Intro: over the last number of years there have been many powerful women in this world. Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, and Barbara Walters to name a few. All of these have had a powerful voice in this world.
Today, we honor mothers and women of God. Looking at the bible, we see many stories where women were the main subject of the story, and their lives made an impact for all time.
Women of Impact
I. Ester 4:14—for such a time as this. This is one of the great stories in the Bible on women of impact. Ester was a Jewish girl living in Persia with the rest of the Jewish nation. She wins a beauty contest of all things, and becomes Queen. As the story goes, she saves her nation from destruction because she realizes God’s call and placement in her life. Today, she is a model of a woman of Impact.
a. the first way to become a woman of impact is to realize that God has a purpose and a plan for every life. This is such an amazing story, because you wouldn’t see winning a beauty contest as part of God’s plan, but God’s ways are higher than our ways. Today, let me encourage every woman here, that God has placed you in this world for certain purposes that only you can fill.
b. Every day God is preparing you for special times and opportunities in you life. Even if you feel at times that you are going nowhere, remember Ester, that her moment to shine took years in the making.
c. You may not save an entire nation, but God will place people in your life that you will make an impact on. See every day as an opportunity to make a difference in another life.
II. Lois and Eunice---2 Timothy 1:5—a mother and a grandmother are mentioned here by Paul. In writing Timothy, he reminds him of the faith of two women of impact. Today, God has placed mother’s and grandmothers in this place to make a special impact in your world.
a. we don’t have a lot of information on these women, except that they helped shape Timothy in his formative years. Today, an ounce of Mother is worth a pound of clergy. I want to encourage even the grandmothers to make a difference, to be a person of impact in this world.
b. Unfeigned faith—plant seeds of faith in your children. Even if they get older and walk away from your teachings, if you train them in the ways of God, when they are older, they will return to the God of their childhood.
III. Woman with issue of blood—Mark 5:25-34 This is one of the most exciting stories in the Word of God. If you are to be a woman of impact, this woman is a great example of how to get to God.
a. she had a faith that couldn’t be stopped—if you want your life to make a difference in this world. Be a woman that has a faith that cannot be stopped.
b. She didn’t let any obstacle or excuse keep her from the goal. It is easy to use excuses for why we can’t receive all that God has for us, but this woman couldn’t be stopped from reaching her prize.
c. Touching Jesus is all that matters—I want to encourage every woman in this place, if you touch Jesus, if you get to Him, you will walk in blessings.
IV. The Widow’s Two Mites---Luke 21:1-4
Here is a story that always stretches our faith every time we read it. It is offering time and people are giving their offerings. Here a poor widow comes and gives everything she has to the Lord. She is an inspiration to all of us, she is definitely a woman of impact in the Bible.
a. she gave everything she had to God. This is such a hard thing to do, but God wants us to give it all we have. She didn’t hold back, she didn’t say this is mine, she gave it to God, and Jesus said, she gave more than anyone on that day.
b. She stepped out in faith, because she believed God was the source of all blessings. She planted two seeds and expected a harvest in return.
c. We don’t have the rest of the story, but we know the rest of the story. She was faithful to God, and we know God was faithful to her.
Close: today, you can be a woman of impact by: realizing God has a purpose and a plan for your life. By instilling faith in those around you. By pressing toward your goals in God. By giving all you’ve got, so God can give you more.
The other day I talked with Mrs. Martin, Bradley’s first grade teacher. She taught here in Wetumpka for many years. I still remember when we told people that Bradley had her for his teacher, many grown ups would say, I had Miss Martin in 1st grade. The other day I had this thought, she taught 3 generations of students to read. Here this little lady, who seemingly had such a small part in this great big world, had made a difference in the lives of many prominent people of this community.
So today, if you are a mother, teacher, nurse, secretary, business lady, sales person, cashier etc. Make a difference where you are, be a woman of impact.
