Message Four:
Meeting the Lord's Need in Special and Normal Situations

Introductory Word

In this message we come to the function of the sisters as a practical matter. The function of the sisters in the church life has two aspects. First, the sisters have a specific function when the church is going through a crucial time or a special situation. Second, the sisters have a normal function in the church life apart from the special circumstances. The Bible gives us examples concerning both aspects of the sisters' function.

The Specific Function of the Sisters
Turning the Situation of God's People During Crucial Times of Need

The function of the sisters is often to meet a very specific need. When we look at the examples of sisters in the Bible we may notice something unusual. On one hand many serious problems among God's people came from the sisters, yet on the other hand many negative situations were turned into something positive because of the sisters. This shows that sisters can cause serious problems and can also render great blessings. When the condition of God's people is at its worst, often a sister is raised up to turn the situation. We see this especially in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament, when God's people were in a poor condition, a sister was often raised up to turn the situation. Then when the condition of God's people became low again, another sister came and turned the situation. For example, when the Israelites were in Egypt and the situation was becoming so desperate, He raised up the mother and sister of Moses in order to save Moses' life. These two sisters saved and protected the life of the Lord's servant, which gave the Lord a way to turn the situation and deliver Israel. Then in the book of Judges, when the condition of Israel was so low and dark, the Lord raised up Deborah. She stood with Barak to fight for Israel and turned the situation. Then in the book of Judges Israel continued to get worse until eventually the whole situation was utterly miserable. So the Lord raised up Ruth. Then after Ruth the situation was dark and confused again, so the Lord raised up Hannah, the mother of Samuel. In each case a sister was raised up to meet a specific need and turn the situation of God's people.

This shows us that a sister has a very special function. A sister is able to turn the situation of God's people. We would think that turning a difficult situation would require the brothers, but this is only partially true. Before Moses could be used, two sisters were there. Before Barak could be used, Deborah was there. In the dark and confused situation of Israel, first Ruth was there, and then Hannah was there. In the New Testament, the most striking example is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary was used to bring the greatest turn at the most crucial time. The situation of God's people could not have been worse, yet because of this sister the Lord was able to have a way. Sisters are in a special place to respond to the Lord's burden to turn this kind of situation.

We should realize that a sister has a very specific function. This function is to turn a situation from degradation to healthiness. We can see this also in the history of the Lord's recovery. Brother Nee was saved through a sister, and then was raised up by another sister. Brother Lee was also saved through a sister. When the Lord desires to do something to turn a situation, He uses the sisters. The Lord uses the sisters to do a very specific work for His burden, for His testimony, and for His people.

The Negative Aspect of the Sisters' Function

There is also a negative aspect concerning the sisters' function. When a sister is used by the Lord to meet a specific need, there is sometimes an unpleasant result. The most obvious example is Miriam, the sister of Moses. Miriam was used by the Lord to meet a specific need by saving the life of her brother. Then when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea she took the lead to sing and dance before the Lord. But this same Miriam was the one who took the lead to rebel against Moses. Because of her rebellion the children of Israel were hindered (Num. 12:1,15). We need to learn that a sister who was used in such a positive way can still become a problem to God's people at a later time. Deborah from the book of Judges is also an example. She was raised up by the Lord to encourage the brothers to fight. But after Israel's victory she sang a song that glorified herself. "...Until I, Deborah, rose up; until I rose up as a mother of Israel" (Judg. 5:7b). The Bible speaks of Deborah in a very positive way, but in reading these verses there is still something bothersome. For a sister to declare, "I am the mother of Israel," seems to be self-exalting.

The Lord can use sisters to make a crucial turn, yet problems may still arise. As we have seen, when the Lord uses a sister she may eventually become a problem. However, Ruth and Hannah were never a problem. Mary, the mother of Jesus, made some minor mistakes, but the Lord knew how to take care of her, and she was never a serious problem. These sisters are examples to encourage us. If a sister is careful before the Lord, then even after she is used, she can still remain healthy.

The Secrets of How a Sister Becomes Qualified to Meet the Lord's Specific Need

Now we should consider, what qualifies a sister to be used by the Lord to meet His need in a specific situation? And what preserves a sister from becoming a problem after the Lord has used her? The answers are found in Luke 1:46-55. This is Mary's testimony after being greeted and blessed by her cousin Elizabeth. These verses contain four secrets of how a sister can be used by the Lord to meet His need in a special situation.

