Author: icbc

Introduction

The thesis details the important roles played by women during the life and Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ while He was on earth. The purpose of the promise of the Spirit is also briefly discussed.

During Jesus´ Death And Resurrection

 After the death of Jesus Christ, the male disciples had locked themselves up in a room for fear that they might be apprehended and persecuted by the Jews (Joh 20:19), but the female disciples, Mary Magdalene and the other women, were out to the tomb to anoint the body of Christ in the midst of darkness (Joh 20:1). What a courage and love for the Lord! When the other disciples had gone back to their own place, Mary stood still weeping. Jesus appeared to Magdalene only when the other disciples had gone back (Joh 20:10). This tells of His love for her. It is written that “And when Jesus had risen early the first day of the Sabbath, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons” (Mar 16:9).

The other disciples, including the males, failed to believe even when Mary first preached that Jesus was risen (Mar 16:10-11). If there was anything wrong with women´s preaching of the gospel of Christ, Jesus would not have appeared to Magdalene first and sent her out with the message of the resurrection.

The Promise of the Spirit

“Then, indeed, these coming together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, do You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

One needs to understand that the purpose of promising the Holy Spirit was for the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The disciples were instructed to wait until they have received the power or the Spirit from on high. As could be deduced from the above quote, the disciples were to be witnesses all over the world and in every place without restrictions. It is read that all the disciples including the women and the mother of Jesus were among those who were praying for the empowerment of the Spirit of God (Acts 1:14).

It is, therefore, not erroneous to believe, that the women also received the Holy Spirit at the upper room when He was poured upon all that were gathered in prayer and fasting. It is written that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, as tongues of fire sat upon each of them, and they began to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterances (Acts 2: 1-4) Peter, in his explanation to their accusers, cited the book of Joel (Acts 2:16-18), as quoted above from Joel 2:28-30.

It should be understood that God is not a discriminator of persons (Acts 10:34). In these last days, God is seeking both men and women who would respond to His call to preach, teach, evangelize and make disciples of Him all over the world. Some men of God are inhibiting the advancement of the Gospel of Christ because of the stumbling block they place before women with the call of God into the five-fold ministries. In the mind of God, all people regardless of their race and culture, gender, political affiliations, creed, and others should be candidates to receive His Spirit for the sake of the Gospel. The work of God is being destroyed with our customs and traditions as Jesus Christ contended (Mat 15:3,6, Mar 7:8-9). This attitude does not allow the Gospel to have its free course, therefore, making the Gospel of Christ Jesus of no effect (Mar 7:13).

The Spirit baptism is for the preaching of the Gospel, prophesying or speaking the oracles of God. Let no man place a barrier between women and the preaching of the Gospel. Human beings, like Peter, call what God has sanctified unclean or common (Acts 10:15, Acts 11:9). The voice of God and His will for humanity must be prayerfully and carefully discerned as scriptures are allowed to interpret scriptures.

Conclusion

It needs to be stated again that God uses all people irrespective of their gender, age, culture or race. God´s Spirit is meant for doing His work, so whosoever has the Spirit of God has His calling to perform that divine mandate for which the Spirit was given.

Prayer: Dear Lord Almighty, we ask your wisdom and understanding to be able to comprehend your dealings with the children of men, in order not to put stumbling blocks in the ways of women you have called into your vineyard. In Jesus´ name. Amen!

Introduction

When it comes to the question of creation of women, some believe that it was not God´s original idea, but His secondary thought. They base such belief on Gen 2:18. Is it not a hermeneutical injustice? God had already created all animals; male and female and had put the seed in them to be fruitful and multiply. Adam was created a man but not an angel, so God did not expect Him to reproduce without a woman. A thought like this makes it seem as though God did not know what He was doing, but was only experimenting. Today´s edition of our series on “God´s position on gender inequality” is focused on some prominent women in the New Testament scriptures.

The Birth of Christ

When it comes to the birth of Christ Jesus, God needed only the intervention of a woman, Mary, to bring the savior, Jesus Christ, into the world (Luk 1:31). The Sperm of a man or man´s DNA was not a requirement to give birth to the Savior. This was why Mary asked “… How shall this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34). For this,  “the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore, also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God” (Luk 1:35). God decided to use only a woman to fulfill His divine purpose.

The above claim does not erode the importance of a man because there could be no woman without the man neither could there be a man without the woman (1Cor 11:11). The next paragraph discusses co-workers Anna and Simeon.

Anna and Simeon

Anna, a widow of eighty-four (84) year old, was the lover of God´s house. At her age, she kept fasting and praying regularly as she desired to abide in the temple of God. This woman was a Prophetess who, like Simeon, had received by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, how Jesus Christ was to bring redemption to Jerusalem (Luk 2:22-38). This was a vision not revealed even to many devout Jews at her time. The same revelation that Simon received about Christ was also given to a woman. “ And she coming in at that instant gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those in Jerusalem eagerly expecting redemption” (Luk 2:38). This is an indicative that she was preaching Christ Jesus to all seeking deliverance from the captivity or dominion of their enemies.

The above scripture is an indicative that, the Prophetess was preaching Christ Jesus to all seeking deliverance from the captivity or dominion from their enemies in Jerusalem. It is, therefore, neither sin nor inappropriate for a woman of our time to preach the Gospel of Christ in church, since Anna did not keep silent in the temple.

Martha´s and Peter´s Confessions of Christ

According to the following quote;

“He said to them, But who do you say I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mat 16:15-18).

Jesus Christ affirmed that Peter´s confession was not revealed to him by human beings, but by His father in heaven. Jesus went on to promise Peter of the keys of the Kingdom, and to build His church upon that revelation he received or upon him as a pillar of His church (Gal 2:9). IVP Bible Background Commentary argues that this promise is made to Peter because he was the one who confessed Jesus – the point is that Peter is the rock in his role as a confessor and that others build on the foundation by their proclamation of the same confession.

Martha, the sister of Lazarus made a similar confession when “She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world” (Jon 11:27). It should be accepted that the same Father in heaven, who revealed Jesus Christ to Peter, also revealed Him to Martha. If Peter was to receive the keys of the Kingdom from Christ Jesus (Mat 16:19) because of his confession of such a revelation, then, it is also possible for Christ to give such a key to Martha by virtue of her confession of Him. The truth remains that God sees both men and women as His image and does not hesitate to use or reveal Himself to either of them.

Conclusion

It must be made known to all believers of Christ, that, no one advises Holy Spirit of God on who He should use or send. He has His own authority to lay hand on whoever He chooses. Let no man put a stumbling block before whom God has called. We should not call that which God has sanctified an unclean thing (Acts 10:15).

Prayer: Father Lord, we pray that you enlighten us with the full understanding of your Word so that we do not resist your glory through the women you call into your ministry. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!