07.08.09
Posted in original language at 12:12 pm by Administrator
In my writing I invariably point out the gender neutrality of the Greek and Hebrew words used by the original writers of scripture.
In my writing I invariably point out gender specific words which were added by the translators.
I often hear how looking into the Greek and Hebrew makes some “very uncomfortable”. I often hear them express fear – that somehow looking into the original language will lead us all into great error and to do so puts us on dangerous ground.
I hope to dispel this fear and feelings of discomfort by giving some clear scriptural examples which are commonly understood to express gender neutrality even while using the gender specific pronouns of “he” and him” and the gender specific noun “man” or “men” in the context of the scripture.
(I have capitalized and italized the words “he”, “him”, “man” and “men” to accentuate their usage in the following scriptures.)
John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “HE who believes in Him is not judged; HE who does not believe has been judged already, because HE has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and MEN loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that HIS deeds will be exposed. 21 “But HE who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that HIS deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
No one would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
Salvation through belief in Jesus is not only to those of the male gender. No one would interpret this passage of scripture to say women are restricted from salvation –none would do so even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead take a peek at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators and the noun “men” to be gender neutral “anthropos” which means human being.
Matt 10:32-33 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before MEN, I will also confess HIM before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before MEN, I will also deny HIM before My Father who is in heaven.
No one would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
No one would dare suggest Jesus is speaking to only those of the male gender. Jesus is speaking to everyone even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a peek at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators and the noun “men” to be gender neutral “anthr̄pos” which means human being.
Matt 10:37-39 “HE who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and HE who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And HE who does not take HIS cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “HE who has found HIS life will lose it, and HE who has lost HIS life for My sake will find it.
Again, no would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
Jesus is speaking to all who follow Him and not only those of the male gender. All who follow Jesus must love Him more than father, mother, son, and daughter. All who wish to follow after Him must take up their cross. All who follow Him must be willing to lose their lives for His sake.
No one would interpret this scripture passage as restricting women from obedience to the words of Jesus even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a look at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators.
John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Yet again, no would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
When Jesus was lifted up from the earth – nailed upon the cross – He did not do so to just draw only those of the male gender. Never!! Through the cross Jesus draws all mankind to Himself.
No one would interpret this scripture passage as restricting women from being drawn to Jesus even though a gender specific noun in the English language is used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a look at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the noun “men” to be gender neutral “pas” which means the whole, all, whosoever.
These few scriptures are but a tiny example of the vast amount of commonly understood gender neutral scriptures which contain pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language.
It is my sincerest hope that through the presentation of these few scriptures much fear and feelings of discomfort have been alleviated – enabling you to peek into the original language in your own study time and with me as I write.
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07.07.09
Posted in Women in Ministry at 4:50 pm by Administrator
Let’s consider the impact these words “minister to Him” and “contributing their support” spoken of the women who followed Jesus as His disciples has upon women and their service in the church today.
Matt 27:55says of these women “had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.” Mark 15:41 says ” When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him” Luke 8: 3 says ” who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
The Greek word translated here as “ministering” in Matt 27:55, Mark 15:41, and as “contributing support” in Luke 8:3 is “diakoneo”.
The Complete Word Study says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is “those in the early church who fulfilled the duties of the office of a deacon, bringing advantage to others, to help and when diakonéo is used, then helping someone directly is involved.”
New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “serve as deacons.”
Strong’s Greek Dictionary says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “technically to act as a Christian deacon: minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.”
Thayer’s Greek Definitions says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is ” who administer the office of a deacon” and “in Christian churches to serve as deacons.”
When these women minister to Jesus the office of deacon did not yet exist. The type of ministry these women preformed became known in the early church as the service rendered by deacons.
Jesus’ actions demonstrated He placed no gender boundaries for those who ministered to Him in this type of service. I find these women’s acceptable service to be compelling evidence of no gender boundaries for those who serve in the position of deacon.
Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!
Let’s examine the New Testament Scriptures which have been used to restrict women from serving in the position of deacon.
1Ti 3:8-13 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Vs 8 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text – it is simply the Greek word for “acting with dignity or being honorable in action” – it is NOT a gender specific word. Thus the Greek reads as, “Deacons likewise dignity…”
Vs 10 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text. The Greek reads as, “These also …” No gender specific word is used for those who serve in the position of deacon.
Vs 11 The NASB correctly translates “gune” as women.
The word “likewise” was first used by Paul to tie the qualifications of Bishop to those who serve in the position of Deacon in Vs 8. Paul in Vs 11 now ties women by his use of the word “likewise” to the above qualifications of deacon. Paul is giving specific instructions to women who serve as deacons in the church.
Women who served as deacons were expected to “likewise” possess all the above qualities and to be dignified, not malicious gossips, temperate, and faithful in all things.
In Vs 12 Paul turns from giving specific instructions to the women who serve as deacons to give a specific instruction to the men who serve as deacons – husband of one wife.
Vs 13 Paul turns from speaking gender specific instructions. We see this as he uses a gender neutral word to speak of “those” who serve well as deacons.
Women were not excluded from serving as deacons. Paul specifically speaks qualifications for women who serve in this position.
Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!
This brings us to Phoebe – a woman the Bible specifically names as serving as a “minister” to the church of Cenchrea in Romans 16:1.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;
It is important to note that Paul wrote “I commend to you our sister Phoebe.”