Verse References:

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has exulted in God my Savior; because He has looked upon the low estate of His slave. For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is unto generations and generations, unto those who fear Him. He has exercised might with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the understanding of their heart. He has brought down potentates from thrones and has exalted the humble; the hungry He has filled with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has upheld Israel His servant to remember mercy, even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. - Luke 1:46-55

Keeping a Low Estate

These verses are Mary's testimony. Everyone likes to memorize verses 46 and 47: "...My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has exulted in God my Savior." But why was Mary able to experience this? How did she become so useful? The answer is in verse 48: "Because He has looked upon the low estate of His slave." Sisters, it is always precious to keep a low estate. Whether the Lord can use you has so much to do with how high or how low you are. To keep yourself in a low estate is the secret for the Lord to use you. After Mary testified that she was in low estate, she said, "For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed" (v. 48b). How can a sister be blessed by the Lord? By being in a low estate.

For a sister to function in a healthy way, she must remain in her low estate. Why did Miriam become a problem? The Bible first shows her to be a nice young girl. She went to the daughter of Pharaoh and asked her, "Do you want me to find a nursing mother for this little baby?" But then years later the Bible shows us another picture: "How can God speak through Moses, and not through me?" This is the same person. How did she become rebellious? Because the low estate disappeared. Sisters by nature can leave their low estate because of very small things. It is easy for sisters to come out of their low estate. This is why Mary's testimony is so precious: "He has looked upon the low estate of His slave." This is one secret for a sister's healthy function.

Fearing the Lord and Seeking His Mercy

The next verses contain another secret for a sister to be used by the Lord. "Because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is unto generations and generations, unto those who fear Him" (v. 49-50). For Mary to be used by the Lord she had to realize that God always has mercy unto those who fear Him. From our point of view we should have a godly fear, and from God's point of view He has mercy. These are simple but crucial words, and they are more for the sisters than for the brothers. For a brother to be used prominently by the Lord is normal, while for a sister to be used prominently by the Lord is special. If a church is weak, then brothers can come and labor and in one year the church will become strong. But for sisters to turn a situation into life, they will realize that they need mercy. They can't stand up and give a message to the brothers, "You brothers are so dead! You must be alive!" Sisters are not in the position of doing such things. Within a sister there should be a fear towards the Lord, looking unto the Lord for mercy. A sister should realize, "Lord, if I can really do something as a blessing to the church, it is only because of You. I need to fear You, and You must have mercy."

Suppose a local church is in a weak and heavy condition. What should a sister do? She should go to the Lord with fear, and look unto Him for mercy. If such a sister prays for the situation, and then her prayer is answered, she must be careful. She shouldn't boast and say, "I prayed for the situation and now it's turned around. Now people are getting saved and coming to the meetings. I brought the church into life!" Once she says this, her low estate is gone. It is important to remember that for a sister to be used or take the lead in such a prominent way is special and for a particular situation. She must be in a low estate, have a godly fear, and look unto the Lord for mercy. This is not easy, but it is necessary. If a sister does not learn this, then the Lord cannot use her. Many crucial situations have been turned around by sisters. However, those sisters who were used by the Lord had a certain healthy realization: they were of low estate, they feared the Lord, and they looked to Him for mercy.

Keeping a Low Degree

"He has exercised might with his arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the understanding of their heart. He has brought down potentates from thrones and has exalted the humble" (v. 51-52). This last portion of the verse can also be translated, "...and has exalted them of low degree." The third secret Mary learned was to be in a "low degree." This goes beyond the first secret of being in a low estate. For a sister to be in a low degree, she must realize, "If the Lord uses me, it is because of a special situation. I am not someone that the Lord must use." The Lord used Ruth and Hannah, but it was a special situation. This is true of all the sisters the Lord used in the Bible. They were used because a situation was somewhat unhealthy. If a sister is of a high degree, she cannot be used in a special situation. For a sister to be used by the Lord she must be of a low degree.

Sisters should learn to be careful. When they are of high degree, even though they may see that the church is frustrated, they may actually add to that frustration. For example, if a sister is serving, it is not so healthy for her to rebuke the brothers. If a sister says to the brothers that a meeting was dead because of something that she thinks was not right, this shows she does not have a low degree. On the other hand, a leading brother has the place to say something. A leading brother can stand up in a meeting and say, "The reason we are frustrated is because our prayers are too long." But a sister shouldn't do this. However, it is easy for sisters to desire to function in this way. Ironically, because sisters are so fine and delicate, they often know what is wrong. Many times when the brothers don't realize something is wrong, the sisters know already. But if a sister sees that something is wrong and yet exercises beyond her place, it proves that she is not in a low degree. Instead she makes herself quite high. Mary was used by the Lord because she kept herself in a low degree.

