Part 7- Discreet, Chaste & A Keeper of the Home

Welcome back to part seven of the Woman of the Word series and we are going to talk about how to be discreet, chaste, and a keeper of the home. Titus chapter 2 verse 3 to 5 is where we're at. We've been talking about how to be a woman of the word. If you haven't caught the first six parts of this series I really strongly encourage that you do because it'll tie everything in together. And Paul says this in Titus chapter 2 verse 3 to 5 that the older woman likewise that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not giving too much wine, teachers of good things, that they admonish the young woman to love their husbands, to love their children, and this is the part we're going to go over right now, to be discreet, chaste, and homemakers. Homemakers mean keeper of the home. In part one we spoke about being reverent in behavior, part two not slanderers, part three not giving too much wine, part four teachers of good things, part five that they admonish the young woman, part six that they love their husband. We talk about loving your husband and children not just in theory but in the daily ordinary covenant keeping decisions of home life right. Today we're going to talk about three qualities that shape who we are on the inside and determine the kind of atmosphere we create around us. We're going to be talking about to be discreet, chaste, and homemakers. You'll find this in Titus chapter 2 verse 5 and what this means is there's three words, three layers of the same inner life. Sophron means to be discreet. It means balanced and self-governed. That's the greek word to be discreet. The greek word to be discreet means Sophron, to be balanced and self-governed. A woman who thinks before she speaks, prays before she reacts, and does not let her emotions make her decisions. And this is very important because a lot of times we know this women are very emotional. We have a lot of emotions. This is how we were created. And so when we are emotional about something we need to make sure that we do not make a decision out of emotions. And before we react we pray. Before we talk we pray. Before we think we pray. Do not think, pray. Don't think, pray. Because when you think that's when your emotions start to connect with what you're thinking and now the decision that you're going to make is based on your emotions because you were thinking. Pray instead of thinking. The moment something happens, whether you're getting corrected, whether God's correcting you, your husband's correcting you, or someone offends you. You don't even have to be in the world. Even in the body of Christ someone's offends you and your emotions are just raveling. Do not think, take it to prayer. Be quick to be the type of woman that takes it to prayer. The word for chase, the greek word for chase is Hagnos. This is much bigger than sexuality. It means pure, single-hearted,

and whole. Pure, single-hearted, and whole. Nothing divided, nothing hidden. A woman who does not need a hidden life and does not seek to be seen in order to feel worthy. This is what this means. You do not seek to feel worthy. You already know your worth because of Jesus. You already know that God is what gives you worth. You do not have to hide and be some type of way. You do not dress one way in church and one way at the mall. You do not speak one way in church and one way at your job. You do not act one way with your sisters and brothers in Christ, but one way with your blood relatives who are not saved. You do not have to have a hidden life. You are pure. You are single-hearted. Nothing's divided. Your heart belongs to Jesus. Your life belongs to Jesus. Your actions belong to Jesus. Everything you do belongs to Jesus. Your social media reflects Jesus. Everything reflects Jesus. And the Greek word for homemakers is oikourgos. It means the guardian of the home. Listen, I need you guys to understand this. The guardian of the home. Not the person who cleans the home. Not just cooking for the family. Not the one who folds the clothes. Not that. The guardian of the home. This is far more than chores. It is about atmosphere. A spirit-filled home carries something peaceful. It carries something peaceful because you're guarding the home, right? Laughter, order, safety is what people will find in your home. That is the atmosphere that does not happen by accident. It is cultivated. You have to cultivate that type of atmosphere. You have to actually be the guardian of your home. You have to make sure that when somebody enters your home, they feel the peace of God. That when somebody enters your home, they feel the love of God. When somebody enters your home, it is clean. It is orderly. It is well-kept. Somebody comes and they can feel that it literally is an altar for Jesus. That Jesus dwells in that home. Because you're not only keeping it clean physically, but you're keeping it clean spiritually. Praying, worshiping, reading the word, making sure that you're reverent in behavior as you're doing your chores. This is what allows the Holy Spirit to be so evident in your home that when people come in they know that this is the home of the Holy Spirit and together these three qualities describe a woman who is governed from the inside out. A perfect example of a Sofron that discreet self-governed quality is found in Abigail. It's first time in chapter 25, Abigail was married to a harsh and foolish man named Nabal and when Nabal insulted David and his men, David was on his way to destroy everything but Abigail did not panic.

She assessed the situation, moved quickly and acted with wisdom and when David saw her he said in first Samuel chapter 25 verse 32 to 33, Abigail did not match chaos with chaos. Her discretion protected everyone around her including a man who was about to make a devastating mistake. That is huge because we can be so offended and yet we're not acting discreetly, we're not doing what we're supposed to do, right? We're divided, our hearts divided and we're just not being a homemaker. So Abigail acted in discreet, took her emotions to prayer, prayed and after being discreet she wasn't divided from what the Lord showed her. Her heart stayed pure, single-hearted in what the Lord showed her. She did not switch, she did not change and she kept the peace in her home, kept the peace with her husband. She was being a homemaker, she was being a guardian of her home and that's just beautiful. A woman who does this, thinks, prays and then responds. She lives transparently with no hidden life. She creates rhythms of rest, prayer and hospitality that make her home a place where the presence of God is felt the moment you walk through the door. And a woman who doesn't do this, lets her mood make her decisions. She seeks validation and attention to feel worthy. She allows clutter, noise, chaos and tension to set the tone of her home instead of guarding the atmosphere with intention and we do not want to be a woman that does that. Here is the question I want you to take away from this part of the course. What spiritual climate greets the people who enter my home? What is the spiritual climate of your home? How are you guarding your home? I'm going to leave this prayer with you Lord, I thank you that you are making every single person that's taking this course, that's watching this part, their home a miniature sanctuary for your presence. Father, I thank you that the wisdom that Abigail had from you, that you are giving that to

them right now and they will be able to respond with grace in the middle of difficulty. Teach them to guard the atmosphere of their home the way a guardian guards a gate. Let the peace of God rule in their heart first so it can flow into every room that they enter. Let them feel you when you, when they walk in through the door, Lord, when anybody walks in through the door, let them feel you when they are walking through their home in Jesus name. Amen. God bless you and we are ready for the final part of this series part eight and I'll catch you there in Jesus name.