Thank the Lord for cell phones that they changed the hours for us. A couple of years, when we lived in Saffner, I don't know, maybe he had just a less expensive phone. But we came here, the service was over. We were just coming in. We got another wonderful study this morning. We've been studying women of God in the Bible. This morning is Jesus' feminine disciples. What is a disciple? A disciple is someone that disciplines himself in imitating our Lord and following what His Word says. It's a discipline, of course, and sometimes it's hard to do, but we continue. The Bible says that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak sometimes. So we're here this morning, all the praise and glory for God for the opportunity. And we're going to be studying Jesus' feminine disciples. If you want to turn to the book of the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8. We're going to read verse 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 8 of the book of Luke. Verses from 1 to verse 3. And it came to pass afterward that he went throughout every day, every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him. The twelve apostles. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils. And Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. The first scripture reads that, and it came to pass afterward, which means they're following from chapter 7. Our Lord Jesus Christ was invited by a Pharisee to his home. If you turn back a little bit, turn backwards to chapter 7, and we see in the last parts, In verse 36, it says, one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to meet. And as was usual, I like verse 39. No, verse 38. Well, we'll read the whole thing, so get the real story set. And behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the meet in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at the feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." Now listen to this, verse 39, Now when the Pharisee, which had bidden him, saw it, he spoke within himself. He was just thinking about what he saw. He didn't speak it out loud. He spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner a woman this is. that touch him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Simon, I have something to say unto thee." The Lord could know what he was thinking because He knows everything. Amazing. It puts us on a stop right there. The Lord knows everything that we do and think, what we're going to say before we say it. And he said, Jesus answered him, said, Simon, not Simon Peter, but the Pharisee, I have something to say unto thee. And he said, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors, and one owed 500 pence, the other one 50. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman and said unto Simon, See thou this woman I entered into the house, thou gavest me no water for my feet, but she had washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss, but the woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint, But the woman has anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loveth much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that said it meet with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgives sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee. Go in peace. And that's where the next chapter enters in. I read some writings. They believe that this woman with the Evel Abester box, the oil that was ministering to the Lord, was Mary Magdalene, though I don't mention her name, but Mary Magdalene is brought up in the text. Throughout the scriptures, we read of women who reared the Lord, whose faith and words revealed the love of God that was in their hearts. The word reared, I have to look things up. Sometimes I can't figure it out. In the English language, I guess it's defined as bring up and cared for. In this situation of these feminine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would say they cared for Him. They ministered to Him. Now, I thought about it. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not mentioned here, or I guess because she was a mother of Jesus. But in this group, it says that many others, but I thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus, In the book of Luke, we're not going to turn there. I'm just going to paraphrase. She received the message from the angel that she had been chosen. She had been chosen of the Lord to be the vessel in which the Spirit of God should overshadow her and she should bring forth The Bible says, a holy thing shall be born of thee and shall be called the Son of God. For Mary, very humbly, after some confusion, I guess, Mary said, behold, the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. So she accepted the calling of God as to be that. We see that she also cared for Jesus when He was born, when He was in the stable. Also, when the Bible says that the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes. I always thought maybe there was whatever they could find there. Swaddling an infant in ancient times was a common practice showing a child was properly cared for. In other words, they wrapped up the newborn little babies to where they're nice and tight, and I guess so they won't either fall or won't hurt themselves by moving. But after that, Mary cared for Jesus as He was growing up. Took Him often yearly to the temple. And the Bible says that the child The child grew and waxed strong. And then we see him as he grows, 12 years old, and is found in the... They thought he was lost, but they searched for him, Joseph and Mary, and they found him teaching and asking questions in the temple with the rest of the Pharisees, or