Brave Daughters of Sara

 Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

    As a new wife I have found it a challenge when faced with threatening situations (from wicked haters of good). We are taught in 1 Peter 3:6  that in order to be the daughters of Sara (Abraham's wife) we must not be afraid with any amazement (πτόησις ptoēsis, pto'-ay-sis - From Strongs G4422; alarm: - amazement.  to scare: - frighten.

 I have had to strengthen my heart by the Word of God, prayer & the reading of testimonies of the faithful. It is very important for the wife of a godly man to be a help to his labor for the LORD & not a hindrance. A fearful wife is a BIG hindrance. Throughout the ages their have been many daughters of Sara who have trusted in God, & have been faithful help meets to their husbands who were tortured for the work of God. i recently read of an account of one of these God fearing women : (her husband testifies)
 "In sadness I wondered if I should keep on preaching or if I should escape somewhere for the sake of my wife and children to whom I was intimately bound. Then my wife came up to me & gently asked, 'Why are you so sad?' I explained what I had been thinking and asked her in turn, 'What shall i do? Shall I speak or keep silence?' She replied, 'How strange you talk! Do not the children & i bless & support you? Preach the Word of God & stop feeling sorry for us. We will stay together until God wishes. If we get separated, only remember us in your prayers. Christ is strong enough to take care of us!' I thanked her and, as having my eyes opened from blindness, I kept on preaching in towns along the way denouncing Nikon's heresy." -Zhitiye Protopopa Avvakuma (Autobiography of archpriest Avvakum).-Testimony from the 1600's

  This man had already undergone persecution & lost 2 of his children to starvation because of it. So his wife was not speaking without the knowledge of the seriousness of the situation. Yet, the hardships she had already suffered did not cause her to want to compromise her husbands labor for the Gospel. She was willing & ready to be a partaker of these sufferings.
 I have also been strengthened through the teachings of Paul in 2 Timothy. In Chapter 1 verse 8 he encourages-"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
  This man's wife was a good example of this. She was not ashamed of the suffering her family was going through for the sake of her husband preaching the Gospel. They could have very easily compromised their convictions & lived a very comfortable life. Much suffering resulted from her encouraging her husband to continue preaching. He ended up suffering 14 years in prison & was then chained to a stake & burned. Three other men were burned with him & as the flames devoured their bodies they called out words of encouragement one to another.

  In America there seems to be few occasions for wives to show themselves so brave. But for those of us who have husbands zealous to preach the true Gospel of Christ I see the opportunity drawing near. Going on to read in 2 Timothy
Chapter 3 -we read of- "perilous{= Strongs G5467 χαλεπός chalepos khal-ep-os'
Perhaps from G5465 through the idea of reducing the strength; difficult, that is, dangerous, or (by implication) furious: - fierce, perilous.] times...men shall be lovers of their own selves...unthankful...unholy...without natural affection...trucebreakers {= (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G4689; literally without libation a derivative of G4689=Apparently a primary verb; to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote (one’s life or blood, as a sacrifice) (“spend”): - (be ready to) be offered.]...despisers of those that are good...lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." I see these very things dominating the hearts of many. 

  Reading on he says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Y'shua (Jesus) shall suffer persecution. But evil men & seducers shall wax worse & worse, deceiving & being deceived. chpt. 4:2- Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, & shall be turned unto fables. But watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."
 So we see suffering is part of the Christian life. As women of modern times we must be as the *salmon which swim against the currents (of our time). The many false doctrines that are prevailing in recent generations give us a sense that we are able to have the best of both worlds. Many of us have escaped the sufferings simply because we are not living godly lives. For example: a man recently approached my husband offended by signs he was holding that plainly spoke Truth; according to Christ's teachings. I believe one of the first words that came out of his mouth started with an "F" & others following as well. He also claimed to be a church going "Christian" & one of the most moral men he knew. As he went on speaking, it was manifested plainly that he was very unfamiliar with the Word of God & hated it's basic teachings (yet he called himself a Christian). He also displayed forcefulness (a perilous nature, so to speak). This man claimed the name of Christ, but failed to show forth the power thereof.
 How can we claim the name of Christ and lack the power of godliness that causes suffering to come upon us? If we are truly Christ's then we depart from evil. 2 Tim. 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from  iniquity. And as it was evil for Peter to protest the suffering of his Lord, so it is evil for the wife to try to hinder, or protest the suffering of her husband and family, even her own life. Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. It is so important that our husbands are faithful to preach the Gospel to this perlious generation & that we support them by being fearless daughters of Sara. Another Word that has strengthend my heart in all this: Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
With the hope of eternal life, which God Himself who cannot lie has promised, what shall we fear besides Him?

* For those who are not familiar with the salmon's dangerous voyage upstream I have created a post that explains the process. (please see post titled Salmon Run )