The Greek word translated as commend means “to approve, to introduce favorably, to stand near.” Paul by his use of the word commend gave his approval of Phoebe and her ministry to the church of Cenchrea as he made introduced her to the Corinthian church.
The Greek word Paul uses to describe Phoebe and translated as “servant” is the same word translated as deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Knowing that woman were included in the qualification given by Paul for the position of deacon Paul could be referring to Phoebe as a deacon in the church at Cenchrea.
I believe either gender bias or an incorrect doctrinal understanding which restricts the position of deacon to men alone caused the translators to translate this word as servant instead of deacon when used to describe Phoebe.
It is important for us to note that the chosen translation of this word by the translators is most likely NOT Paul’s true usage. When this word is used by Paul elsewhere it is translated as “deacon” and “minister” (1 Tim 3:8-13, Eph 3:7, Col 1:23).
When this term was used of Tychicus (Eph 6:21) – a male – the translators chose to translated it as minister.
It was only translated as “servant” when used of Phoebe. The translators chose to not translate this word according to how they translated Paul’s other usages of this word because of its association with a woman. Because of this word’s usage in association with a women they chose to use a word which held a lower connotation of her service and position in the church.
Paul uses this word to describe himself as a minister of the church.
Col 1:24-25 (KJV) … for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul used this same term to refer to Phoebe and her service in the church of Cenchrea.
What type of ministry did she perform in the church of Cenchrea? She ministered in the church with authority.
Romans 16:2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.
The Greek word translated as helper or succourer as used in the KJV is “protatis”, which is a feminine form of “proistemi.” “Proistemi” means “to stand before in rank, to preside, to be over, to rule, one who acts with authority.”
Paul described Phoebe as a minister who stands before others in rank, presides over, rules, and acts with authority. Phoebe acted with authority over the of Cenchrea.
Paul told the church at Corinth to give Phoebe aid in whatever matter she had need. Phoebe held a position of authority that caused others to be instructed to help her in whatsoever she asked.
At the very least Phoebe exercised authority in the church as deacon.
Personally, I agree with the Bible scholars who believe this word “minister” describes Phoebe as being more than a deacon and most likely a pastor because of the authority Paul associates with her position in the church of Cenchrea.
We find a precedent set by Jesus and the women He allowed to minister to Him – women freely fulfilling the duties of deacons in the church.
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07.01.09
Posted in Women in Ministry at 1:33 pm by Administrator
While preaching this message Sunday several points which I did not emphasis in my writing stuck out to me. I want to share the points the Holy Spirit highlighted during the sermon.
1) Revelation Knowledge
In Mark 4:10, 34 Jesus explained the meaning of the parables to those He called His disciples.
In Matt 13:10-12 Jesus tells His disciples they were granted the privilege of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. His disciples were given revelation knowledge.
While preaching Sunday I was reminded of the women to whom Jesus gave revelation knowledge.
If Jesus gives revelation knowledge to all who follow Him as His disciples why would He then “shut the mouths” of the very women to whom He gave His revelation knowledge.
He would not !!
Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of the Samaritan woman when she received revelation knowledge that He was the Messiah. Jesus did not shut her mouth as she ran to her village and reported to all the revelation knowledge she had received from Him.
Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of Mary Magdalene or the women with her when they received the revelation knowledge that He had risen from the dead. Jesus did not shut the mouths of these women – He commanded them to go and tell. He commanded them to SPEAK the revelation knowledge they had received – to proclaim to the other disciples what had been revealed to them.
Jesus DOES NOT shut the mouths of the women He imparts with His revelation knowledge.
2) Powerful and Effective Witnesses
While expounding on Acts 9:1 where Paul seeks to bring both men and women of the Way back to Jerusalem I was impacted by the reason WHY his quest included women. Paul’s quest included women because they were powerful and effective witnesses and preachers of the good news of the gospel of Christ. Paul’s quest included women because he wanted to silence them from preaching the gospel.
We know women were witnesses and preachers of the good news from Acts 13: 31-32 which says “all those who had come down with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem were His witnesses and these preach the good news.” Women were among those had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. ( Matt 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:49)
Paul sought to silence the men and women of the Way because they were powerful and effective witnesses as they preached the good news of the gospel.
Women were such powerful and effective preachers of the Way Saul sought to shut them up by imprisoning them !!!
We have so missed the truth of these women who went forth preaching the good news of the gospel — who did so powerfully and effectively.
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06.25.09
Posted in Women in Ministry at 6:36 pm by Administrator
Bible stories and Christian movies of the life of Jesus have greatly influenced the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We often incorrectly assume these words “His disciples” and “the disciples” to mean only the 12 whom Jesus chose and called apostles (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.)
Yet, many times when these words are used they DO NOT mean just these 12 but include ALL who followed Him throughout His 3 years of ministry.
We know that not only did these disciples follow Jesus but multitudes also followed Him.
Matt 4:25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
Jesus said of these multitudes in Matt 9:36 that they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. In verses 37-38 Jesus tells His disciples the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few and to beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest.
Just WHO are these disciples to whom Jesus spoke? Was it only the 12 or was it spoken to ALL who followed Him as His disciples?
There is no mention of the 12 disciples as a separate group in the gospel of Matthew until Matthew 10: 1-3 where Jesus summoned them and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Jesus sent the 12 as workers into the fields which were ripe for harvest. Yet, these 12 were NOT alone in being sent by Jesus to perform this great work. In Luke 10:1 we read of 70 disciples Jesus sent out by twos in the same authority He had given to the 12. We know the 70 appointed ones possessed the same authority as the 12 from verse 17 where they return and say, ” Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Jesus sent out not only the 12 but he also appointed and sent out the 70. Those whom scripture calls Jesus’ disciples and were appointed and sent by Jesus was not limited to the 12.
