Women, keep silent!
1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
For some time I have heard this passage preached and written regarding women in ministry. I have read and heard both sides of the argument, and my role in ministry has been questioned. There are a few things that I have learned that I would like to share with you here.
The Lord has anointed many women to do Kingdom work. Some are teachers, prophets, pastors, evangelists and yes, even apostles. So in seeing these women rise up and fulfill the calling the Lord has placed upon them, how does this scripture fit in?
Well, first we need to read what the scripture says, exactly, and the time it was written in and in the context in was written.
This was written in the first century. Women sat on one side of the church, and the men on the other side of the church. Women were probably not educated as the men were. As a result, they would have questions during the sermons. Paul was literally asking them to respect the service, and to ask the questions to their husbands when they got home.
The word “speak” here in the original Greek refers to chatting, questioning and arguing.
The word “silence” refers to having a calm undisruptive spirit, and be open to learning.
Paul was emphasizing order in the church, not that women should never speak or be active in the church.
Understanding the position of women in the early Church is important because it establishes the foundation for the ministry of women in the Church today.
Women were very instrumental in the church. Let’s look at a few examples:
- Intercessors
Women in the early church were intercessors in prayer. In the city of Philippi, a group of women met by the river to pray
Act 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
- Women were recipients of the Holy Spirit
The book of Acts records that the Holy Spirit came upon all, men and women:
Act 2:17 ‘AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.
Act 2:18 AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.
- There were prophetess:
Act 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
- Women were Deacons in the church
Rom 16:2 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.
The word “succourer” means one who stands before, a chief leader.
- We have an account of a woman Apostle:
Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
We see here that Junia is noted as an apostle, a fellow prisoner.
As a pastor, if you have a strong conviction that women should not take an active role in ministry, then abide by your conviction for conscience sake.
I leave you with this last verse:
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
May you be richly blessed this day.
Fasting
Isaiah 58:6 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
Last year the Lord had begun speaking to me about beginning a fast. To be honest, I really did not want to hear that, as the thought of going without food for a day or more was not something I was looking forward to. I really enjoy eating!
The Lord would not let this go, so I began to study the scriptures and look closer into the concept of fasting. I did not have good teaching on it, and knew that if I were to fast, it should be done correctly. I also looked for books on the subject, and found an excellent book called Fasting, by Jentezen Franklin.
This book laid the proper foundation that I was lacking. Fernando and I began this year with a 21 day Daniel Fast. As we fasted and prayed, we realized that we had been missing out on a blessing.
Fasting has caused many things to increase in my spiritual life. For example, I have greater faith and am more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I had a particular prayer request, and the Lord answered me through a dream. Among other things, I have a deeper hunger for the word.
The Lord has changed my mindset about fasting, and now I wonder how did I go so long without it? It should be every believers desire to draw closer to the Lord, to know His will in our life and to live a victorious life.
I now encourage others to fast for spiritual breakthrough and increased blessing in their lives.
If the Lord is calling you to fast, search the scriptures and read books on the subject, I am sure that there are other great books out there besides the one that I had mentioned. The time is coming closer for the Lords return, and I for one would like to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, and not miss out on His voice in these last days.
Blessings in His name.
The Bronze Serpent
Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
One of the things I love about the Bible is finding those hidden treasures in scripture. The verse quoted above is just one of those.
The verse above is symbolic for Christ. Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”)
The pole was symbolic upon which Christ was lifted up. John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
Christ is the one that heals us, and we focus on Him and Him alone. Once we focus on Christ, our situation can change in an instant. Notice that there is no adoration or worship given to the bronze serpent, the instruction was to just look at it.
Many times we have circumstances in our lives that cause our focus to be away from Christ, but once we set our sight on Him, our circumstances will change.
Of course, satan is the serpent which Christ overcame.
We are to lift up the Son of Man in our lives and in all that we do. He must be the first priority. Yes, circumstances arise that may get our focus away from Christ. This has happened to me, but once I realized that I was more focused on my problem and not Christ, I y shifted gears and overcame.
Lift up Jesus in your life today, and you too will win the battle.
