By John Thiel, mp3

Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are blessed to still have opportunity to research God’s word in such a time as this as we prepare for the final scenes of this earth’s history. We have been focusing on the amazing love of God over the past months and we saw in our last study that God’s love touches the subject of our relationships on earth between men and women as it does the others. In the love of God there is neither male nor female, and it is the role of male and female in the love of God that gives us a balanced understanding of this subject. In God’s wonderful love He has provided for us an avenue by which we can become new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

So if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature, if any man be in Christ Jesus. The big if is that we need to be doers of the gospel, and if we will be doers of the gospel then we are new creatures, and all things that are now in the life of such a new creature are all of God. He has reconciled us to Himself and everything is now of God in this new creature. But what is this new creature? Here is again this little word if:

Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Here we have the new creature. What does it mean? We put off the old man and we put on a new man; but do you notice the identification of where this new man resides? It says that we are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. And that “in the spirit of your mind” is explained in verse 24: We are created in righteousness and true holiness – in the spirit of our mind. That is where the new man resides.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…

How?

Romans 12:2 …by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

So it is the renewing of your mind. This is the new creature. It is a different way of thinking entirely. Not only is it a different way of thinking, but the mind is a different calibre. In fact, it is the divine mind.

Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

So the new mind is the mind of the one who created us. Isn’t that the way it reads? It says that the new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. The mind knowledge, the tree of knowledge that is ours to enjoy, is a new kind of tree of knowledge; it isn’t that sinful knowledge anymore. It is the knowledge of Him who created us. It is His mind. It is a new mind.

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

This is a different mind to the one that we originally developed, and it is through the birth of the Holy Spirit in our life that this takes place. It is a different man, a new man, a new creature. And may I emphasize here that unless this really does take place, we are merely human beings; and we will act and think simply like normal human beings. But when we have Jesus, as it is really meant to be, then we don’t act according to the old human way anymore, because we have a new mind and we are governed by a new set of principles and thought patterns completely different than before.

The Mind of Christ

This total change and new outlook that is to be gained by the new mind, it is not that which is governed by the way you feel, the way your flesh wants to function.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So if you are trying to do the commandments of God and function in the realm of the church of God and you still have your old fleshly way of thinking, there is no hope. But we have hope because we may be born again through the beautiful story of Jesus Christ. We beheld in our last study that this new mind, this new creature, the mind of Jesus, is neither male nor female. It is neither woman nor man in the new mind. In Christ all are one in perfect unison in the mind of Jesus, in blessed fellowship of equality; and that is an amazing concept. But as I highlight these things, some people say to me, Come on, John, you are just living in an unreal world. Yes, indeed, I live in an unreal world if I stay here, because this is going to be destroyed. But if I am living according to the word of God I am living in the real world. And the real world is exactly as I have read to you and as we will continue to read. But before I go any further, I am going to say some things here today that if you just take me on just one branch of what I have said, you will come away hurt. But if you will take the entire picture that I am painting here for you today, you will be encouraged and blessed. So please, follow very carefully, and I will go very slowly and very definitely so that we take the word of God as it reads. This is not my opinion I am preaching to you, this is something that comes from the mind of God that I am sharing with you. So here is this beautiful treasure, a treasure of a divine mind that is neither male nor female, but which is a beautiful privilege of being in total unison with God and with one another.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This amazing picture that we have studied in the atonement, of how Jesus became one with us so that we can become one with Him, this precious privilege of having the mind of Jesus inside of me is a treasure beyond human computation. It is a light that God can bring out of darkness. We all know the darkness that we have been suffering under and God’s beautiful light shines in our hearts through Jesus Christ. But then, notice verse 7:

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Through new birth and through the new mind, everything is of God, and not of human nature. It is of God. And if we are of God and not of us, then all the glory goes to God. There is no glory to man at all. We have this beautiful treasure in earthen vessels. As we contemplate this treasure with the tag of earthen vessels, we begin to appreciate here that there is a reality in reference to male and female that balances our judgement and our wisdom in our fellowship together. In the topic of male and female we’ve already made it quite clear that there is an equality in the mind, which is the mind of Jesus Christ, and we can all enjoy that same mind, but we live with that mind in an earthen vessel. The vessels are different. That’s common sense, isn’t it? In God’s house there are different vessels.

