Rightly Dividing the WORD of TRUTH. Women are in the Bible from beginning to end, used of the Lord, instructing and proclaim God’s will to both men and women. Robin’s comments: Kelli understands submission and authority. In that submission, has come a freedom to be released in God. a. Not only does she serve me well. She is my helper facing with me in building and leading a people for the LORD. She does this wholeheartedly and without reserve. Never has she sacrificed me, her husband and pastor on an altar of her ego or dreams but I have seen her sacrifice her dreams to fulfill mine. b. I know for a fact that she has served other pastors for their vision to be fulfilled. c. She has a God given authority to teach and to preach d. Her heart hurts for other women ministers and preachers who are lamblasted by men and women who do not really know their bible. I have just seen some post this past couple of weeks that really grieve the Holy Ghost in me. I shared them with my husband and I felt to respond and I have his full permission to do so. Well, let’s just see what really is the truth of the matter….. New Testament I Corinthians 14:34-39 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. First- note a couple of things about this scripture in context Paul is talking to the church about how the law was written that women were to keep silence in the church. It doesn’t say silent but silence. This was something that the Pharisee’s had added to the law. Nowhere is there a corresponding reference found anywhere in the Old Testament to this law. Paul goes on to write- God’s word came to all of us and can come out of all of us. The word brethren in 1 Cor 14:39 orginal greek means – brotherhood , believers. Just as other scriptures reference only brethren but is known to include sisters as well. So is this portion of scripture. Paul finished this portion of correction with this Wherefore, brothers and sisters, covert to prophesy and forbid not anyone to speak in tongues. 1 Timothy 2:12 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. The orginal greek says- I permit not wife/ woman to teac/control her husband/man as to wrestle away his authority. Its all in the attitude of the heart of the woman it would seem. As long as the teaching is not done in the manner to remove the authority from husband/man in a power struggle- it is permitted. I think a lot of women who are not called to preach/teach tried to control their husbands and make them yes, man and these women never get behind a pulpit. Romans 16:1-4 16 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant ( greek word- , preacher of the gospel) of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Let’s see what the Old Testament does say about women in the church. God made Eve Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Help meet in the orginal Hebrew is Helper Facing Forward. Kelli’s note: The enemy was worried about one man. He never showed up until there were two. Following is the biblical principal of the power of two Deut 32:30One can put a thousand to flight, Two can put thousand to flight…. Ecc 4:. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. God would have slew Moses if not for his wife Zipporah - Exodus 4:24-26 Miriam was a prophetess and lead all of Israel in praise and worship after the Red Sea victory. Exodus 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Kelli’s note: She didn’t do this with her mouth shut. She didn’t only do it to the women. Judges 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth ( firebrand, fiery), she judged Israel at that time. Kelli’s note: Most people have been lead to believe that God only appointed Deborah because there were no man to be found which is not scriptural or true. Deborah was married to a mighty warrior. Deborah was a judge and a prophetess and she received instruction from the LORD which she gave to the captain of the army on how to do battle. He followed them and wrought victory (Judg. 4:6–9; cp. Samuel, 1 Sam. 15:2–3, As a prophetess Deborah summoned Barak and delivered an oracle giving him God’s instructions for a battle in the Jezreel Valley against the Canaanite army commanded by Sisera (Judg. 4:6–9; cp. Samuel, 1 Sam. 15:2–3, Huldah The Prophetess2 Kings 22:14–17 (KJV 1900) 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, 16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: 17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. Notice here – Hilkiah the priest and other men when to Huldah and they communed with her. The Lord spoke to her and directed these men, one of the them was the priest of the tabernacle. My favorite reference for this topic is Luke 2:36-38. The second person to bless Jesus in the temple was Anna the prophetess. She confirmed and heralded that Jesus was the one they have been waiting for. Luke 2:36–38 (KJV 1900) 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. I could stop right there because to me that says all that needs to be said about women and their ability and approval to speak in church and to teach all people. Galatians 3:28 (KJV 1900) 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Kelli’s note: Because of the New Covenant- there is neither male nor femal e in God. God does not segregate who he gives His WORD to be teachers, ministers, prophetess, pastors – it is for man and woman. Phil 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Kelli’s Note: Paul gave honor to the WOMEN who labored with him in the gospel. So let’s look at Revelation 2:20 (KJV 1900) 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. This is not talking about all women- but Jezebel who called herself. God didn’t call her. She called herself. But the other prophetess and women that are mentioned in the scriptures above where acknowledged to be called of and by God. I looked up the word Prophetess in the Hebrew - female who speaks or proclaims the message of a deity and the Greek – female who speaks or proclaims God’s will. So I looked up prophet in Webster’s Dictionary -. One inspired or instructed by God to speak in his name, or announce future events, as, Moses, Elijah, etc. I looked up prophetess in Webster- a female prophet I am well aware that the office of a prophet is one that has to be called. But if God used women through the bible to instruct primarily the men, to proclaim to them the will of the LORD for the situation. That is no different than a woman using the written WORD of GOD and instructing both men and women . So the next time someone who doesn’t know the WORD of the LORD on the matter you know what the Bible really says about it-from Genesis to Revelation. Most of the time when a man/woman tells you that you can’t or shouldn’t be teaching and preaching, it’s not you that has the problem with authority. It’s them. Don’t let them project their own disobedience onto you. Use the TRUTH of the WORD of GOD.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 05:35:39 +0000