Maintaining A Spiritual Hunger

Then verse 53 says, "The hungry He has filled with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty." Another secret for being used by the Lord is maintaining a spiritual hunger. The key to maintaining a spiritual hunger is not to be occupied with our experiences, especially our victories. When a sister has a victory, her victory often becomes self-enjoyment. If she enjoys the Lord for an hour in the morning she may think about that one hour for the entire day. This means that she has lost her hunger. Our spiritual experiences can take our hunger away and make us feel content with what we have enjoyed. For a sister to be used by the Lord she must maintain her spiritual hunger.

In Mary we see someone with a soul that magnified the Lord and a spirit that rejoiced in Him. How could she be so healthy? Her testimony gives us four secrets. First, she was of low estate. Second, she feared God and looked unto Him for mercy. Third, she was of low degree. She was a simple "country woman" from Galilee who seemingly knew so little, yet she loved and desired the Lord. Fourth, she was spiritually hungry. She was not content with what she had experienced previously. These basic qualities allowed the Lord to use her in such a great way.

The Need for "Mary's" - Sisters Who Can Rescue the Church from a Desperate Situation

Whenever the church comes to a desperate situation, there is the need for some sisters that the Lord can use. There have been cases in the past where the prayer of a group of sisters helped save the church from disaster. The more desperate the situation of the church, the more the sisters' function is needed. We have already seen examples of this in the Old Testament. We need to be impressed that many times the church will come to a desperate situation. For several months the meetings may be dead, the gospel may be limited, or the church life in general may be frustrated. Even many saints may seem to get sick for no reason. This means that the church is confronting a special situation. This is when sisters, more than the brothers, must rise up to rescue the church. What kind of sisters can rescue the church from its situation? Only sisters who are simple and lowly like Mary. Suppose a sister says, "I have been in the church many years. I know what to do, and I know what needs to be taken care of." Then she is not a "Mary." A sister who talks this way is not of low estate, she does not fear the Lord, she does not look for mercy, she is not of low degree, and she is not spiritually hungry. She is just opinionated, and therefore cannot be used by the Lord. When the church confronts a desperate situation there is the need for many "Mary's." At such a time there is the need for many simple and lowly sisters who the Lord can use to turn the situation.

Functioning by the Imparting of Life

When a sister applies a positive exercise in the proper way she can bring the church into resurrection. There is a great need in the church life for sisters who have this ability. However, this kind of function is difficult to obtain, and sisters who have this function can easily become opinionated. The exercise of the sisters should not be through their opinions, but through the imparting of life.

Whenever the church is going through a crucial situation, the sisters should rise up to exercise a certain kind of function. This function must be by the imparting of life. The sisters do not need to wait for the brothers to announce something before they can begin to function. They should pick up the burden to pray and exercise. The brothers may do many things outwardly to save the situation, but the sisters' function is different. The sisters can function behind the scenes in a hidden way to impart life. The sisters need to tell the Lord, "Lord, we are here to stand with You when the church goes through a critical time. We are not here to be opinionated. We are here to impart life and exercise in a positive way." This will save the church when it is going through a desperate situation.

The Normal Function of the Sisters Loving the Lord: Giving to Him, Standing with Him, and Seeking Him

Sisters have a normal function when the situation of the church is normal. In the New Testament there are many sisters who can serve as illustrations. For example, there are several sisters named "Mary." In the gospel of John there is one "Mary" who broke her alabaster flask of ointment and offered everything out of her love for the Lord (John 12:3). There is another "Mary," the wife of Clopas, who stood by Jesus when He was on the cross (John 19:25). Then there is Mary the Magdalene who was seeking for Jesus even after He was buried, until eventually she saw Him in resurrection (John 20:11-18). All of these three "Mary's" were normal and healthy in their function. What was the source of their function? Their function came from their love for the Lord. Because they loved the Lord so much, they functioned in a healthy way. The first "Mary" functioned in the way of giving. She loved the Lord and gave herself to the Lord for His satisfaction. The second "Mary" functioned by standing with the Lord. She stood with the Lord even when He was on the cross. The third "Mary" functioned in seeking the Lord, until she was brought into resurrection. All of their functioning was from their love for the Lord.

These three "Mary's" show us that the normal and healthy function of the sisters is simply a matter of love. When sisters love the Lord they will have a normal function. First, they will offer to Him. They will give themselves to Him and offer whatever they have. Concerning the matter of financial and material offerings, we do not need to be so worried about how much we should give. We should just learn to give in a positive way and trust in the Lord for His supply. Whatever is most precious to us, whatever it is that we treasure the most, we should learn to give it to the Lord. Then the second aspect of the sisters' normal function is to stand with him. Out of their love for the Lord the sisters should stand with Him in whatever He is going through. Thirdly, the sisters should seek after the Lord's presence. Because they enjoy meeting with the Lord they should be seeking Him all the time, until they are brought into resurrection. Offering to the Lord, standing with the Lord, and seeking the Lord are normal functions of the sisters. These functions have their source in loving Him. A sister's love for the Lord will cause her to function in a normal and healthy way.