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

Different Vessels

God has many different varieties of vessels in His household. They can be vessels of dishonour or they can be vessels of honour. And notice, if we will purge ourselves from these, as it is qualified in the preceding verse:

2 Timothy 2:19 The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

So if we purge ourselves from iniquity, we will be “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” Can God use a female or a male vessel to the honour and glory of God? Absolutely, but that vessel must have the mind of Christ in it; otherwise it is a female mind or a male mind. Think about it. The earthen vessel of the female is different to the earthen vessel of the male. It is totally different.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge,

Apostle Peter admonishes the men to dwell according to knowledge with their woman,

1 Peter 3:7 …giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

What is the woman’s vessel? I have heard women tell me, I don’t agree with that; we can do just as well as the men! If you say that, you are disagreeing with God. If you think you are just as energetic and powerful as a man is, your physical frame will be so deteriorated by the end of your life that either you’re going to have lots of parts taken out of you, or you’ll be dragging your body around; whereas a man won’t quite drag his body around like that. When God says that the woman is the weaker vessel He means what He says, and you had better agree with Him. We’ll see this as we move on. Besides it being the weaker vessel, it says that we are all unitedly receiving the same grace, husband and wife. Don’t walk together with the lack of that knowledge, so that your prayers be not hindered. That is something to think about. If you don’t understand this and practise it, your prayers will be hindered.

There is another thing to understand now about the woman’s vessel:

The infinite value of the sacrifice required for our redemption reveals the fact that sin is a tremendous evil. Through sin the whole human organism is deranged, {8T 312.2}

This weaker vessel is not only more tender and more delicate, but it is deranged, just as the other vessel. So through sin our whole human organism is deranged; and what did God declare when Adam and Eve sinned and when He spoke to Eve in reference to her bodily functions when sin would derange her system? Here in Genesis you have a very clear description of the kind of difference that exists in the vessel of the male and of the female through sin. And our bodies have not been altered; they are still like that.

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

Can you see the reality of the derangement of the human vessel? The woman would be in sorrow for the rest of her life. Do you agree with that, sisters? You know what your experience is. It is related to conception, or no conception. It’s very close. Conception is in sorrow, and before and after conception there is sorrow too – a terrible derangement because of sin, so that every four weeks there is sorrow. And it is a sorrow of a nature that is very oppressive to some more than others.

Men, dwell with the women according to knowledge. And man, in the sweat of thy brow you will produce food. It is a different physical makeup totally. We read in 1 Peter that we should dwell with one another according to knowledge about our vessels, about the weaker vessel, etc., and here we are told that we are to deal with our vessels according to that knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

What must you learn? We are called upon to be sanctified and in our sanctification process we have to know how to possess our vessel in sanctification and honour. There is something to study, there is something to know,and there is a knowledge that there is a male vessel and a female vessel; and the two are opposite. They are different and yet similar.

God has created a female body and He has created a male body for different roles, and through sin the roles were even more diversified. So this consideration identifies the importance of exercising wisdom in reference to our relationships in the church with brothers and sisters interacting together. Although there is no difference in the mind, there is a big difference in the body. We understand from our past studies that our flesh is to be placed under the control of the mind, that there is a battle between the spirit and the flesh, and that this battle is quite severe. The difference of the battle between the spirit and the flesh in the woman and that in the man is something that we need to understand. And because we need to understand that, Apostle Paul wrote about it. It is very important that we understand what he is here talking about.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

What is the characteristic of a macho man? Wrath. If things don’t work out right he will use his manly macho power. And what must the man understand here? We are to lift up holy hands, without wrath and without doubting.

