The Church in Action Part 3

The Church in Action
Part 3

By Iverna Tompkins
As transcribed by Jane Vaughn

We left off at the end of Part 2 of this message with beginning to look at Proverbs 31 as a picture of the perfected Church. Iverna continues:

Now, here’s what He says of His mature Bride in Proverbs 31. You can think it through later, but I want to point out some things from this other viewpoint and see if it isn’t accurate.

The description begins in verse 10: “Who can find a virtuous woman?” and then he (Lemuel) says, “She is…” Now I’m going to give you each point with a letter “c.” Every teacher will appreciate that alliteration! :-) This virtuous woman – this Bride is. . . .

Costly. “Her price is far above rubies.” Such a woman is more valuable than jewels. I don’t have to walk you through all that, do I? The Bible tells us that we are His jewels (Ps.135:4). We cost a heap! We sing it: “I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sins…” You cost a bunch, dear heart! He says, “That’s alright. I’ll pay it. She’s worth it.”

The second thing to see here is in verse 11 – “The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain.” This Bride is Committed! “The heart of her husband trusts…”

Do you think God doesn’t trust us? You heard that just before my speaking today. Jesus set the whole thing up – the whole ministry – and then said, “I’m going to the Father; you carry on while I’m gone” (Jn.14). :-)

Can’t you just hear the disciples? “Oh, no! Don’t leave us!” But He explains, “I have to go. If I don’t go the Holy Ghost will not come” (Jn.16:7). Now I can hear the disciples screaming to get Him to change His mind: “I don’t care about any Holy Ghost! We’ve got You! And we need You! Don’t leave us here alone.”

“'I know the plans that I have for you, saith God; they are plans for good' (Jer.29:11). And even though you vote ‘No,’ they are My plans.” How many of you think you are strong enough in faith to change God’s plans?

This is a woman who is committed and He trusts His bride. Because of that, others will trust Him and “he will have no lack of gain.”

You see, if it was up to us to make a plan…. Well, I’d call Him back – right now! Wouldn’t you? Oh, tell the truth! :-) If you could say, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come” (Rev.22:20) and He would come right now – wouldn’t you pray that prayer? I would – but selfishly. I have some pain in my body. I would love to have it depart and if not before that time, I know it will when He returns! “Alright, Lord! ::pfsst!:: I’m ready! Beam me up!” :-) Or, “Come on down” – whichever comes first! But He lovingly says, “You can’t change My plans. You don’t know what I’ve prepared for the rest of this generation, and I even may have plans for another one! Besides, there will be many that I haven’t yet called!” Or, more accurately, others who have yet to respond to His call.

It isn’t how hard you pray that determines when He returns! There isn’t anything in Scripture that teaches that we can pray Him back before His time! He says, “There’s a time marked out by the Father! Nobody knows – even the Son doesn’t know when that will be” (Mk.13:32).

This Bride is costly. And she’s committed. Look now at verse 12 – “She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Can’t you see why men teach this as a wife? They dream! :-) Okay, women should be all of this. :-)

“She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.” All - in the good times – and in the hard times. Sometimes, Counselors, all we need to do is just read the vows that they made at their own weddings. “To have and to hold” – that’s one of the big gripes we hear. “From this time forth… for richer, for…” I think you see it. The vows we made before God are serious promises – and binding – and a part of God’s plan for marriages. He marks what we promise.

“All the days of her life” – Number 3 – she’s Consistent. Oh! What a testimony would that be to the world! If the individuals in His Church were only consistent!

Verse 13 – “She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands.” Every pastor is laughing. :-) We just know that this is true of all the individuals in our churches, right? “We need some volunteers for clean-up – today.” “We need some volunteers to move the chairs…” “We need some volunteers to park cars.” “We need some…” “We need…” and heads go immediately to knees! No eye contact.