Opening Their Homes

Another aspect of the sisters' normal function is the opening of their homes. We see this with another "Mary" in the New Testament, Mary the mother of Mark. When Peter was released from jail he went to her home because the church was meeting there to pray (Acts 12:11-12). For a sister to open her home, especially for a meeting of the church, means that she will lose her privacy. Whenever there is a meeting at someone's home it means that their privacy was lost. This is why many sisters do not want people to come into their homes. Sisters love their privacy. Sisters usually do not want their home environment to be "invaded." They worry about their house becoming disorganized or dirty, or they worry about not having enough time with their husbands. However, sisters need to learn how to allow people into their homes. This is an important aspect of their normal and healthy function.

The more a sister can lose her privacy and allow her environment to be "invaded," the more she can function. Mary is a good example to us. Because Mary allowed the saints into her home, there was a place for the church to pray and a place for Peter to go to. Sisters, to have someone over to your home means that you may lose your sense of control over your environment. Things may no longer be according to your way. But it is still a normal and necessary function. The more people you can welcome to your home, the better. If you are not able to open up your home, at least take the lead to go to someone else's home. Try to get out of your "bird's nest" and come into something more proper. In the church life we should not love our privacy too much. This is not an easy lesson to learn, but it is necessary for our normal function.


Another function of the sisters is seen in Romans 16. Here Paul greets "Mary, one who has labored much for us" (Rom. 16:6). We don't know how Mary labored, or how she served Paul. But apparently Paul had needs which were taken care of by this sister. This "Mary" labored for the ones who served the Lord at that time. After loving the Lord, offering to Him, standing with Him, pursuing Him, and opening up their homes, sisters also must learn to labor for the Lord.

The healthiness of the church is related to how many in the church life are laboring. This is not easy for sisters, especially if they are married and have children. After just one or two children a sister will feel so overwhelmed that to even consider laboring seems impossible. All she can think about is just having a few hours of rest by herself. But even so, here is a sister named "Mary" in the Bible who labored for Paul and his coworkers. Sisters must learn how to labor. The labor in this verse is related to producing life. This labor is not like the work at an office. This labor is comparable to the work at a farm. Someone who works at a farm must handle something of life so that more life can be produced. To labor for the Lord is to produce life, and this is one function of the sisters.

How should a sister function in a normal way? Her first function is to love the Lord. She loves the Lord by giving to Him, standing with Him, and seeking after Him. Her second function is to allow her home to be invaded. She should open her home and lose her privacy so that people can be taken care of. Her third function is to labor. Sometimes we can have the first and the second without having the third. We love the Lord, we offer to Him, we stand with Him, we seek after Him, and then we open up our homes to the saints. Yet we lack the genuine labor that produces life. We may open up our homes, but the result is more of a "social life" than a labor. We end up talking about different things, but there is no life. The reason there is no life is because we don't know how to produce life. A proper labor is to handle the things of life, and then to impart and produce life. Without life, it is difficult to labor. Sisters, for you to labor you must be a person who has a certain amount of life. You must know how to handle and impart life. When you invest your person into such a labor, that labor will become effective. This is another normal function of the sisters.

The Example of Priscilla and Aquila

Another example of a sister from the New Testament who functioned in a normal way is Priscilla, the wife of Aquila. As a couple, Priscilla and Aquila were very much used by the Lord. When they were first mentioned in the book of Acts, they were called "Aquila and Priscilla." But in Romans 16:3 Paul calls them "Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila." It is very unusual for Paul to mention a sister before her husband. In a sense, for Paul to say such a thing was to deny the proper order. We may assume that for Priscilla to be named before her husband indicates that her function was special. Actually, her function was quite normal. When a sister knows how to stand with her husband and how to support her husband's burden, then eventually the sister will be manifested. She will become a rich blessing to the church. Priscilla paid the price to stand with her husband Aquila when he desired to go to another place and raise up a testimony. The husband took the lead and his wife stood with him. Through this process she had a growth and manifestation in life. Eventually when the couple was in Rome, Paul greeted them as "Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 16:3). This means that Priscilla had an effective operation as a sister. This example shows us that a sister should not despise herself or treat herself as "nothing." She should learn to respect her portion. A sister should realize that the Lord has given her a tremendous opportunity to grow in the church life. Eventually when a sister goes through the process of growth by functioning in a normal way, she can become a great blessing to the church.

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