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also,

Now if that wouldn’t have been said beforehand in verse 8, then we wouldn’t connect for men what we just read about women. But it says:

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Why? What is men’s job in holding up holy hands? They are to be as modest as women because their male body is different to the female body. And because the frame of the male and that of the female are so opposite and they have different effects upon each other, therefore, like the men, the women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel. And now there comes the rest of it:

1 Timothy 2:9 …with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Because that is what the fleshly woman does. She wants to pretty herself up, because according to the human relationships the female vessel is so cute to the man, and so she has to make herself even more cute. If she isn’t really cute, she feels as if she is undressed. She has to make herself look like that. So here is the point now. Don’t refer to the human flesh anymore. Don’t put yourself into adornment that deals with the flesh, nothing.

1 Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

The difference between male and female still exists in body. As a consequence of that, there is to be a behaviour pattern that works according to the wisdom of God that is delineated here. The woman should not usurp authority over the man. Why? What is another text in the Bible that deals with a woman who does that? What is she called? A froward woman, a woman who places herself in a square position against the man or to tell the man a thing or two; and the man loves that, you know. It’s so cute. And then he hates it after that.

Have you ever heard of love/hate relationships? That is what the world does. Because the people are living according to the carnal nature, the carnal mind. But here we are studying the divine mind in a human vessel, and we are receiving instruction here that the woman is to be in shamefacedness and submission. Why? So that she will not have a deleterious effect upon the male. That’s why. Because she has great power. People know that in the world. They know the woman’s power, and God forbids it. He forbids a woman to use her physical body for power. He forbids it. Therefore that is what is behind the statement of Apostle Paul that he wants women to be silent in the church. We are not going to take this any further than what that means, because we will see some more in a moment.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

He does not want confusion, He has everything in order.

Let Your Women Keep Silence

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Why? Why is it a shame? and what is the shame of a woman speaking in the church? The stresses and the strains of authority and of masculine input are not becoming to the delicate organisms of the female. The stresses and strains of authority, of holding the fort as a man must, are not for women. The masculine condition of the male has that responsibility and that role. If a woman exercises it her delicate organism, her weaker vessel, suffers. And that is the reason of what Apostle Paul is here talking about; because some people take his words to such an extreme, not considering everything else he says. They say, See?? No woman should to talk in the church at all; and there are churches that actually practise that. But what is written in the Bible about women?

1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

So according to this text, is there room in the church for a woman to prophesy? It says a woman prophesying must be covered and a man prophesying does not need to be covered. With what we have just been reading before it makes perfect sense. The woman is to be covered, because it is a shame to her if she prophesies uncovered.

In Acts we can read of Philip and his four daughters:

Acts 21:8 And the next [day] we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

The word prophesying is not just foretelling the future. When you read it carefully in the Bible and check it through you see that it talks about admonishing, proclaiming the word of God. A woman prophesying being uncovered is a shame. Paul says, “I do not permit the woman to speak in the church, it is a shame.” Don’t usurp authority; be in the right position as a woman for the purposes that we recognise so well. But that does not mean that the woman is to be silent if she is speaking under the direction of someone in higher position. It is either God or the man. Apostle Paul tells us that “every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” We must know it, and he is describing it here.

A woman who places her vessel into a male role has trouble. Firstly, men pay attention to her, and it’s a shame for a woman to draw attention to herself. That is the shame. And it is also wrong because she is placing herself into a position of forwardness in which she has to take the brunt that a man is meant to be taking. It hardens the tender and delicate characteristics that belong to her. What are these delicate, tender characteristics? You know, they are built into a woman. They have been created by God. Sisters, you have a vessel that has been given you for a purpose.

The following statement talks about marriage, but we will read other statements that show that it does not just belong unto marriage.