In Matthew 5:1 we find the first use of the word disciple in the gospel of Matthew.
Matt 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John would almost certainly be among those who came to Jesus on the mountain. We read of their call as “fishers of men” in Matthew 4:22-23 and Mark 1:16-20. But this group of people called His disciples were not just made up of the 12 – they had to consist of all those who followed Jesus because the 12 had not yet been chosen from the midst of all His disciples.
The 12 were chosen from out of those who followed Him – they were taken from the midst of the many disciples who followed Jesus.
Mark 3:13-15 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.
Luke 6:12-13 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:
After praying all night on the mountain Jesus summoned all His disciples to Himself and chose from their midst 12 whom He also named as apostles.
We need to broaden our understanding of whom the word disciples refers. We need to cease to limit this word to referring to the 12 and see the bigger picture which includes all who followed Jesus as His disciples.
In Matthew 8:21 we have an unnamed disciple of Jesus who after Jesus gave orders to depart to the other side asked to first bury his father before getting into the boat to continue to follow Jesus as His disciple.
Clearly Jesus had other disciples who followed Him – those who followed Him and He expected to go with Him to the other side did not just consist of the 12.
Matt 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
Mark 4:36 tells us that “other boats were with Him.”
Again Bible stories and movies of the life of Jesus have caused us to incorrectly see just one boat which contains Jesus and the12 disciples. There were other boats filled with His disciples who obeyed Jesus’ orders to go to the other side.
(The gender specific words when used of His disciples in these verses is actually a gender neutral word meaning “human being, whether male or female”.)
We also do not know who was in the boat with Jesus – these disciples are unnamed – they could be the 12 – we read of Jesus appointing them to be with Him in Mark 3:13-19 and Luke 6:13-16 – but no one knows for certain the specific disciples who were with Jesus in His boat.
Mark 2: 15-16, Mark 3:7, 9 also speak of disciples who were with Jesus before the 12 were chosen from their midst.
Mark 2:15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.
It is hard to distinguish in this verse just “who” the many were who followed Jesus. Is it the tax collectors and sinners or does it refer to many who followed Jesus as His disciples. After reading many different Bible translations and commentaries I don’t believe any of us can know for absolutely certain to whom this refers. We know only for certain that multitudes followed Him and many disciples also followed Him.
I personally agree with the Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible that these words are speaking of the many disciples who had left everything and followed Jesus.
In Mark 4:10, 34 we again see that more than the 12 followed Jesus and these followers are called His disciples.
Mark 4:10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
Mark 4:34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Those who followed Jesus and the twelve asked Him to explain the parables to them. Verse 34 tells us that these to whom he explained everything were His own disciples.
Matt 13:10-12 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
Matt 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
To His disciples was granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “Whoever (gender neutral) has been granted to know these mysteries even more shall be given, in fact they will have an abundance.” (the gender specific words of he and him are added words by the translators and do not exist in the original text.) Jesus said His disciples eyes and ears were blessed because they had been given the privilege to see and to hear.
Let’s look at Matt 14 and the feeding of the 5000 plus the women and children by the disciples. If the 12 alone did this task as is depicted in Bible stories and movies of Jesus’ life this task of dispersing the food and then collecting the remains would have taken a HUGE amount of time. (As one who has waitressed in her past I find it mind boggling to imagine the amount of time it would have taken 12 to complete this task.)
It was already evening, the hour was already late, when the disciples came to Jesus with their petition to send the crowd away to go buy food – the amount of time it would have taken the 12 by themselves to complete this task did not exist.
I do not believe it was just the 12 who dispersed and collected the food that day. The many disciples who followed Jesus labored together in this work.
We must change the image we create when we read the words “the disciples” or “His disciples” to correctly interpret the Word of God. We must cease to see these words as only applying to the 12 who were called into close association with Him.
In John 6 when Jesus speaks that He is the bread of life and unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves MANY of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” and as a result MANY of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
Even when these many disciples withdrew from following Him there were still other disciples along with the 12 who continued to follow and walk with Him.
We clearly see from scripture itself that the 12 were not alone in following and walking with Jesus. Many had followed and walked with Him as His disciples.
We must no longer allow Children’s Bible stories and movies on the life of Jesus to pervert the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We must allow this image to expand to include all who followed and walked with Him as His disciples.
Again, who followed Jesus? The multitudes and His disciples followed Him. These disciples who followed Him included not only men, women also followed Him as His disciple.
Jesus did not limit or restrict who could be His disciple by gender – all were welcome to follow Him and be His disciple.
The word “disciple” means to be a follower of a teacher. I think the fact that the word disciple is usually seen as portraying the male gender has caused women and their contribution to the ministry of Jesus to be overlooked.
Jesus’ disciples were those who sat to listen to his teaching and who followed him as He traveled from city to city.
Mary of Bethany chose the place of a disciple – sitting at his feet to listen and learn from Him – and was not rebuked nor was she removed for doing so.
Matt 27:55-56 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Mark 15:40-41 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Mary Magdalene called Jesus Rabboni – Teacher – which named her as His disciple. She and many other women went with Him as He traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem as His disciples. These women disciples not only followed Him, they also minister to Him on the way.
Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
The 12, some women who Jesus had healed of evil spirits, and many others were with Jesus as He went for one city and village to another proclaiming the kingdom of God. These women and many others were with Him and they were contributing support out of their private means.
The Greek word translated here as “ministering” in Matt 27:55, Mark 15:41, and “contributing support” in Luke 8:3 is “diakoneō” and one of its many meanings is “who administer the office of a deacon and in Christian churches to serve as deacons.”
These women and many others served the ministry of Jesus in the very way that later became the service performed by those in the office of deacon. Jesus did not exclude women from this position – neither should the New Testament church !!!
Luke 23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
The scripture is clear – women accompanied Him – women followed and walked with Him as one of His disciples.
Matt 12:49-50 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus through action and word says in Matt 12:49-50 that His disciples are those who do the will of His Father who is in heaven and those who are His disciples have become His family – mother, brother and sisters.
What powerful words Jesus spoke to a society that did not value women. Jesus’ words lifted women to an equal position as His disciple if they did the will of the Father. Jesus’ words lifted women to an equal membership in the family of God.
In Matt 7:21 Jesus said “Not everyone (gender neutral) who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he (added word) who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
Being Jesus’ disciple and entering the kingdom of heaven was not based upon gender – it was based on doing the will of the Father !!!
Matt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Jesus expects ALL who hear His words to act on them. He did not limit those who could hear and then act upon His word to the male gender alone. Jesus said everyone who hears and acts is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Hearing and acting of the word was not limited to the men alone while Jesus was on earth, neither is it limited to men alone after His resurrection and ascension.
Paul said in Acts 13: 31-32 that all those who had come down with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem were His witnesses and these preach the good news. As seen in Matt 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:49 women were among those had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem.
Jesus expects His disciples – men and women – to hear and act upon His Word. These actions include going forth as His witnesses preaching the good news of the gospel.
John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
Discipleship was not limited to men alone while Jesus was on the earth, neither is it limited to men alone after His resurrection and ascension. Discipleship was not based on gender, it was based on continuing in His word.
We must no longer allow Children’s Bible stories and movies on the life of Jesus to pervert the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We must allow this image to expand to include all the men and women who followed and walked with Him as His disciples.
These women disciples are part of the “whoever” in Matt 13:10-12 Jesus said had been granted to know the mysteries of God. They are part of those who would be given even more revelation knowledge, in fact all His disciples – men and women – will have an abundance of revelation knowledge.”
Women were known as members of Jesus’ disciples while He was on the earth. Women continued to be known as His disciples in the New Testament Church.
Act 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, Act 9:2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Act 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
We see Saul breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus who belonged to the Way – these disciples included men and women.
We see in the city of Joppa a woman disciple named Tabitha/Dorcas.
When we read the word “disciple” we must cease to see only the 12 and we must cease to see only those who are of male gender. Many followed and walked with Jesus as His disciples – this many included both men and women.
Men and women are still serving Jesus as His disciples in the earth today.
Expand and broaden the image you see as you read this word.
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05.21.09
Posted in Prophetic Word at 3:44 pm by Administrator
Prophetic Words Concerning America and the Church in America
by Pastor Dawn Wilson
Mighty Warrior Church
“Hey, All I want is the Good Life!”
2 Chronicles 12:1-5
Rehoboam and all Israel forsook the law of God. Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem because they had been unfaithful to the Lord.
Shemiah, the prophet, spoke to Rehoboam and said, “You have forsaken Me, so also have I forsaken you to Shishak.”
- America has publicly forsaken God’s ways.
- America has forsaken God and looked to man to be our help and our aid. We see this exampled in our last election – BOTH sides looking to a man to be the answer to America’s problem.
- If we continue in this way God will forsake us to the help and aid of the man we have sought to be our help.
Verse 8
“But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
- If we are forsaken by God to the aid of man America shall come to know the difference between the blessings of serving God and the bondage of the rule of man.
Verse 12
“… conditions were good in Judah.”
- America is willing to accept the bondage of the rule of man AS LONG AS we get “good conditions” in our lives.
- America’s heart is set on possessing “good conditions” and NOT on keeping God’s ways. We see this exampled in our last election as our votes were based upon who would keep us in the “good life” and NOT upon who would make righteous and godly decisions. Abortion ceased to be a major concern as America – including the church – voted.
- America in her pursuit to keep the good life is forsaking the abundant blessings which come from following God and keeping His ways.
- America is forsaking the abundant blessings of God for the “good” brought through a man.
- America is settling for the “good” brought through a man and NOT pushing to the perfect which comes only from serving God.
Verse 14
“… did not set his heart to seek the LORD.”
- America has ceased to set her heart to seek the Lord.
- America’s heart has turned from seeking God and is now set on a pursuit to keep the “good life”.
To the Body of Christ in This Hour
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
- Let us repent and turn from our pursuit of the “good life”.
- Let us repent and present ourselves as living sacrifices to God.
- Let us pursue God and His perfect ways – discerning what is good, acceptable and perfect.
Act 17:26-27
“and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”
- We have been appointed by God to live in this day and in this nation of America that we should seek God.
- Our God given destiny is to be His light in these perilous times in America.
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Posted in Prophetic Word at 3:41 pm by Administrator
2 Chronicles 24:20
“ … Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD and do not prosper? …”
Prosperity comes through God’s favor and blessing.
