A Powerful Godly Woman Of Vision

Introduction

Have you ever gotten really upset when somebody?

I mean so upset that you were about to loose your religion like Kirk Franklin

And right before you were about to do something to somebody you know you have no business doing to anybody

Just before you were about to say something you would later regret

Right in the nick of time before you were about to walk your emotions off the ledge of sanity and self control

Somebody intervened and said a word or two to you to cause you to pause

And think and reflect

They spoke the true to you in love to get you back on the right track

In Atlanta, Georgia we used to call that Claimin’ True

Illustration: Sis. Linda Mae Alves was that type of mother, sister, wife, god-mother, and friend

She spoke it like it was, plain and simple with no cherries on the top

Transition

The setting of our text today is in the wilderness of Paran or Maon

A place most of us would not expect to be fruitful or of any value

But the wilderness was the destination David found to be a place of refuge

Imagine the setting in your mind...

The wilderness (Maon) can still be sheep rearing country

Illustrate:  Sis. Linda Mae Alves reared her children in what some may the wilderness of the city Taunton to Brockton, From Brockton to Colorado (Commerce City & Denver) From Colorado back to Taunton Then from Taunton to Virginia Back up here to Providence, RI Providence to North Carolina Finally back to Providence for 6 days

- Sheep-shearing was traditionally celebrated by feasting, with enough to spare.

Illustrate:  Sis. Linda Mae Alves not only fed & reared her children but she had enough in the

Godly women have power to encourage friends and family for the glory of God through what they see

Take for instance Abigail in our text today

Body

She knew the value of the LORD (whereas foolish people do not) ABIGAIL knew the value of the LORD whereas foolish Nabel her husband did not!

The Power Of A Godly woman is shown in what she sees:

1.  Her seeing the urgency (of the moment) of speaking to her lord (v18, v23-25)?- 

2.  Her seeing the wisdom of giving extravagantly (v18)

2.  Her seeing the work of the LORD (v26)

3.  Her seeing the importance of the helping the young (v27)

3.  Her seeing the value of following the LORD (v28-29)

4.  Her seeing the benefit of trusting the LORD (30-31)

Conclusion

Luke 15:10 ESV

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

(TOTC 1-2 Sa): Abigail, whose name means ‘my father is joy[ous]’

Her father is joyous because:

(TOTC 1-2 Sa): Thanks to Abigail’s intervention, David had been reminded of his commitment to live by faith in the Lord God, and not by his own impulses, hence his acknowledgment, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day, and thus saved many from death and David from bloodguilt.

And Sis. Linda Mae Alves knew the value of pointing her children towards the LORD encouraging them to live by faith!

Luke 15:7

Do you know the value of the LORD today!

Do you know the king of glory?

Who is this king of glory?

He is the LORD God mighty and strong in battle

Psalm 34 ESV

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

But there’s another joy in the text today!

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Illustration:

Sis. Linda Mae Alves- a joyful daughter

“Nothing Wrong Partying With Jesus”

“It will get better, put your faith in someone more powerful!”

“God has a plan- just keep the faith and things will be ok”

Keep my faith in God- no matter how hard or bleak things seem

“Good night, God bless you, I love you!”

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.