Igniting the spark
I Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
I think all of us can relate to loosing our spark at some point in time. Some can call it a desert experience or a dry spell. Something you enjoyed so much went into hibernation, but you know it’s a gift from the Lord and somehow was needed to fan the flame once again.
Consider Elijah: after conquering the false prophets of Baal, he was off into the desert wanting to die. The Lord did not kill him as he asked. Instead, he was taken care of until it was his time to get up and move. During this time, he did not look like the prophet who just had a huge victory, instead he was going through a dry spell, depression, or desert experience.
In all of this, he moved on and continued his work in the Lord.
I have found out that saying no to the Lord is not an option. When there is a call, there is a call, period. I believe that Elijah wanted to call it quits, but the Lord would not let him.
Desert experiences or dry spells are necessary for testing the heart and growth, as difficult as they may be. We may not always understand what happens during this time, but that’s not important. What is important is the time spent in faithfulness to the Lord, and not letting the enemy take advantage of it. . The result of the dry spell: less of me, more of you Lord.
While we may feel He is not with us in the desert, He really is, and what He is really waiting for is for you to finish crossing over into the plans and purposes that He has for your life.
Are you ready to have your spark ignited once again? Come to the Lord in prayer, ask Him to remove the heaviness that is upon you and receive His refreshing touch in your life.
Stepping out of your comfort zone
Judges 6:15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Was something ever asked of you and felt unqualified for the job? Perhaps you thought they asked the wrong person, but it wasn’t so, it was you they asked.
I was approached recently to teach a large group of people and I felt unqualified, even though the subject was one that I loved. I made excuses on why I should not take the assignment. It would be a very long committment, I was not capable, I fumble often when I need to teach in Spanish, and the excuses kept coming. But the Lord confirmed to me that I should go ahead and do this, and to be honest, I did so out of honor and duty, not because I felt capable.
What happened surprised me. I gave the first teaching to the students, word got out and now there are more signing up. I continued to pray for the class and students, and the Lord began to give me teaching tactics, games and ideas for the group.
I know it’s not because I am capable, for I felt the least of the clan and knew there were others more qualified than I, but because I stepped out in faith and honor to the Lord, He has met me and encouraged me.
There have been times that certain things were asked of me, and have denied them because I felt incapable. What did I miss, what blessing did I miss out by not stepping out in faith?
I almost missed a blessing here for not teaching this class. The Lord desires to have us grow spiritually, and the only way to do that is to step out of our comfort zone and into His blessing.
What blessings have you turned down recently? Don’t make the same mistake I have many times. When you are challenged, take that step of faith and He will meet you and guide you.
In all things give thanks
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
In the book of Job, the first chapter, we read how satan presents himself to God after roaming the earth. God mentions Job to satan and tells him how there is no other like him, upright and how he shuns evil. Satan knows that there is a hedge protecting him, and challenges God to remove it, and how afterwards Job will curse God. God responds “ all that he has is in your power. ”
Of course Satan quickly obeys this command, and in a moment all Job’s wealth was removed.
One by one Job’s servants came to tell him the bad news.
First the Sabeans raided the oxen, took them away and killed the servants. Next we have fire that came down from heaven, burned up the sheep and servants. Then the Chaldeans came, raided the camels and took them and killed the servants as well.
If that was not enough, the final blow came to Job. A great wind came where his sons and daughters were eating, the house collapsed and they all died.
Jobs’ reaction to all of this? He arose, fell to the ground and worshipped the Lord.
Think about it in today’s terms. You just lost a loved one, a child perhaps, your business is not going well and are at risk of loosing everything. Maybe there is sickness in your life or the life of a loved one, a lost job, financial strain and perhaps a strain on your marriage. Are you capable of bowing to the ground to worship the Lord?
We have been through some economic difficulties in our 27 years of marriage, and to be honest I did not always worship the Lord. In fact, I found ways to blame something or someone for why this was happening to us.
So what can we learn from Job, how was it possible for him to even worship the Lord? The answer is found in the scripture. Job feared God, which means he had respect and honor for God.
Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, the best thing we can do is to worship the Lord, even when we don’t feel like it. Worship is an act of obedience, not feeling. Worship is an act of honor and reverence.
1 Thessalonians says 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In giving all praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, we give no room to the enemy and our circumstances will turn around for good. The Lord will make a crooked path straight.
Sometimes we just need to worship ourselves out of a terrible situation. Give glory to God and see how the tables are turned on the enemy. Once we begin to worship Him, our focus and energy is on the maker of heaven and earth and off your present situation, and He will lift the burden from your shoulders and give you peace where the is no peace.
Worship Him today, for He is worthy of your praise.
Blessings in His name
Healing in Jesus Name
1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Recently I have been studying the topic of healing which has brought quite a bit of clarity on the subject for me.
Many years ago I requested prayer for healing. The people praying for me made me feel guilty for having surgery scheduled, and that I should trust God for my healing and not go through with the operation. I did anyway.
Needless to say, this incorrect type of prayer brought guilt and the lie that God did not want to heal me. This lie stayed with me for many years.
Throughout the years, I had asked the Lord for other types of healings, but in the back of my mind I always heard that it wasn’t for me. God can heal other people, but not me. I understand now that this mindset actually hindered the Lord in working on my behalf.
I now understand that the prayer I received many years ago was incorrect. They were not praying for me, but making me feel guilty. God does not operate in guilt, but in faith, hope and love.
My misunderstanding about healing was caused by many factors and not just one. I had lack of teaching, I did not understand the scriptures correctly, I believed the lie that it wasn’t for me and many more.
With healing, God is not the problem. His word is true and will never return void. Since then I have come to understand several truths about healing. Healing is for today and it is for every believer that calls on the name of Jesus.
Jesus heals all and in various ways. We may have a delayed healing or an instantaneous healing. Healing may come through the hands of a doctor, through surgery and medication. The word says that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
God is the originator of everything, and He is the one that originated the science of medicine.
It is important to have the mind of Christ and speak that over ourselves. I also came to understand how God views sickness. Here is what I discovered:
- Bondage- Luke 13:16
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath - Enemy 1 Cor 15:26
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. - Evil Psalm 41:8
“An evil disease,” they say,clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.” - Oppression Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
I am sure there are many more.
Jesus meets us where we are. If we need surgery, then have the surgery. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights. Hospitals, doctors and aspirin fall into that category.
The scriptures tells us there are different ways people received their healing. There is no set pattern with God. We are not to limit God on how He will heal, but He always does.
I have come to realize that when I pray for healing, sickness has been destroyed because of the cross and God is glorified. Appropriate that truth and declare it when praying for others and respond in faith and love. The word says in John 10:10 I have come to give you life and life abundantly.
Let’s walk in abundance of life, because death has been defeated.
He came to Seek and Save the Lost
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
A few weeks ago Dancer gave birth to seven puppies. As they became more active, I was able to reach in the dog house and take a few puppies to admire them. Of course the mother was always close at hand.
A few days would go by, and once again I would reach in to pick up a puppy, with Dancer always watching carefully. I then took one of the pups out and brought it into the home. I was not sure if Dancer would follow, but she did. She left her six other pups to follow the one that I had in the house to make sure it would be ok.
The verse above came to me.
The word lost in this scripture could have several meanings. It could be that the person is lost in his walk with the Lord because of the influence of the world, or perhaps lost within himself not knowing his purpose in life. Maybe they are in rebellion and not only strayed from the Lord, but also family members and have taken up habits to fill the void within. In any case, this person is lost which can lead to destruction.
Jesus is willing to leave the other 99 sheep in the wilderness where they are at risk to rescue that one lost sheep. That is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Once Jesus finds him, He goes even further and lays that person on His shoulders. He continues to carry their burden, shame and guilt until they are fully restored and healed.
If you know someone who is lost, claim this promise in Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Notice the wording in the passage above, it says “was lost.” They may be lost now, but in calling those things that are not as though they are, will only result in victory and that person establishing himself once again on the true foundation of Jesus Christ.
May you be richly blessed this day.
