After John Piper finished his session, a “True Woman Profile” played on the screen. It was the story of one of the women at the conference and told of her conversion to Christ in prison. This was followed by the Getty’s singing “The Power of the Cross” and “When I Survey.” And then it was Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ turn to speak and she took as her text Romans 11:33-36. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’”
This passage offers a grid to respond to God’s sovereign control over lives and she spent some time looking at the character of God as it is revealed in this text.
She focused first on the word “depth,” saying and emphasizing that there is much more depth to be found in the person and character of God than in anything else in all of creation. And there are riches in God that far surpass any riches this world can offer. God has complete wisdom and knowledge, knowing everything about everything not just on the macro level but also on the micro. He knows all there is to know about the past and the future—your past and future. God’s ways are beyond understanding—they are unfathomable or past finding out. She quoted John Piper who once said, “In every situation, God is always doing a thousand different things that you cannot see and you do not know.” And so she progressed through the passage, providing teaching about each of the phrases.
And then she ask asked what the response is to be to all of this. Paul’s response was simple: To him be glory forever amen. The response is to put God in the spotlight where he belongs. We worship him and give him the glory, submitting lives to his holy, eternal purposes. What does this have to do with being a true woman? It has everything to do with it and DeMoss offered three points of applications.
1. A true woman lives a God-centered life. She lives for God’s glory and pleasure and not her own. When the true woman sees the magnitude of God’s greatness, it gives context to her puny challenges (even challenges that may seem so huge).
2. A true woman trusts God. We live in a fearful world but God has a plan and his plan cannot, will not, be thwarted. God is the one who defines good and the true woman trusts in him and in his definition of what is good.
3. A true woman says “Yes, Lord.” You can’t call him “Lord” and say anything other than “yes.” The true woman recognizes that her life is not her own and she lives for the glory of God. She affirms that God’s purposes for creating male and female are good and wise. She accepts the way God made her and who she is. She does it with a grateful heart. Saying “yes” may mean saying “no” to a lot of other things.
It really comes down to this: trust and obey. The pathway may be scary since we walk by faith and not by sight, but like Paul, eventually we will get to the heights and take in the beautiful vista of God’s will and plan. And then we will stand and be amazed.
At this point DeMoss asked the women to take from the tote bags they were each given the white hankie. This is to be used throughout the event as a symbol of surrender—a symbol of saying “Yes, Lord.” As the women find themselves surrendering to what God is teaching them, they can wave this flag as a visible symbol of a spiritual, inward reality.
And with a final hymn, the first day of the conference came to an end. And just like this, my day needs to come to an end. I’ve been awake for a long, long time now. I’ll be back tomorrow with more updates.
Comments (16) »
1. Rachael Starke
October 10, 2008
12:03 AM
Tim, first, a belated thankyou for doing this. I actually find reading these sessions before listening to them really valuable in helping me get the basic premise and then to decide if it would be helpful to listen to it word for word. So, thank you again, brother, for, in the immortal words of Mr. Shatner, going where no man has gone before.
As for this session, as described here, there seems to be one very critical thing that Appears to be missing. I say “seems” and “appears” because I want to be really careful and not assume that you’ve gotten this word for word. But It’s a pretty big thing, and if it was truly missing, then I would have left this session as disappointed and frustrated as the first session left me uplifted and hopeful.
There’s also one thing that probably Should be missing, but perhaps a wiser woman than I can offer up a truly helpful insight regarding the hankies.
On both counts, I’ll wait until others with more discernment and years of wisdom than I weigh in. But, on first read, this session was pretty discouraging.
2. Jeannine
October 10, 2008
6:40 AM
Thank you for covering the conference! I would have loved to go, but it just wasn’t the time etc. for a travel overseas. I’m looking forward to read more about it.
3. J.P.H.
October 10, 2008
9:09 AM
4. David Nelson
October 10, 2008
9:16 AM
Tim: I am a pastor in Perry, NY (south of Rochester). Through my wife, we have been participating in the live feed of the conference. Last night’s messages were clear and appropriate and filled with hope. Thank you for your updates. I’ve already downloaded your synopsis of Piper’s message along with Carol’s on DeMoss. These will make for great memory joggers, as well as, we trust, heart encouragers.
5. Jim Vellenga
October 10, 2008
9:23 AM
Rachael, I’m not sure what you noticed that is missing, but it strikes me that the doxology in Romans 11 grows directly, not out of God’s awesomeness in general, but his saving plan and purpose in Christ. I don’t see that mentioned here at all.