But not this woman – not His Bride. His Bride is willing to do anything. I have thanked many of the workers here who have been a part of this whole thing, and mostly hidden away behind the scenes. I’ve said, “Thank you for your part in this Conference.” You see, that’s because I’ve put on so many conferences that I understand what goes on in the background while I just walk up in my best dress and address the group. I know the hours of planning and prayer and labor and all the rest that has taken place in order to have a conference. I bless the workers! Truly, I do! And so does He – which is far more important. And this verse says, “This is My Bride – she is Competent.

Verse 14. “She’s like the merchants’ ships, she bringeth her bread from afar.” Now, I suggest you don’t speak to your wife in that language, Sir. :-)

Someone asked me what my name, Iverna, means. I responded that the only thing I know is that it was a boat, a merchant ship. You can even find it on the Internet! :-) Alright – in the Gaelic, it means, “green…” – I’ve forgotten now whether it was wilderness or valley. Oh, yes, I remember, it’s “valley!” Wilderness is what I live. :-)    No, just teasing.

“She is like a merchant ship. She brings her bread…” What does that mean? She has a storehouse – the “c” word is Coffer. Her coffer – her storehouse is full! If she doesn’t get it here, she buys a tape! :-) (Funny how I have to draw the picture – but that’s fairly definitive… :-))

Joshua, when he was getting ready to take the Israelites across the Jordan River to claim their possession, gave them a new instruction. Every day until they crossed over – every day for forty years – down from the heavens came the manna. Oh, they griped about it. “What’s that?” “Manna.” That’s why I remind us – the Church hasn’t changed much at all. Anyway – down it came!

And then he says, “Now, we’re going into the new land. 'Prepare ye vittles'” (Josh.1:11). “Huh?” :-)   Well, they haven’t cooked for 40 years! :-)    No recipe books. No pots or pans. No microwaves. Nothing to cook! For 40 years – they just had to go out and pick it up – the same-old thing every day (except on the Sabbaths). Well, true, they could fix it a couple different ways. But now he says, “We’re in a new land. Prepare vittles for yourselves.”

If you would like me to talk about the transition that the Church is in, this is one of them. We seem to love that word today – “How are you doing?” “Well,” we often lament, “I’m in transition.”

Church, you have been force-fed like baby birds in a nest. You come to church and if we see a crack in your beak, we cram the food in – and push it into the craw! And you shake a little and squeal, “Oooohhh!” :-)   But today is a day when the Lord is saying, “You learn to cook now! Get yourself into the Word! Fill up on it; understand it; practice what it preaches!”

But we are so weak and whine: “Well, I just don’t understand the Word.” Then you have the wrong version! Pull up seven others from the Internet and read them – you’ll get it! Keep your coffer full!

Verse 15. “She riseth also, while it is yet night.” I think this is our host’s part in it – planning these early morning services. :-)

“She rises up while it is still dark – and giveth food to her household and their tasks to her maidens.” Pastors – this is so important because first, you are to feed your own. And that can be hard. It’s difficult to take care of your own family when you have a whole lot of people out there who, and I quote “need you.” It’s very difficult to “minister” to your own – often because your family members are not nearly as enamored with you as your church members. :-) But you need to take care of them – first!

And then you can go to the people over whom you have charge, over whom God has given you charge, and train them. You give the tasks to them – you train them and then delegate. This is perhaps one of the biggest lacks I see in local churches: pastors who do not know how to train, and then delegate, release and follow up. And this is so necessary. You must learn how to do it.

“Well, I tried this delegating thing and I delegated him to be in charge of that, but…” Did you train him first? “Wull, uh, no. I figured he knew! Or he wouldn’t have accepted the job.” You figured wrong. :-) Many tone-deaf people volunteer for the choir. :-)

Number 6 – she’s a Caretaker. She takes care of everyone. Her own household first – and then the ones over whom she has responsibilities. “She” – the Bride. Not “she” the women in your church!

Teach your men to be intercessors! “Oh, that’s a woman’s role.” It is not! Read the Book! The greatest intercessors we have the actual prayers of are men. Listen to them pray, as recorded in God’s Word. It’s not a woman’s job! It’s the Bride’s job!