the wise men, the Bible says. Just a little side note on Mary, the mother of Jesus, how they took care of him while he was growing up, and reared him, I guess, in the admonition of the Lord, the Bible says. So, these women, disciples, reared minister to the Lord. whose faith and work reveals the love of God that was in their hearts and the work of the Spirit of God that had been wrought or how the Holy Spirit been working through them in their lives. In the New Testament, we find the record of such women who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, both during and after his early ministry. Luke, the beloved physician, mentions them by divine inspiration as certain women. Jesus distinguishing them from, it says, certain women, distinguishing them from other women of the day. It is certain that women who follow Jesus are going to be distinguishable from the feminine population at large. So extraordinary are women's spiritual strength that the wise men declared them to be more precious and rare than rubies. Verse 31, tense, reads, who can find a virtuous woman for her price, meaning her worth, is far above rubies. Not only do Jesus' feminine disciples stand out from the world and from other women in general, but we find that certain women like those in our text stand out even among the disciples of the Lord. Luke mentioned the women in our text as being company with the 12 apostles during Jesus' early ministry. We find that in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, if you want to turn there, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, and uh i mean chapter 15 sorry about that sir corinthians chapter 15 and then we find uh in verse 11 the bible says therefore whether it were well this is the apostle paul uh We're just gonna read verse 11. It says, therefore, whether it be we, therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preach and so, and so ye believed. And it mentions or they, which was the disciples, the apostles, and of course, the women probably together with them in this part of scripture here. It says, all the stars in the night shine, give light, display the beauty, wisdom, and power of God, but they differ in brightness. And God calls each and every one by name. Turn to Psalm 147. Psalm 147, and verse 2 through 5. The Bible says, well let's read from verse 1. Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant, and praise is comely. The Lord God built up Jerusalem. He strengthened together the outcasts of Israel. He healed the brokenhearted, and He binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power His understanding is infinite. Amen. He knows the stars by name, even though they're all more bright than the other, and the same way He knows each and one of us by name. He knows us by what we are made, how we are made. We serve a great, mighty, merciful, infinite, and incomparable God. He knows each of us distinctly, individually, and intimately. No greater proof of his love can we have than that he had chosen to do a work in us. And not just any work, but the work of saving, sanctifying, and sealing us in and through His own beloved Son and the blood He shed on Calvary. Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Very familiar chapter. We're going to read Let's read from verse 14. Verse 14 all the way to verse 18. For the law of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge, and if one died for all, there we're all dead. and that he died for all that they which live shall not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh, yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. What's he trying to say? He says that, therefore, if any man be in Christ, the next verse, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things have become new. And all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, paying for the remission of our sins, and made a new creation out of us. The only way that we can see this and other people is by their works. And the Bible says that fate without works is dead. So by our works, It is known that we are the followers of Jesus Christ, that he had changed us, he had made a new creation out of us. A little part of... A little part of the study here has a part of a scripture, I mean a hymn. It says, To God be the glory, great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, who yielded His life in atonement for sin, and opened the life gates that all may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. It is a... a hymn written by Fanny J. Crosby back in the 1800s. And this is kind of a introduction to the other part of the study. What Jesus did for his feminine disciples. The scripture records of these certain women who accompanied with Jesus and his apostles during his early ministry, that they, apostates, have been healed of evil spirit and infirmities by the Lord Jesus Christ. The text has mentioned Mary Magdalene. In particular, it is written that that seven devils were cast out of her. We see that Mary Magdalene was turned to Mark 16, turned to Mark 15 first. Mark 15 is right before Luke, not too far away. But we see Mary Magdalene, whom the Lord has healed her and has casted seven demons or devils out of her. But in chapter 15, verse 40, we see Mary Magdalene at the feet of the cross, as our Lord hung on the cross. And as everybody was watching Him, as He cried, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabatachi, which means, my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? In verse 40 we see that they were, it said, in verse 39, and when the centurions which stood over against him saw that he so cried out and gave up the ghosts, he said, truly this man was the son of God. There were also women looking on afar off. Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James. James the Less, and Josephus, and Solomon, who also when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered unto him and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. So we see Mary Magdalene at the feet of the cross was following our Lord Jesus Christ even until His death. If you turn the page, or right at the end of chapter 15 and verse 47, we see that Joseph of Arimathea An honorable counselor went to Herod and asked, up to Pilate, I'm sorry, Pilate, and asked for the body of Christ, and it was given to him to put in the sepulchre, as they called it in the Scriptures. And in verse 47, we see, and Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid, So she was at the cross, they were both there. They were also at the sepulchre where he was laid. They were close to every step of the cross. of the situation about the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 16, verse 1 said, And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him, Jesus. He was in the sepulchre. In verse 6, we see the angel ministering unto them they went to the sepulchre and they did not find them and in verse 60 said chapter 16 verse 16 he said unto them be not a frightened you see jesus of nazareth which was crucified he is risen he is not here behold the place where they laid him But go your way, tell all his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him, as he said unto him. Now in verse 9 we see where it says, Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, and out of whom he had casted seven devils. So, we see in the Scriptures where Mary Magdalene was a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ. We see her at the feet of the cross. We see her as it was taken to a sepulcher. We see her going back to the sepulcher the next day. And then we also see that she was there at the resurrection of our Lord. In verse 9, Now when Jesus was risen early in the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven devils. He says, each and every one of these women was the object of immeasurable love and recipient of amazing grace, the beneficiary of everlasting mercy, the workmanship of almighty power, Each had a different background. Mary Magdalene had been possessed of seven unclean spirits and almost unimaginable existence. Joanna was the wife of a servant of Herod whose carnal longings to see Jesus was matched by his self-centered, egotistical, Propensity for pleasure and killing the innocent. Remember how he ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. And we do remember that in the scriptures. and participating in condemnation of Christ to be crucified. Joanna lived and labored alongside a worldly power. That's the next disciple that was mentioned here. I didn't do a lot of research on her. But it says, Joanna lived and labored alongside a worldly power, which was Herod, the one that beheaded John the Baptist. He said, in the world of power and politics, whereas Mary Magdalene had doubtless lived as a lunatic, yet both became followers of the Lamb of God, being saved by His grace. He said, by His grace. Susanna, whose name means lily and matches the word used in the title of several of the Psalms, is named as one of these renowned feminine disciples of the Lord." Interesting. He said, but other than her name, her having been healed or unclean spirit or diseases by the Lord, and her substance, servant of the Lord, we know nothing. Eventually, she was just named there. And she was a disciple of the Lord like the other ones. Many others are named, perhaps, because Luke never personally met or interviewed them while compiling the record of those things which are most surely believed among us. The first chapter of Luke, if you want to turn there, Luke chapter 1, verse 1. The Bible says, for as much as many having taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. Amen. So it is a thought that is written there. The names, those that weren't, the personal names weren't written in the scriptures, but they were many. It says here, Our teachings, each of these women had been loved by God from eternity, sought by the good shepherd and brought into the fold of his safekeeping, rescued and released from the oppression of the devil, and made an heiress of God, and joined heiress with Christ of the everlasting kingdom of God. Each one constrained he ransomed me. There's another poem. There's a sweet, or hymn, there's a sweet and blessed story of the Christ who came from glory just to rescue me from sin and misery. He in loving kindness sought me and from sin and shame has brought me. Hallelujah, Jesus ransomed me. Jesus has done more and greater more and greater for us than anyone else would ever do. Jesus has done for us what we needed most and could not do for ourselves. Jesus has done for us what was impossible for any other to do. Jesus has done for us that which costs more than any and all else, and which is worth eternity. What Jesus did for us costs Him all. Every disciple of Christ can join these women in giving testimony of the Christ who did all, gave all, and is all for them. Turn to page of Ephesians, chapter two, verse one. Very familiar verse. We use it often. Minister to us always. Repetition learning. The Bible says in chapter 2 verse 1, it says, and you had he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. among whom also we all had our conversation or lifestyle in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and born by nature, the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love, wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace, as