God made from the man a woman, to be a companion and help-meet for him, to be one with him, to cheer, encourage, and bless him, he in turn to be her strong helper. {HP 202.4}

So one, the woman was to be someone who cheers the man, someone who encourages and blesses him. And he in turn is to be her protector, her strong helper, because she is the weaker vessel.

All who enter into matrimonial relations with a holy purpose–the husband to obtain the pure affections of a woman’s heart, {HP 202.4}

Are the pure affections of a woman’s heart different to the physical pure affections of a man? We read about it all the time. If only boys are born into a family there is something missing, we want a little girl. Why? Because she creates sunshine in the home that the boy doesn’t. This is a reality. So God has created the female to encourage and to bless the male.

…the husband to obtain the pure affections of a woman’s heart, the wife to soften and improve her husband’s character and give it completeness–fulfill God’s purpose for them. {Ibid.}

What is the woman created for? To soften and improve her husband’s character. Sr. White speaks about this for the church as well. She talks about the women’s call to the work and under inspiration makes it very clear that there is a role for the woman in the church:

We may safely say that the dignity and importance of woman’s mission and distinctive duties are of a more sacred and holy character than the duties of man. {WM 145.3}

Do you believe it? Does the woman have distinctive duties, is she a distinguished person? Absolutely. She has distinctive duties and they are more sacred and holy than the duties of a man.

Let woman realize the sacredness of her work and, in the strength and fear of God, take up her mission. {Ibid.}

If we can impress upon the minds of our sisters the good which it is in their power to do through the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall see a large work accomplished. {WM 145.4}

If only the Adventist people had accepted Sr. White’s writings we would have a different Adventist church today. What is the woman’s role in the church? What are her distinctive duties?

It was Mary that first preached a risen Jesus. … The refining, softening influence of Christian women is needed in the great work of preaching the truth. {Ev 471.5}

What is the woman’s role? The refining, softening influence, that which God created for the man, that is what a woman’s role is in God’s world. The new creature that she is, equal to the man, has been given a role with her human framework to use the talents of this framework, which are the softening, refining delicacies that a woman has, and which a man does not have. And in the church she is responsible for affecting the men the right way.

Abigail

I love the story of Abigail, the way she speaks to David who is full of anger, full of wrath, because Nabal has refused to help him; and he is coming there to destroy the household in his anger. But what does she do? She is relating to a man.

In the character of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, we have an illustration of womanhood after the order of Christ; {2BC 1022.1}

Are you in tune? Women, look at Abigail. Here is your study. And men, pay attention to how David responded to her.

The piety of Abigail, like the fragrance of a flower, breathed out all unconsciously in face and word and action. The Spirit of the Son of God was abiding in her soul. {PP 667.1}

The Spirit of God, Jesus Christ, was in there; and what was He doing through this human vessel?

Her speech, seasoned with grace, and full of kindness and peace, shed a heavenly influence. Better impulses came to David, {Ibid.}

What came to David because of Abigail? Better impulses.

…and he trembled as he thought what might have been the consequences of his rash purpose. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9. Would that there were many more like this woman of Israel, who would soothe the irritated feelings, prevent rash impulses, and quell great evils by words of calm and well-directed wisdom. {Ibid.}

A consecrated Christian life is ever shedding light and comfort and peace. It is characterized by purity, tact, simplicity, and usefulness. It is controlled by that unselfish love that sanctifies the influence. It is full of Christ, and leaves a track of light wherever its possessor may go. Abigail was a wise reprove and counselor. {PP 667.2}

She came to reprove David. Say, men, do you like to be reproved by women? David was a warrior and he was confronted by this woman and she reproved him; but how? Women, when you get annoyed with men and they are very oppressive and ready to destroy you, what do you usually do? Are you afraid of men and do you quaver underneath? and you hate every moment of this man’s behaviour and you lose it? What did Abigail do? She softened his harshness and oppressiveness.