God’s favor and blessing, which bring prosperity to a nation, comes only through serving God and walking according to His word.
2 Chronicles 26:5
“…as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.”
- America’s prosperity is shaken because we’ve transgressed God’s commandments and not kept His ways.
- America’s prosperity has not totally plummeted because of the fruit America has produced through outreach and aid given to the needy is still producing its harvest. The fruit of America’s good works are still producing their harvest.
2 Chronicles 25:6-9
“He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. 8 “But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.” 9 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD has much more to give you than this.”
Israel sought to lean on the power of man to be their help. A man of God spoke out in that hour – God ALONE has the power to help and to bring down.
- America has begun to seek man and not God to be her help
- America has begun to not rely on or depend on the help and aid of God.
- It is time for the church – the man of God – to speak out in this hour, “God ALONE has the power to help and to bring down.”
The king asked the man of God, “What about the money I’ve spent to hire these troops.” The man of God answered, “God has much more to give you than this.”
- Much money has been spent by the American government in hopes of bringing prosperity again to our nation. This money will not and can not bring back the favor and blessing of God – and thus can not bring back true prosperity.
- It is time for the church – the man of God – to rise up and answer the predicament of our nation with these words, “If America will turn her trust again to God, seek His ways, and obey His word God has MUCH MORE favor, blessings and true prosperity to give to her.”
2 Chronicles 25:16-17
“As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” 17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.”
The king told the godly counselors to stop – to cease speaking. He refused to listen and heed godly counsel. He instead listened to, heeded, and took the counsel of the ungodly.
- America has a choice in this hour – who will she listen to and heed – whose counsel will she take?
Our prayers must cry out for America to listen to and heed the voice of God through His prophets.
We still have a season to cry out for the repentance of our nation. We still have a season to cry out for our nation to heed God’s voice and turn.
2 Chronicles 25:19-20
“You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?” 20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom.”
The king’s heart had become proud. In his pride he refused to listen.
- America’s heart has become proud in her boasting. Pride has blinded her eyes from seeing her true condition. She sees herself still as the world power and world protector she once was – she is blind to the collapse of her foundation due to moral failure and her failure to keep and obey God’s word.
We still have a season to cry out for America to humble herself before God. We still have a season to cry out for America’s pride to be removed and she listen to and heed God’s voice.
2 Chronicles 25:27
“From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. “
- From the time of America’s turning from following the Lord the enemy has conspired against her to kill her.
- The enemy hates America because of her good works – the aid she has given to those the enemy has sought to destroy through his acts of destruction.
- The enemy hates America because of the church and the church’s redemptive work which exists in her.
- The enemy seeks for an opportunity – opening – to bring His forces of destruction to America in order to kill her.
- America’s turning from following the ways of the Lord gives the enemy opportunity – makes an opening for him to bring against America what he has conspired to do in order to kill her.
Proverbs 25:28
“a city that is broken into and without walls …”
- America is in danger of being a city without the walls of God’s favor and blessing which are our covering of protection.
- Without God’s covering of protection America will easily be broken into and plundered by the conspiracy of the enemy.
We are indeed in a season that yet remains for America to repent and turn again to God’s ways BEFORE the covering of God’s protective walls are completely removed from her.
We are indeed in a season that yet remains for the prayers of the church to prevail BEFORE the covering of God’s protective walls are completely removed from our nation.
This is a call to prayers of intercession which cry out for America’s repentance.
This is a call to intercessory prayer which cries out for America to listen to and heed God’s prophetic voice in the earth.
Acts 3:19
“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
If America will repent times of refreshing will indeed come upon her from the presence of the Lord.
If America will repent God’s “much more” favor, blessings, and prosperity will be poured out upon her.
God’s word to the church in this hour
2 Chronicles 7:14
“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This is a call for the church to repent and turn from our wicked ways.
This scripture clearly states that FIRST the church must repent and turn from her evil ways THEN God will hear, forgive our sin, and heal our land.
This is a call for the church to repent and turn from our wicked ways so that God will hear our prayers of intercession made on America’s behalf and heal our land.
Let us – the church – repent from our evil ways and turn again to God. After we repent and turn again to God then let us cry out for America to follow suit.
1 Peter 4:17
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
The Greek word translated as “judgment” means “a decision for or against.”
The decision for or against repentance begins with us – the household of God. The decision to repent or not repent first lies with us – the church.
If we would see America repent and be healed, we the church must first decide for repentance and repent of our evil ways. The decision for repentance begins – is first – with us – God’s household.
Will we, the church, decide for our own repentance and turning from our evil and wicked ways?
Matthew 11:20
“Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.”
We, the church, are the city of our God. We, the Body of Christ, are where the miracles of God are taking place.
Will Jesus denounce us because we refuse to repent of our evil and wicked ways in this hour?
This is a call for the church to repent and turn from our wicked ways.
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Posted in Prophetic Word at 3:34 pm by Administrator
I was interceding on behalf of the church – calling for its repentance from its evil and wicked ways. God asked me this question as I prayed, “How can the church repent from her wicked and evil ways if she knows them not?”
He then instructed me to look at the seven churches found in the book of Revelation in order to know the evil and wicked ways Jesus found in the church and called for repentance from.
Ephesus – A call to intimacy
Revelation 2:2-6
“’I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent. 6 ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Ephesus was a church of service – Jesus commends her for her deeds and toil. Ephesus had persevered and endured for the sake of Jesus’ name and had not grown weary. They did not endure evil men but put them to test. They did not look at “title” by which men called themselves but tested the “title” for proof of the ministry gift the title implied was given by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 4 -5
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent.”