ye have saved, and hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, for his kindness tore us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. So, we being partakers, partakers of His grace, and in these times we're living in disciples of Jesus Christ, the Scripture tells us that we are of His workmanship, creating Christ Jesus unto good works. Amen. Not all whom Jesus saves were previously possessed with unclean spirits. Not all have been healed of diseases or disability. All whom Jesus saves are saved by the same way through faith in Him, by His grace and power undeserving under servingly, eternally, consciously or knowing, and unto good works and obedience to God and the Scriptures. These women did not follow Christ and support Him financially only for a little while. We find them following to the cross, to the sepulcher, and beyond. We read that phrase. They were members in the first congregation which Jesus established during His early ministry. He called them and they followed him. While they were not called to preach publicly, to perform works of healing, or to be apostles, they were called with the same gracious calling of salvation and service as every other member of one of God's churches. They followed the Bible teachings of financially supporting the ministry of the gospel and those who are called to preach and teach the word of God. They had received the gracious and free gift of heaven, therefore they gladly and generously gave of their earthly substance to the work of God and the workers of God. It said, before the day of Pentecost, when God added 3,000 souls to the church of Jerusalem, And the disciples were together and had all things common. They sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need. Turn to Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2. We're going to read Acts chapter 2 from verse 41 all the way to 49. 41 to 47. Then they that gladly received His word were baptized. The same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls. And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayer. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple and the breaking of bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." So we see the followers of the Lord, those disciples that followed Him, even after His death, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the apostles were commended to continue in the faith, to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation. And they did so. As we see, they assembled themselves in the Book of Acts, the scriptures we read. And according to the notes here, it says, therefore, It says, before the Day of Pentecost, when God added 3,000 souls to the Church of Jerusalem. They are our example and we have the privilege and duty to mark them and follow them as they follow Christ. Amen. What we do for Jesus can never equal what He has done. continue to do and will yet do for us. Yet, our love can overflow towards Him as His has toward us. We can minister to Him as He came and ministered to us. We can lay down our lives for Him and His disciples as He did for us. As He willingly gave up His glory and place which He had from eternity, to be made like us and come and save us by His grace, we can willingly take up our cross daily and follow Him. Amen. We're finishing a little early, like five minutes early. I'm going to break right there on that. I've been enjoying these studies, learning from them and being ministered to. And we pray this morning that some portion of this Scripture was also ministered unto you. And may the Lord add His blessing on the reading of His Word this morning. Amen. I was turning to palm trees and got a thorn in there. Not so bad now. It's been about a week. I have to go to the hospital and get antibiotics and stuff. I don't know where the bacteria is. That's why it was hard putting my tie on this morning. What did you say? I had a thorn and up there truffling the pages. It came out already, but. It looks swollen. It's swollen. You see it? Wow. It's been a week and it's still in there. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll be lucky to coach the house. I'll I screamed that night. I went to the doctor there, man. I went to the doctor and he squeezed it, and I couldn't lay down like this, so the pain just dropped down. And he keeps squeezing everything, but there's nothing there. He gave me antibiotics on it. Yeah, it's out. But, like I said, he tried to squeeze it and everything. I said, oh, that hurts. But all I wanted was to have my head in there and need to be squeezed like that. And the nerves were there once or twice. Sometimes it does have problems. Wow, all day. Last night, yesterday, last night. You got a little cold down in your area? It gets colder up there. I'll stay cool now. I'll get older. I don't have no body heat. What was it then? They had to come in and lay on him to keep him warm. So I guess if you get older you don't have a lot of heat. She bought a house. She bought another house. Good morning. She's down here right now, I guess. I haven't seen her. Oh, they live in Illinois. Yeah. Oh, I thought they lived, like, in Washington, D.C. or something. Yeah. That's where her husband grew up. That's right. They moved back home to be on the farm. Oh. Well, it's a little house, but it's, like, off the farm. And it was his aunt's house. Oh, man. That's messed up. Oh my goodness. I think the plastic ones are better. They don't break. Thank you. You've grown. It's almost like something you can tell us what you can find there. It's not normally like that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.