With a humble heart he received the rebuke, in harmony with his own words, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.” Psalm 141:5. He gave thanks and blessings because she advised him righteously. There are many who, when they are reproved, think it praiseworthy if they receive the rebuke without becoming impatient; but how few take reproof with gratitude of heart and bless those who seek to save them from pursuing an evil course. {PP 667.3}

What was the role of Abigail? She was not married to him, she was just another woman, and he was on the war path and he could very easily have said, Step aside, woman. How many men do that? In the church there is no such thing as “Step aside, woman.” No such thing. A woman needs to express herself according to the God-given, fine-tuned sensitivities that she has; and in the church the woman is the balancing effect upon the men. This is a reality, this is God’s world.

In our previous message we read a statement which says that any woman who fights for women’s rights may as well disengage from the three angels’ messages (1T 421.4) . Now we understand why. Because in the world out there, women’s rights are held up as a right for the woman to take her place on an equal basis with the men, and so they go and fight for positions of work out there that are stressful and that belong into the stress world of the man. They go and fight for the workplace. Brick layers… I couldn’t believe it. Women brick layers! Women police, women soldiers, would you have it? and women parliamentarians. What happens to the fine sensitivity of that God-given talent to these women? What happens to them?

Did you know the first woman that became a Prime Minister in England? What was her nickname? The Iron Lady. Is that a lady? The men are to be like that; the woman is to soften the iron. You see, that is what happens. When the women go out there to war, oh, my heart feels sorry for them, all those delicate situations. When women go out there into the world of battle with parliamentarian politics, having to fight and conquer, as it were, the enemy, how their spirit becomes hardened. This is not the role of a woman. But in the world this is called normal and right today. And as a result, what has happened to society? What is the woman’s role in God’s realm? To soften and subdue and take effect in the mind and society of the church and of the world, if only they would have it.

I would impress upon mothers that women are accountable for the talents God has intrusted to them. They may engage in missionary work at home, in their families. Their influence is fully equal to that of the husband and father. The most elevated work for woman is the molding of the character of her children after the divine pattern. She should gain their affections; {HR, April 1, 1880 par. 8}

Is that hard for a woman to do who is soft? Doesn’t she gain the affections and tie the children to her heart?

…she should cherish love; for with these precious traits of character she can have a transforming influence upon the family circle. If she makes a success here, she has gained the victory. {Ibid.}

This is where she is to fight.

Society will feel her influence in the deportment and moral worth of her children. {Ibid.}

What is the influence of a woman upon society? This softening influence. 

The church will bless her because she has educated and developed talent which will be of the highest value. She gives to the church, men and women who will not flinch from duty however taxing. If Christian mothers had always done their work with fidelity, there would not now be so many church trials on account of disorderly members. Mothers are forming the characters which compose the church of God. When I see a church in trial, its members self-willed, heady, high-minded, self-sufficient, not subject to the voice of the church, I am led to fear that their mothers were unfaithful in their early training. {Ibid.}

Are the women out of touch today? Why is there so much strife in the world? Because Satan has managed to take the role of the woman and ripped it out of society. And sisters in the churches, this is not to be! You have a responsibility to do that work of softening and subduing so that when we do have church trials because our past has been so wrong, we can regain what was lost because you have submitted yourself to the role that God has placed you in.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

The head of Christ is God. Are Christ and God equal? Absolutely. Christ, who is the Word, the Father and the Holy Spirit, are three persons; and these three persons are equal, but what are their roles? Are the woman and the man equal? Indeed; but what are their roles? The head of Christ is God. He exercises the position of Father. Christ exercises the position of a submissive person who is here to take the atonement and bring God’s people to Himself. And the men are in the position of submitting to Jesus Christ, and the woman of submitting to the man; but are they equal? Yes, they are. Philippiens chapter 2 tells you this so vividly. Because if Jesus was subordinate to God and He was God himself, then there is no argument. He was equal, but what did He do? Here lies the answer to the women/male problem in this world. It’s all here in Jesus Christ. Remember:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

What was the mind?