From where had mankind fallen? They had fallen from walking intimately with God in the Garden of Eden.
Jesus tells Ephesus to remember from where they had fallen – to remember the intimacy with God lost through the fall and now restored to mankind through His finished work upon the cross.
Jesus tells Ephesus to remember the place of intimacy with Him. Jesus tells Ephesus to remember the place of lavishing Him with their love.
Jesus is calling back to intimacy with Him a church which had fallen into doing good works for Him and in His name and did not walk intimately with Him.
Jesus is calling Ephesus back to an intimacy which produces good works.
~ Evil Way = Good works without intimacy with Jesus ~
Jesus instructs Ephesus to repent and do the deeds – intimacy with Jesus – they had done at first.
Verse 6
“Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Many only look at one aspect of the deeds of the Nicolaitans – their doctrines of “free love” and sexual licentiousness. Yet, these doctrines do not encompass all the deeds of the Nicolaitans which Jesus hated.
The Nicolaitans deeds also encompassed setting up a hierarchical system in the church. They separated the church into priest and laity. This separation – this hierarchal system – broke down the unity of all believers. This separation – this hierarchal system – broke down the priesthood of all believers.
Jesus hated not only their doctrines of licentiousness; He also hated the hierarchical system they set up in the church. This hierarchical system was a direct violation of the unity of believers and the priesthood of all believers He had purchased at the cross.
Verse 7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Jesus instructs us to HEAR what the Spirit says to the churches. We can not ignore what is spoken to these seven churches as not applying to us. Jesus tells us to HEAR – to pay attention to and heed – what the Spirit says to the churches.
Smyrna – A call to faithfulness
Revelation 2:9-10
“’I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “
Smyrna was a church who endured much persecution through tribulation, poverty, and blasphemy.
Jesus tells the church of Smyrna to not fear what lay ahead of them and to be faithful until death.
Jesus found no evil or wicked way in the church of Smyrna.
The ten days referred to in Verse 10 must likely refers to ten periods of persecution they endured under Roman emperors from Nero to Diocletian.
Pergamum – A call to purification
Revelation 2:13-16
“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.”
The church at Pergamum dwelled where satan was enthroned. Jesus commends them for holding fast to His name and not denying the faith even when Antipas, a faithful witness of the gospel, was killed.
Pergamum was a church who did not deny Jesus or their faith even when they were threatened with possible death.
Verse 14
“’But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.”
Jesus said He had this against the church at Pergamum – some held the teachings of Balaam which were stumbling blocks.
1Corinthians 8:9
“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Corinthians 8:12-13
“And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.”
~ Evil Way #1 = Teachings which cause others to stumble ~
Verse 15
“So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. “
~ Evil Way #2 = Clergical hierarchy ~
As we learned from the church of Ephesus – Jesus hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans which included a hierarchal system which separated the church into priest and laity.
This doctrine separated believers into groups of “have” and “have not” concerning the anointing of God and thus ability to be used of God.
This separation broke down of the unity of all believers. It was broke down the priesthood of all believers. It broke down the truth of ALL anointed and ALL gifted by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 16
“’Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. “
Jesus calls the church at Pergamum to repent from these teachings will cause others to stumble and which separate and divide the church into groups of “have” and “have not”.
Jesus called the church at Pergamum to purification from unclean teachings.
Thyatira – A call to cleansing from false teachings
Revelation 2:19-25
“’I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them–I place no other burden on you. 25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.”
Jesus commends the church at Thyatira for their deeds, love and faith, service, and perseverance. These deeds were greater that at the first.
Thyatira was a church who did greater deeds through faith working in love.
Verse 20
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”
Jesus said He had against the church of Thyatira that they tolerated Jezebel who “called herself” a prophetess.
The church of Thyatira did not do as the church of Ephesus – who did not endure those who “called themselves” and were not – instead the church of Thyatira tolerated her.
This false prophetess taught and led Jesus’ bondservants astray. She taught them to commit acts of immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
Jesus calls this woman Jezebel because she is doing as Jezebel of the Old Testament who filled Jerusalem and Judah with idolatry through her teaching and leadership.
~ Evil way = Tolerate false doctrines and those teach them ~
Verses 21-22
“I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.”
This woman had departed from the truth of the gospel and having departed from it she began to preach and teach a perverted gospel. Jesus gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent.
Jesus then calls the church to repent of her deeds.
Verse 23
“’And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”
Jesus’ statement that he would kill her children with pestilence meant that He would destroy the fruit of her false teaching. Pestilence equals pests – insects – who eat plants and the fruit of plants. Jesus said that her false teaching would be destroyed.
Verse 24
“’But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them–I place no other burden on you.”
Jesus placed no other burden BUT not tolerating false teachers and their doctrines.
Verse 25
“Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.”
What did they have? They had greater deeds done through faith working in love. Jesus tells them to hold fast to this work until He comes.
Sardis – A call to wake up
Revelation 3:1-4
“”To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
Jesus says of the church of Sardis, “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” He then commands them to, “Wake up and strengthen what remains and were about to die. He tells them that their deeds have not been completed before God.
~ Evil way = Deeds are undone – the good works God prepared beforehand that they should walk in them are not completed or being completed (Eph. 2:10). They are not running the race that has been set before them. Instead they are asleep / dead – not moving. ~
Verse 3
“So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”
Jesus commands them to remember what they have received and heard – and upon remembering to keep it. He then commands them to repent.