As for the hankie, I think it is silly, not evil, not wrong, but I do think it is silly. Could it be helpful to some, maybe as symbols can be helpful. Having said that, I have never liked these sort of things, but maybe it is because I am a man.
Lastly Rachael, if you see something seeming to be missing, I suggest you state what you think it is, rather than leaving it up to guess work. Do it graciously, much like you did above.
6. Jessica Watson
October 10, 2008
11:06 AM
The lesson sounds good, based upon Tim’s summary, but I totally agree with Jim that the hankie thing is downright silly. Jim is right that it isn’t evil, but why would such a serious message as one about the sovereignty of God be concluded on such a silly note. Does any woman find such things truly helpful? I would find it embarrassing, which is why I generally avoid woman’s conferences. The preaching and doctrinal ones that I attend with my husband don’t usually have such “symbolic” aspects to them.
The serious exposition of God’s Word seems to be enough at these sorts of conferences that are geared toward men, though women are allowed to attend. I am not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but if it is just at woman’s conferences that these sorts of things happen, why?
7. Laurie
October 10, 2008
11:17 AM
“As the women find themselves surrendering to what God is teaching them, they can wave this flag as a visible symbol of a spiritual, inward reality.”
This one makes me bristle, for this reason:
“Beware of practicing you righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from you Father who is in heaven…..And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocreites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to you Father who is in secret. And you Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Mt. 6: 1, 5-7)
To encourage public displays like this is not a good idea. Rather, Christ warns us to “beware” of such behavior. There is no benefit to be gained from waving a hanky in this setting; on the contrary, there is risk - risk of encouraging hypocritical displays. Our Father in heaven does not look for waving hankies; He sees what is in our hearts.
8. Jim Vellenga
October 10, 2008
11:37 AM
I’m not as opposed to it as Laurie as at least in part Jesus exhortation to not practice one’s righteousness before men is based on an attitude that wants the praise of men. That is the motivation is wrong looking for human approval. Hence one could wave a hankie and not be ignoring this warning of Christ.
Having said that, as I consider this more, I find part of why I don’t particularly like this is that it doesn’t have a longer effect. Wouldn’t it have been better for them to put a small notebook in the packet and a pen, then encourage the women who find a place where they have been convicted of needing to submit to the sovereignty of God to write down on that note pad what precisely they need to surrender to him. That way they actually have a record of it, and could be further encouraged to review that and pray that God will further open their eyes to this and through Christ’s work empower them to actually submit. That strikes me as an approach that could have a much more lasting effect as a reminder than a hankie.
9. Stacy
October 10, 2008
11:47 AM
Rachael, I tend to get exasperated with gimmicks for women’s conferences/speakers/etc., but I don’t think I’m typical for a woman. Sometimes it’s an image or word-picture that sticks, and if it causes a true, biblical thought to stick, then go for it. Jesus spoke often in story and symbolically, so I don’t want to shoot the hankie down for seeming silly.
As far as Nancy not mentioning the gospel, that’s a fair critique. In the past, I have forgotten that principle thinking that the women I speak to know God, but a wise woman pointed out to me that I should never assume that. So I hope that I’ve learned that lesson, plus, every Christian needs the gospel daily to remember who we are in Christ. Anyway, I agree Rachael, but admit to erring in the past on this myself.
10. Rachael Starke
October 10, 2008
12:58 PM
Jim, Thanks. My reluctance was born out of multiple factors - it was late, I was waiting for my wise, discerning husband to get home so I could think out loud with him rather than here, and yet found myself so frustrated that I still spoke anyway. Hmmm, I think Proverbs 17:28 has something to say in that regard, so thanks. :)
All that being said, I appreciate those who have commented on the lack of connection Nancy made between any of her action statements with the gospel. Perhaps the contrast was stark because of how masterfully Piper has just done it, and perhaps she even assumed that people would make the connection. But as Stacy mentioned, nothing that Nancy spoke about is possible without the wonderful, ongoing, transforming power of the cross.
As for the hankie thing, I think it goes beyond being an artificial outward display at righteousness. It sets up an artificial “playing field:” for the speaker, an artificial indicator of what the Holy Spirit is or isn’t doing. What if someone speaks, and no one does it?? Is that indicating anything at all about what the Holy Spirit is doing? Conversely, what if lots of women do it? And what are they doing it about??