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation,

This is the mind of Christ: the role that we have been given is one of personal choice. I am going to follow the mind of Christ, and the mind of Christ, even though it was equal with God, made itself of no reputation. Do you like that, sisters? No reputation. Follow Jesus’ footsteps. And brethren, the same thing goes for us. Look at the beautiful thing that Jesus did by taking that role which He has created the woman to take.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

When Jesus came to this earth, what did He do for us? He came here to actually help us to be lifted up, to comfort and restore us, and to soften us and subdue us. What was the woman’s role? It’s exactly the woman’s role.

Sr. White is now writing to the sisters and she uses this very picture of the atonement in reference to sisters who are striving for something that they are not put in a role in by God.

We address Christian mothers. We entreat that you feel your responsibility as mothers and that you live not to please yourselves, but to glorify God. Christ pleased not Himself, but took upon Him the form of a servant. He left the royal courts and condescended to clothe His divinity with humanity, that by His condescension and His example of self-sacrifice He might teach us how we may become elevated to the position of sons and daughters of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. But what are the conditions of these sacred, elevated blessings? “Come out from among them… {3T 565.4}

Come away from your worldly ways.

Christ humbled Himself from the highest authority, from the position of one equal with God, to the lowest place, that of a servant. {3T 566.1}

How few see anything attractive in the true humility of Christ! His humility did not consist in a low estimate of His own character and qualifications, {3T 566.3}

Isn’t this what women think? “Oh, my qualifications are terrible. I want high qualifications.” Nothing like that. Jesus had them all, and so does a woman, but He humbled Himself, not in the estimate of His own character and qualifications,

…but in His humbling Himself to fallen humanity in order to raise them up with Him to a higher life. {Ibid.}

What is the woman’s task? To lift the men, to lift humanity to a higher level. They have failed, haven’t they? That is why society is deteriorated as it is today. But thank God for the mind of Jesus, that a woman doesn’t have to worry. She can take the role that God has given her and let Jesus right in there.

Worldlings try to exalt themselves to the position of those above them or to become superior to them. But Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself to elevate man; and the true follower of Christ will seek to meet men where they are in order to elevate them. {Ibid.}

That is the woman’s role. What is the man’s role? The men have a position, a role to play in this exercise of progress in spiritual truth.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

The manly powers are to be exercised to give themselves for the benefit of the ladies. In a church that is outside of marriage. This is not a marriage thing, this is a spiritual thing. The manner of the home, the way men and women behave in the home will certainly be manifested in the church. If a man has an attitude of looking down upon a woman, he will do it in the church. And if a woman is ever trying to strive for her position, she will do it in the church as well. This is worldly; this is not wisdom from above. This is fleshly, earthly and of the devil. We have nothing to do with that.

The role that God has given us we will perform according to His spirit in the mind, and we will gladly take it. Men and women in Christ are one in Him just like Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “That they all may be one, even as We are one.” Not until heaven will we be as the angels in body. While on earth God has given us roles to exercise ourselves so that we can be recovered from sin; and those roles that He gives us are to be protected and carefully nurtured so that we will, as a church, rise to God’s character as one affects the other.

A Cause-to-Effect Reality

The women who are like the Iron Lady, who are in executive positions, medically have many parts missing. And the part that is missing most is the womb. Because the womb is the area where a woman has her softest emotions; they come from there. It is a physical reality. And when that is bombarded and stressed, you hear very quickly that that womb becomes diseased. You don’t hear of hospitals totally devoted to men, do you? But you hear and you know there are women’s hospitals. Why?

May God grant us a willing mind to submit to His wonderful plan of salvation which is love. God’s love is so beautiful that it brings us life, it brings us a new way of thinking; and as we submit to that love, our true conditions that have been created in us originally will be refurbished. We will become vessels of honour because we submit to the beautiful new path that God has laid out for us. Let us lay aside our past way of thinking. Let us pick it up as God wants us to have it.

Amen.