

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:12-16

The bible tells us to follow peace with all men:

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14

Abigail sought peace between King David and her husband when David was ready to kill her husband, Nabal, for the insulting comments he had made in reference to David.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 1 Peter 1:5-6

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Naomi, despite being blind-sided by the negative circumstances of life, continued to hold onto the standards of God. She acknowledged the bitterness of her situation and made the decision to remain with God and walk in His statutes; so much so that her daughter-in-law, Ruth, decided that not only would she follow Naomi where ever she went but also serve the same God that Naomi served.

Many times we are put in situations where it seems it would just be easier to do things as the world does, but as God has called us to a higher standard. We are to set the tone and be the example that the lost, the unsaved, the unbeliever, and even the new babes in Christ, and the carnal saints can see the difference.

We display the pattern of holiness that God wants exhibited. We cannot do this as long as we long for the things, ways and attitudes of the world when we are told:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1 John 2:15

Biblical Studies

09/13/16
04/16/20