Verse 16 – “She considereth a field and buyeth it and with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.” “Considereth” is the same word that’s used 66 times and means “ponder” or “meditate.” She isn’t saying, “I can’t!” She – the Bride – is living toward a larger vision. She’s Courageous!

This meeting is taking place on the grounds of a church campus – a church that lived to incredible heights. Truly, in those days, as you just stepped inside these doors you could almost see the glory-cloud manifested. It was powerful! Nearly everyone in the church that attended regularly could prophesy – with extreme accuracy. This place reached an apex of absolute wonder! And yes, it was wonderful – until some people started worshipping that – the wonderful experiences. When that began to occur, the Lord said, “That isn’t it – you don’t get it! You’ve got to get a vision that goes beyond these walls and beyond this wonderful man of God. You’ve got to get a vision that there’s a world out there that needs you!”

When this whole thing seemed to atrophy – because of disputations and so on – it doesn’t matter what exactly happened… When it seemed to become far less than it once was, God took His man home. Then, He looked at the others remaining and said, “Alright. Now I’ll bring in a man who’s a part of the Bride, whose focus is on Me and on what needs to happen in this place – and he will take this thing to another level!” Not because the new man was more wonderful – but just because he was the next in line!

Are you understanding this? Do you know what our problem is here in our western Church? Voting! That’s our problem in America! We want to run things by voting. And in the church, we vote with our tithe. If we don’t like what they’re doing, we don’t give. And we vote with our attendance. Same thing is true. If you don’t do what I like, I stay home – or take my tithe someplace else.

Our real problem is – we’re too independent – of one another. And the Lord says, “Before you’re a part of this whole Bride thing, you’re going to have to learn something! It’s not who’s better that gets the job – it’s who’s next. And it’s not who’s next on your list; it’s who’s next on My list.”

It takes courage to walk through that – knowingly. Do you know that? So, this is the Bride who is a prepared Bride. “She hath made herself ready” (Rev.19:7). She was courageous.

Verse 17. This shows us that she is Capable. “She girdeth her loins with strength and strengtheneth her arm.”

“I just can’t do it.” (whine-whine). Did you ever hear that in counseling? Pastors? Counselors? People sort of whimper: “I just can’t do it. It’s too big. It’s just too much.” But He says: “I – will not – suffer thee – to bear more than that thou art – able to bear….” (1Cor.10:13 paraphrased).

I can’t tell you how many times I bring that truth back to Him – especially during those times when I feel on absolute overload. Hello? “Well, I just can’t, Lord – I can’t handle this anymore. I can’t. I’m sorry. I wanted to – it was a great idea – I believed I could – but I can’t.” “Well,” He said to me – the many times I’ve said something like that to Him – “What will you do about it?” :-) “Quit. I’ll quit.”

If you haven’t said it quite like that, I believe it’s fairly reasonable for me to think you probably thought it. Many of us have said, “I – I just quit. I’ve done everything I know to do. I’m through with this. I quit.” Remember? The Lord said to Peter, “Do you want to quit too? They’re all leaving; do you want to go with them?” (Jn.6:18 paraphrased).

Now, Peter did not say “No” but his simple response was: “Do you have any idea where else I could go?” Or, “To whom should I go?" :-) Well, right about that! Is there anywhere else that’s easier! :-) But I also read where David said, “If I made my bed in hell, You’d show up!” (Ps.139:8 paraphrased). :-)

Here’s the truth: once you’re called of God, where do you go to quit? When you lose everything you’ve strived for – when the trust of the people has been taken from you – when the enemy seems to have been given full reign in your life and comes in and takes all your goods – all your seeming value – all the credibility you once had – and you stand there with nothing – what will you do?

David encouraged himself – in the Lord (1Sam.30:6). Or, Peter said: “Gird up the loins – of your mind” (1Pet.1:13) – where all those seeds are – those seed-thoughts – all that negativism. Cinch it up! “Well, God will never use me again.” Cinch it up another notch! You didn’t call you in the first place – He did! You’re smarter than to put yourself in the ministry! :-)

Go to Part 4