There’s more I could say, but a field trip with my kids is waiting - need to go be a True Woman to them. :) I’m looking forward to reading/listening to the other sessions, and the discusson.
11. Dan Hagan
October 10, 2008
2:49 PM
At first blush (seeing the hankie use mentioned on Tim’s live link) I thought it a novel way of outwardly reacting to something that weighed upon one’s heart or was particularly convicting. Then having read the heartfelt comments here I’m giving the whole concept a re-review in my mind and in my heart.
If we are honest with ourselves, there are many ways to put a false piety or our depravity on display during a sermon/worship experience. It is the motivation and the sincerity of the act that delineates an honest self-conviction and a heartfelt passion for Christ; as opposed to the praise seeking of the flesh and the self-glorifying, hypocritical display of false piety. But who is to know which is being displayed? Certainly, and absolutely, only the Lord truly knows the heart. Let Him decide on an individual basis who is true and who is false.
One reason I say this is because many churches encourage the raising of hands during corporate prayer and the singing of hymns. This is a common (hopefully genuine) reaction to, and is inspired by, the word and the song. Yet, this act is also rife with the potential for a false or hypocritical display of devotion. However, since it is a more common practice than that of the “hankie wave”, it is not viewed with suspicion. Perhaps….?
I also apply the assumption of innocence to the organizers of the conference. I assume that they were not seeking to install a “success meter” into the audience when they passed out the hankies. They were simply trying to give each participant a unique (for the gathering) way of expressing themselves when heart-fully struck by what was presented. It is up to the speaker to guard himself against any and all self-praise by not appraising his performance by the various “hankie wave” responses to the message being delivered. The same can be said for the Pastor who looks for measured responses during the delivery of his sermon, trying to gage his effectiveness.
I think Laurie was thinking along the lines of Matthew 6, where Christ addresses the false acts of hypocrites, whether they be praying or fasting: Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Again, only God knows the hearts of those at the conference. No one at the conference is walking the streets to “show men” their piety. Hopefully, they are all attending the conference with a common “Christ honoring” goal. Just as it should be when we attend our worship service at church.
All this is said with Christ at the center….. Anything true and good is His… Anything bad and wrong is mine!
Dan…
12. Larry Geiger
October 10, 2008
3:00 PM
At a men’s conference, the men would gratefully thank the organizers for the wonderful hankie. Soon after the conference it would end up under the car with an oily oil plug lying on it or stuffed into a golf bag.
13. John Watson
October 10, 2008
3:33 PM
Being a man, I would have probably already used the hankie for its intended purpose long before we got to the last session of the day.
14. Christi
October 12, 2008
10:52 PM
I was there at the conference and didn’t use the hankie once. Neither did most of the women around me. One of the reasons, in my observation, they weren’t being used is because there were scads of people taking copious notes. I also noted that there was not “full on” applause throughout the conference in response to what I thought were profound and practically pertinent points (say that three times). I also attribute that to the fact that many women did not have their hands free to do so because of the truths being shared were too precious to not write down. I think the hankie is silly as well, but it will function more effectively as a memory jogger in the weeks and months to come for the truths and precepts I learned or was reminded of while there. Of course, there were people who wore it in their hair (?) and through their belt loops for easy “access” to wave but IMO, that didn’t happen that often and I didn’t think it was taken as a showy, “look-at-me, I’ve-surrendered-to-the-Holy-Spirit-on-this-point” type of thing, whether that was the intention of the leaders or not. Anyway, just my two cents since I was present at the conference.
15. colleen spencer
October 16, 2008
11:36 PM
I loved the hankie “thing”. I use hankies daily and it is a reminder to me to always be saying “yes,. Lord ” in my life. The last day of the conference I tripped and fell injuring my dominant arm , In the Chicago ER I found myself saying “yes, Lord” , whatever you have for me. I felt such peace then and now. Maybe people are worried about a whole group of Christian women waving them. But it is the same to me as us all singing and praising God in song. Do we celebrate God in song or by waving hankies together? I loved being with such a large group of Christian women praising God. Some people raised their hands and I worshipped along with them, but did not raise my hands. They were not being self-righteous because I saw them lift their hands.
16. Morgan
October 17, 2008
3:44 PM
Wish they would drop these gimmicks and clutter-junk at conferences .
Seems a bit too “Oprah-ish” .
Jesus didn’t give out “stuff” did He ?