Jesus also tells them that if they will not wake up His coming would be like a thief in the night to them – they would not know the day nor the hour.
Verse 4
“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
God can be very graphic at times. He reminded me of the season I worked as a nurse’s aid in a nursing home. Those who were in the state of constant sleep latterly “soiled” their garments with excrement. Jesus is saying some have not gone so far asleep as to soil themselves. These ones will walk with Him and be clothed in robes of white, which equal robes of righteousness.
Philadelphia – A call to steadfastness / perseverance
Revelation 3:8-11
“I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie–I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Jesus commends the church at Philadelphia for their deeds – they had kept His word and not denied His name.
Jesus tells them He has set an open door before them which no one can shut because they have a little power. He would make those of the Jewish race come and bow down at their feet and know that He has loved them.
I personally believe Jesus is promising a wide open door of effective ministry to the Jewish nation. The Jewish nation will come to know the love God has for them and for the gentiles.
Jesus tells the church of Philadelphia because they had kept His word of perseverance He would keep them from the hour to testing that is coming upon the whole world.
Verse 11
“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Jesus told them to hold fast to what they have. What did they have – a little power and a wide open door for effective ministry.
Jesus found no evil or wicked way in the church of Philadelphia.
Laodicea – A call to dependence and reliance upon God
Revelation 3:15-20
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Jesus says of the church at Laodicea that He knows their deeds and they are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm.
Hot water is used for cleansing. Cold water is used for refreshing. Lukewarm water is used to induce vomiting.
Laodicea was a church whose deeds induced Jesus to vomit – spit them out of His mouth – just as lukewarm water is used to induce vomiting.
Verse 17
“Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,”
Jesus was induced to vomiting by the church of Laodicea because they said they were rich, wealthy, and had need of nothing. They did not know their true condition was wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
~ Evil way = Pride of self sufficiency and not dependant upon God. Pride of “I can do it myself” and not relied upon God.
God is no longer their source of provision. ~
Jesus was induced to vomiting by their pride of self sufficiency. Jesus was induced to vomiting because Jehovah Jireh was no longer their source of all provision.
Verse 18
“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”
Jesus’ words “buy from me” was commanding them to return to their true source of provision.
They were to first buy from God gold refined by fire that they may be truly rich. They were to have true riches – which are treasures stored in heaven which do not rust or run out.
Secondly they were to buy from God white garments and clothe themselves that the shame of their nakedness was not revealed. They were to be clothed in the white robes of righteousness and being clothed in Jesus’ righteousness their shame / sin is covered.
2 Corinthians 5:2-3
“For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.”
Romans 4:7
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.”
Third they were to buy from God eye salve that they may see.
Matthew 13:16
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
Eye salve would open their eyes and being opened to see their eyes would be blessed.
Verse 19
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
Jesus commanded them to be zealous and repent.
Verse 20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
We have made a full circle as we finish the words Jesus spoke to the churches. Jesus began this discourse to the churches with a call to intimacy and He ends with a call to intimacy – to open to him so that He may come in and dine with us.
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05.11.09
Posted in Women in Ministry at 4:56 pm by Administrator
The Canaanite Woman
Matt 15:22 -28 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.
The first thing I noticed when beginning the story of this woman’s encounter with Jesus is that she called Him Lord and Son of David. “Son of David” is a term which represented Jesus as being the promised and long waited for Messiah.
This Canaanite woman – a woman from the wrong side of the tracks – recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah of God.
The disciples did not have compassion for her or her need. When they saw Jesus not answer her or give heed to her cries they asked Him to send her away.
Could Jesus’ silence have been a test to see what was in the heart of His disciples? Could He have been silent in the hope that they would implore Him to give aid to this woman based upon her recognition of Him as Messiah?
Scripture does not give us the answer to my question, it does tell us that Jesus DID NOT send her away as asked by His disciples – instead he begins to speak to her.
I like how verse 24 says it, “But he answered and said”. The disciples implored Him to send her away BUT instead of sending her away He answered her cries for help.
Jesus reply to her was in answer to her recognition of Him as the Messiah. He replied, “I am sent to lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
This fact – He, the Messiah, was sent only to the house of Israel – did not dissuade her or stop her. She bowed herself before Him as an act of worship and said, “Lord, help me!”
KJV of verse 26 says, “Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me.”
The Greek word translated as worship means “to prostrate oneself in reverence, to adore, to worship.”
This Canaanite woman bowed herself down and worshipped Jesus as the Messiah and called Him Lord.
Jesus answered her, “it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
A common name used by the Jews for the heathens was dogs. Jesus was not calling this woman a dog as in one of no value or worth, rather he referred to her as being a gentile and as such separate from the covenant and promises of God.
The Canaanite woman responded, “the dogs – the gentiles who are separated from the covenant and promises of God – feed upon the scraps that fall from the Master’s table.”
What a statement of faith by this woman!! She knew that God – the Master – feeds the just and the unjust!! She knew that God – the Master – caused rain (His goodness and His provision) to fall upon the just and the unjust!!!
Her faith kept her pressing in to receive. Her faith kept her from being dissuaded.
Jesus said this Canaanite woman’s faith was great – of huge amount and proportion!
She believed that Jesus was the Messiah – the sent one of God. She believed that she a gentile could indeed receive the crumbs of goodness and provision which fell from the Master’s table.
