Bible Quiz: Each week this blog will begin with two questions. The answers are at the end of the blog. Have fun!!
1. Miracles are a sign of God’s blessing
2. Miracles are a sign of God’s confirmation of a ministry or message
Dear Prayer Warriors,
One of the great joys of my life is my wife Eleanor. To have such a godly and gifted woman as one’s wife is a blessing beyond measure. God the Holy Spirit as usual nails it when He teaches us in Proverbs 19:14 that "house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” I freely admit that it is because of the bountiful grace of God that I am married to Eleanor and not as a result of my own worthiness. She is and has been my best friend and confidant since our marriage in 1975. I cannot imagine ministering and traveling without her. I know men do this (travel and minister without their wives), but it is beyond my comprehension. How can I be her spiritual leader and protector if we are separated by the miles (Ephesians 5:25 – 33)? How can she be my helpmate and comforter if we are separated by the miles (Genesis 2:18–25; Ephesians 5:22–24)? Whatever God has called us to know, to be or to do, He has called us to together, the two having become one (Matthew 19:5). Nothing has or will separate us for that is God’s will. I thought you would enjoy seeing an overview of her ministry in Russia.
The Encourager Eleanor is a great encourage to all. Wherever the Lord may take her and in whatever circumstances we may minister, El always has a kind word and gentle encouragement. In fact, on more than one occasion, missionaries and pastors have told me that the invitation is to include El - that the wives have said, “No Eleanor, no visit.” An example of this role is her relationship with Pastor Ravil’s wife, Yulia. Eleanor has a long-standing ministry to Yulia. Yulia met with El in Bible study and discipleship as a single woman, as an engaged woman and now as a pastor’s wife. Yulia refers to El as “Aunty El.” This ministry of encouragement blesses many in the ministry and greatly expands my personal ministry. Wyman Mitchell, the pastor who did our pre-marital counseling, told me, “John, a pastor’s wife either doubles his ministry or halves it. It is always one way or the other; it is never neutral.” After our first session, he looked at me and said, “She will double your ministry!” and this is so. Eleanor is such a blessing and encouragement to those around her that it has more than doubled my ministry over the years.
The Bible Teacher One of the things I appreciate about Eleanor is that in teaching God’s Word, she submits to God’s Word. Now this truth would seem self-evident, but it is in no way true about women teachers in this modern age. An example is found in 1 Timothy 2:12 where God the Holy Spirit says that “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” Many women want to teach the words of God the Holy Spirit while not submitting to His commands in this area. They are more interested in covering up the truth of this passage than in teaching it. Since they have no intention of obeying these verses, such women become distorters of God’s Word, dishonoring the Word of God rather than teaching it as it is, the living Word of God. I praise God that my wife is not one of them.
Again, in Ephesians 5:22-23 God the Holy Spirit says exhorts wives to “be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” Many wives want to teach the words of God the Holy Spirit while not obeying His commands to them concerning their relationship with their husband.
Or Titus 2:4-5 in which God the Holy Spirit prescribes the manner in which older women are to teach when instructing the younger women “so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
I find that many modern women Bible teachers are concerned about explaining away the prohibition for them and other women to teach men, the command to submit and obey their husbands, that they be workers at home and other such commands. Since they themselves have no intention of obeying these injunctions, they of course will not teach them. In doing so, God the Holy Spirit says that they dishonor God and His Word. I praise God for a wife who loves God, obeys God and teaches God’s Word with authority rather than seeking to explain why it does not say what it obviously does say. Eleanor lives a God-honoring life in her teaching, and I praise God daily for this.
When I give the Family Discipleship Seminar or Marriage Seminar, we will always have break-out sessions during which El meets with the women over the Word of God. While in Tyumen, El led the ladies Bible study. There were a number of special evening sessions with Baptist churches while in St. Petersburg, and the ladies especially enjoyed the question and answer times with El. I have confidence in these ministries and in her ministry of teaching in over 27 countries throughout the world that she will teach God’s Word as God’s Word from a position of obedience to God’s Word.
The Witness For Christ El is always looking for opportunities to share Christ. It may be a neighbor; it may be a relative; it may be on the mission field. It does not matter; she will be found sharing her faith. Ministers whose wives are unwilling to share Christ, to teach the Word of God and to be their helpmate in the ministry put these ministers at great moral risk. They needlessly come into close and intimate contact with women in these areas. I praise God for a wife who is my spiritual helpmate. I do not need to witness to, counsel or disciple women – Eleanor will do that for me in a far better manner than I, a mere man, could ever do. I have never known of a minister who fell into immorality with a woman that he was not first ministering to in an intimate manner. This will never happen to me. If a women wants to be ministered to in a close and intimate way, she can meet with Eleanor. I praise God that my darling Eleanor is not only a helpmate in the ministry but a helpmate in my moral victories.
The Model For Women Eleanor is a model for young women - be they wives of ministers, missionaries, teachers or laymen. The young wives in the church of Tyumen have a special relationship with El. She is their role model for the behavior of a godly wife and mother. Eleanor also is an example to the wives in terms of counseling and ministering from the Word of God. El is a model for all minister’s wives and missionary wives in the role of the godly wife as helpmate to her husband. I find more and more wives who either minister independently from their husbands or refuse to make the sacrifices to be their husband’s helpmate. I praise God for a wife who submits herself willingly to the Biblical injunctions of the wife in terms of her role as helpmate to her husband. (Allow me to ask the ladies who are reading this blog – “Are you offended by Eleanor’s obedience to the Word of God, or are you challenged to conform your life, marriage and ministry more fully to the Word of God?”)
The Servant Eleanor willing gave up her position as the head of the fine arts department of her school to travel the globe and run the GCI office. This ministry would not be possible without her sacrificial heart. El extends her gift of hospitality wherever the Lord takes her. She greatly expands my ministry and blesses many through her willingness to be a gracious and sacrificial hostess.
At a time when many women Eleanor’s age are experiencing the benefits of a life-time of devotion to God, family and church, Eleanor is still giving and sacrificing for her Savior. She travels the world as my helpmate and as a true missionary wife. She submits herself to God and His holy, eternal, inerrant written Word. I praise God for Eleanor, and yes, she has indeed doubled my ministry over the years and then again and then again and again….
I close this email (as always) with a deep and abiding thankfulness for your sacrificial and effectual prayers which empower and drive this ministry ever forward in the cause of Christ.
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon Grace Community Int. – Preparing to depart for our ministry in Zambia
Answers to this week’s Bible Quiz
1 & 2. F - The ability to do a miracle in and of itself proves nothing in terms of the miracle worker's relationship with God. Nor does the working of a miracle prove the blessing or confirmation of God upon an individual. Satan and any of his demons can perform miracles. When Moses turned his rod into a serpent, pharaoh’s magicians did the same (Exodus 7:8–13). Pharaoh’s magicians’ ability to perform miracles was repeated again in Exodus 7:22, 8:7 and 8:18. Jesus Christ taught on this subject in Matthew 7:22-23 by exhorting us that "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'' (emphasis added). And God the Holy Spirit warns the church on many occasions that false teachers and false prophets will have the ability to perform miracles (II Thessalonians 2:9). The power to perform miracles establishes neither the teaching nor the blessing of God.
Now ask yourself – what other things about the Bible do I believe which are in reality false? From now on when something is taught about the Bible your first questions will be – “What Book, Chapter and Verse establishes this?”
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