Integrity- People of God

WOMAN: HER TRUE IDENTITY AND TRUE PURPOSE

A woman’s true identity is in her created divine purpose and that is to reflect the image of God in her character and life. We must understand the design of woman before we can understand her purpose. God as woman’s creator is the ultimate authority of her purpose and calling.

Just as the manufacturer of a product is the authority on the product’s purpose and design, we must look to God the One who created woman to communicate her true purpose. There are many men, people groups, cultures and religions communities who have tried to label women and define them as it suits them. Nevertheless, her true purpose and definition must come from her creator, God Himself.

We must start with the word of God and understand that all scripture is God breathed. God’s word is the authority and is Preeminent. It is above all others in importance and distinction regardless of culture or people group. The reason some women fall short in fulfilling God’s purpose is because they have allowed others to define them. They lack knowledge of the truth of God’s word and accurate information from The Creator.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God [ may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge…. because you have ignored the law of your God …

Genesis 1:27-28a So God created man (human species) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them “be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of sea…”

Genesis 2:18 – Then God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

The word “helper” in the original language of Hebrew is “Ezer” which means to help, surround, protect.  The purpose of woman is to be an Ezer, to be someone who surrounds and protects, who is an essential counterpart to the man. She is to be a parallel an equivalent part of the revealed nature of God in the earth. Women were created in God’s image to reflect a specific part of His nature or character in the earth, His loving character, His desire to help and to partner with others.

Ezer- the female part of humanity is a vital and necessary part of the combined reflection of God’s glory that is revealed in both male and female. The female reflection or counterpart of God is not inferior or an afterthought of God. Women are the beautiful, intentional, counterpart to the male thus the two together make a complete Divine Likeness and the nature of God. Women primarily mirror or reflect what is called the Ezer nature of God, which is to invite, nurture, and partner or collaborate.

The male counterpart mirrors God’s likeness in the primary context of pursue, to provide and to protect. Both male and female reflect some or all of these qualities of God in some situations but for the purpose of highlighting God’s nature, we will emphasize the attributes that are seen in a large part in women.

Women were created to reflect God in the framework of relationships and there are so many relationships such as daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, mother, and wife. While women mostly focus on wife/mother roles, they are only part of who they are and their purpose to display God’s reflection in many roles and relationships in the earth.

Everything about being a woman and every relationship is essential and valuable because every woman reflects God in each of themselves. A woman’s value is not first in what she does but in the person God created her to be and it should reflect His glory on the earth. Our Purpose or calling as Ezer is to reflect God’s character in the context of our relationships. People should see the love of God, His tender mercy and His desire to help in time of need.

God said it was not good for man to be alone, but He gave man more than one relationship, not only a wife. God gave humanity multiple relationships father/ mother, sister/brother, uncle/aunt, niece and nephew, cousins, husband/wife all these are in the context of family. God even gave us friends those we can partner with outside of our families. God made multifaceted complex people like Himself. God is so complex – God is so vast – God is so awesome He cannot be contained in one form He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

In our individuality- personality, gifts and passions, we are to display the Divine Portrait of God, which is reflected in both male and female. If either the man or the woman fails to reflect God in the earth then there will not be a true and accurate picture of God to the world.

God is inviting and inclusive as He has invited mankind to participate in the dominion and rule over the earth. Women are to invite and request the presence or participation of others in our lives to show them the love of God.
Genesis 22:18 through you (Abraham) all the nations of the earth will be blessed- God is inviting to all people and nations-

God is nurturing… Caring for and encouraging the development of another in a way that creates strength in them and enables them to flourish.
Hosea11:3-4 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arm, it was I who healed them… I bent down to feed them.

God Partners with us, He is a comforter, He is our companion, His is our advocate, He is an intercessor and He comes along side to help us. This is the helper God created woman to be in the earth, to show His qualities as a partner, a comforter, companion, advocate, intercessor and someone who will come along side and help those who are in \need.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 1:5-6 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13    for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.