Believing she could receive, she received what she asked of Him.
Again, we have a story of inclusion of one who was separated by birth from the covenant and promises of God. Separation is not the end of the story, through persevering faith she received what she asked of Him.
We, who by birth are born in the gender of a woman and once excluded in the OT from the priesthood, through faith receive full inclusion and full membership in the priesthood of all believers.
These two women’s stories are examples of the full inclusion of women.
Through persevering faith let us press in to possess the full inclusion the cross purchased for us.
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Posted in Women in Ministry at 3:29 pm by Administrator
The story of the woman with hemorrhage of blood for twelve years is found in Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:42-48.
The gospel of Mark says this woman had endured much at the hands of the physicians, had spent all she had, and was not helped at all – in fact instead of being helped she had grown worse. According to the gospel of Luke this woman’s hemorrhage was not able to be healed by anyone.
This woman had no hope of being healed and released from the torment of her infirmity until she had an encounter with Jesus!
The torment she endured due to her infirmity was not just the infirmity itself; she also suffered the torment of being “unclean” and thus cut off from association and contact with others. She suffered the torment of being a social outcast. Great was the suffering of this woman.
Desperation drove her to perform an unlawful act of entering the midst of the crowd that surrounded Jesus. Desperation for healing drove her to plunge herself into the crowd.
Plunging herself into the crowd this woman did not come “face to face” to Jesus to ask Him for her healing – no, instead, she came up behind him and touched the fringe of His garment. Her faith said, “If I only touch His garment, I shall get well.”
Matt 9:21-22 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”
22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
Jesus turned to her, seeing her, and called her daughter.
She who would not seek Him face to face in her need but came up behind Him in order to just touch the fringe of His garment Jesus turned to see and seeing her He called her daughter.
I see so much love in Jesus’ actions – Jesus turned to see – Jesus turned to see face to face – one who was so ashamed to be seen she came up behind Him. I see Jesus eyes meeting hers and His eyes truly seeing her – not merely looking at her but truly seeing her as no one had for a very long time.
She who was unclean, separated and cast out for twelve long years Jesus called daughter. What a word of healing to this cast out woman – a word which included her in and no longer cast out from among the people – a word which counted her in among the people of God and no longer cut off and separate.
Mark 5:28-33 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”
29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
Combining the accounts from Matthew with Mark we see Jesus turn, look around Him, see the woman, and call her daughter. The woman then falls down before Him in fear and trembling.
I can see their eyes meeting and this woman who had been shunned, rejected, and disdained to be looked upon feels Jesus’ eyes really look at her and truly see her.
Then He says most astonishing thing of all when He calls her daughter. I can feel the woman’s heart leap for joy – “He’s including me among the people – He’s not speaking to me as one cast out and cut off from among the people of God.”
Jesus could have called her “woman” as He did His own mother many times. He purposely chose to call her daughter – He purposely chose to use a word which would include her in among God’s people.
Jesus did not rebuke her for breaking the law and being in the midst of the crowd – He instead lovingly called her daughter. He purposely brought her out of separation and brought her into the position of rightful membership in the crowd.
I believe we also find one more reason why Jesus purposely called her daughter in Luke 8:47.
Luke 8:47 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.
The fact that she, an unclean woman had unlawfully come into the midst of the crowd that surrounded Jesus, had not escaped the notice of those in the crowd. Jesus called her daughter – which spoke her inclusion as a member – in order to keep certain indignant members of the crowd from stoning her for her commission of an unlawful act.
What does this story have to do with women serving in positions of leadership in the church? We who once were lawfully separated in the OT from these positions of leadership Jesus has turned to us, seen us, and called us His daughters. As His daughters we are now included as full members and as full members we freely serve Him as priests.
No longer are we cast off, cut off, or separated. We now possess full membership in the priesthood of all believers.
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04.14.09
Posted in Rebuttal, Women in Ministry at 4:10 pm by Administrator
Because I home school I receive many curriculum catalogs. I just received a new home school catalog in which is a section that displays curriculum and books by Vision Forum. Out of curiosity I stopped to read the sale copy on one of their books, “Passionate Housewives Desperate for God”. I know – stupid me !! I was quickly confronted by these words “exposing the dangers of white washed feminism”.
I wonder if those who espouse such thinking – dangers of white washed feminism – have ever truly looked at or studied the foundation of the feminist movement — before Margaret Sanger, NOW, and their ilk. Feminism has become a cuss word in their mouths – in doing so they have cussed the many dedicated Christian women who founded this movement in their fight to get children out of the sweat shops and to secure women the right to vote.
I wonder if they know that women whom they laud actually fought for the equality of women – women such as Lottie Moon and Catherine Booth.
It continues to amaze me that the SBC holds a Lottie Moon Missionary fund raisers each year — and never confronts the truth that she wrote many letters crying out for the equality of women in the church. One SBC pastor called the this cover up concerning Lottie Moon “the SBC’s dirty little secret.”
I wonder if they know that Catherine Booth’s son-in-law in his eulogy praised her as a “unfailing, unflinching, uncompromising champion of women’s rights.”
“Exposing the dangers of white washed feminism” — NEVER – let us expose the truth of the women of God who fought bravely for the equality of all under God — let us sing the praises of these women who courageously pioneered the way for us.
I’m proud to be counted among such a great cloud of witnesses named as the “white washed feminists”.
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