Extra ORDINARY : The Ministry of Motherhood

 

Since I was young I felt called. Specifically I felt called to some sort of speaking ministry. I was 12 when I first obeyed the call of the Lord. I didn't realize then how much that simple willingness and openness to obey would change my life over the next 20 years, but not the way you think. 

Although I've been given the opportunity to preach a handful of times, I never really did become a preacher. Not how I thought I would anyway. 

Maybe I was wrong . 

Maybe I wasn't called. 

I second guess it all the time. 

Questioning it daily. 

Why would God give me these words, show me the visions and dreams, lay things on my heart for me to not have an avenue in which to share it? 

If I am not called that is fine, but stop giving me this burden of  sharing the word of God! 

And then it hit me... 

I have a couple places I can share... 

One I have this blog and God has been dealing with me about writing a book, but even more importantly I have my children. It is my ministry as a mom to pour the word of God into their hearts. 

My message for today begins in Judges 4

Judges 4:4-9 (KJV)

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Although the rhetoric that women are the weaker vessel seems to reign true even now days in our society, but even more so in earlier years, women have actually played a vital role in leading, fighting and working in a variety of roles.

There are some things that just need a woman's touch. 

It's 1864 , Elizabeth Van Lew, a union socialite living in West Virgina, began working at a Union prison where she would care for the wounded soldiers and was allowed to bring clothes, food and water to them. During her time there she gained intell from the confederate soldiers and devised a plan to free the union soldiers. On February 6, 1864, with the help of Van Lew's underground tunnels and spy network, 106 union soldiers escaped Libby Prison, right under the nose of the confederate army. Van Lew would later be granted with title Postmaster of Richmond, was paid for her efforts and was inducted into the military intelligence all of fame 

Van Lew slipped under their radar because they thought she was just a woman doing womanly things like caring and tending to wounded soldiers. They never expected her to be a spy! 

Sisera didn't expect it from Jael either...

Judges 4:11 (KJV) Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

She was related to Moses but only through marriage. 

Judges 4:15 (KJV) And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

Judges 4:17 (KJV) Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

Some of you have allowed there to be peace with the enemy in your house for too long... 

We've gotten too comfortable with sin. 

It's just a movie, it's just a song, it's just game. You can't avoid it these days... 

If you are filled with Holy Ghost sin should never be comfortable! Light and dark can not coinside. 

Anyways moving on... 

Judges 4:18-24 (KJV)

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

Jael was just going about her business. She was probably a wife, a mom, tending to her house when the enemy showed up at her doorsteps. 

It was custom in those days that if you hosted someone it was your responsibility to keep them safe and take care of them, which she did. She didn't just give him something to drink, but she gave him milk, which was more hospitable, conforting and some would say relaxing, helping him drift off into sleep. 

She, by some scholars is considered a traitor. The world won't understand, they'll mock you, say you are being extra... 

BUT YOU ARE 

Extra ordinary 

21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Jael was a normal, ordinary woman. Tending to her house. Making food. Being a good hostess. 

Sisera didn't realize the threat at hand.  

Sisera didn't realize that after getting kids ready for bed Jael had been reading and studying her bible 

He didn't realize that while doing the dishes she was interceading for her family

He didn't realize that this ordinary women was actually a daughter of the King 

She wasn't just ordinary she was Extraordinary! 

She went the extra mile. She did the most. For her family. For her home. For her church! 

She may had " just been a mom" but she was a Holy ghost filled, praying mom.

We may never fight in the trenches or the front line of battle, but we are waging a war in our homes against the enemy not of flesh but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I came across this fb post awhile back about Jael and how proverbs 31 women are great but the lord needs Jael too. The warriors. The bold, fearless women who aren't afraid to do what needs to be done. And I was all for it because I struggle with obtaining proverbs 31. She's too perfect and I'm a little loud.  

But here is the thing Jael was a proverbs 31 women... 

Judges 5:24-27 (KJV)

24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

Proverbs 31:28 (KJV) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Judges 5:25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

Proverbs 31:27 (KJV) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Judges 5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

Proverbs 31:13 (KJV) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Judges 5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

Proverbs 31:29 (KJV) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

No where does it say in proverbs 31 she was quiet and soft spoken. (Although there is a time a place for that as well) 

It doesn't say all she was, was a house wife and mother. 

No Jael and the proverbs 31 women both were strong, hard working women, who did more then they were asked to do. They went above and beyond for the Kingdom and for their families. 

They weren't just your ordinary, run of the mill housewife and mother. 

They were extraordinary!! 

And God is calling us to do be the same. 

You are a mom. You are a wife. But you are called to be so much more. You are called to be a soldier in the Kingdom of God. A warrior for your family. A prayer warrior. Fighting the darkness of this world. 

It is the greatest calling bestowed upon us mothers to rise up for our family. 

Jael could have just as easily taken care of Sisera and let him go about his way or wait for Barak to come handle it, but she was brave and had boldness to go against the enemy herself despite being a lowly woman! 

I'm not sure any one knew Jael had it in her.

You may not even realize you have it in yourself. But momma you were made for this! 

The world and the enemy won't see you coming!

Just some ordinary woman doing extraordinary things!