Where I go to Church and Questions you may have
Topic: Church
Ekklesia Church Site Temporarily Disabled.

(1) Women in Ministry is that Biblical?

Randy a friend of mine answers this one for us....

Does God approve of women in ministry?



Why must I always be the one to feel led to do the most controversial blogs? It isnt fair. LOL

Perhaps deep down there is a part of me that enjoys it and God wants to use that in some way. Ill start off with saying Ill discuss this subject until I feel it is getting ugly, then Ill comment no more. Fair enough? So here goes..



Does God approve of women in ministry?



Before you answer this one let me ask another.



Does God ever anoint women to assume roles of leadership among His people?



The only clear way we are going to know is to review the bible and see if Hes ever done it before. When we see these examples then we must see what can be learned from them. In this blog we are going to look in the Old Testament and New Testament both. We will need to lay a foundation before we get into some of the questions this blog will attempt to answer.



Micah 6:4

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.



Now Aaron and Miriam were the brother and sister of Moses, and they were just as sent as Moses was. So in this passage we can clearly see that Miriam was sent by God to the children of

Israel to help lead them out. If we examine Miriam a little more we can find she was a very ingenious woman too. We find in Exodus, because of her quick-thinking, Moses is allowed to be nursed by his own mother rather than ending up just in Pharaoh's house. So she had much to do with the salvation of Moses and him entering into the leadership position as the deliverer of God's people out of Egypt. In Exodus 15:20 we also see that Miriam is called a Prophetess. This shouldnt be glanced over lightly for a prophet is one who speaks on God's behalf to the people. This is clearly a leadership position Miriam held and a God-anointed one at that! I know there are some readers who would argue that Miriams ministry was to women and Moses and Aaron handled the men. The passage in Exodus 15 does say that she went out with the women and Ill give you that point, but I think its a stretch to just put it in that category. In further proving why I feel this way Id like to point to another woman that God used that definitely had a lot to do with the men of Israel.



Lets look at a lady named Deborah.



Judges 4:1-5

1 When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. 3 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.



Before Israel had kings judges ruled them. Basically the book of Judges reads as follows: things would go fine, then Israel would forget God, they would sin, then their enemies would come in and conquer them and harass them and oppress them; and, finally, they would cry out to God, and God would raise up a deliverer and free the people from their oppressors. And that deliverer became a judge who was both a military and a civil leader over the entire nation. They would experience a period of peace, and then it would start all over again. That was basically the story of judges. The only woman ever to achieve such a position was Deborah, and she was placed there by God and by the common consent of the people. The only one higher than her in the nation of Israel was God Almighty. Her word was law!





Second Kings 22, we find yet another woman that God put in a leadership position. Her name was Huldah and yes she was also a prophetess. Second Kings 22. As the story opens up, we find a young boy named Josiah who becomes the king of Judah at age eight. The country is completely into pagan practices at this point. They have completely forsaken God and Josiah doesn't have a clue. Later God begins dealing with Josiah and he gives orders to repair the house of the Lord. When they did this they found the Book of the Law! So they go show it to Josiah and he suddenly realizes this idol worship and Paganism is wrong and the Bible says he rips his clothes. Huldah, as we read on played a very key role in restoring the people back to God. She was a respected prophetess of God. These men could have easily gone to Jeremiah. He was a contemporary at that time and he was prophesying in the kingdom at the same time. They didn't go to Jeremiah, though that would have been a good choice. They went to Huldah the prophetess.




Many people also may not know that Isaiah's wife was a prophetess. There is little said about her, but it is found in the eighth chapter of Isaiah. We will end the Old Testament here and now look in the New Testament. Starting with an elderly prophetess named Anna, who bore witness to Jesus as the Redeemer.



Luke 2:36-38

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.





Anna recognized Jesus as the Savior and told it to all that were interested. Many were no doubt interested too for they were looking for the great redemption of Jerusalem, as the prophets of old foretold of a coming Messiah. Now where did she tell this good news at? The Bible says she didn't depart from the temple. We would say she was preaching to everybody that came in to the house of God. How many think God minded? I don't. She sure didn't keep silent, but we will save that one for later.



Lets now skip up to the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. There are all these people in the upper room, women included, baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues and then it breaks out on the street. A crowd gathers and Peter starts preaching, and he quotes from a prophecy of Joel:



Acts 2:16-18

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
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.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.





Now lets look in Acts 21:8 and well see even more New Testament women in ministry,



8 On the next day we who were Pauls companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.





Okay, I know there are some who may dare to say, Just because they were gifted women, it doesnt mean they were used as much as men were. I sincerely hope this ignorant line of thought isnt in anyones head, but of course there are always some. Lets now look to the Book of Romans, chapter 16. . Paul is writing to the church at Rome, the entire church, men and women, he says,



Romans 16:1-2

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.



Now the word "servant" is the Greek word diaconos. It's the word translated deacon; or, in this case, deaconess. She served and ministered to the saints in Cenchrea. which was a port city not too far from Corinth. She had a position of respect in the church and if you look through the Scriptures, there is quite a list of requirements that someone has to meet before they can stand in

the office of a deacon. Their family has got to be right, got to be a person of integrity, there is a bunch of things involved there. Now lets take a quick rabbit trail off the Romans road just a second to 1 Corinthians 3:5



1 Corinthians 3:5

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?



Guess what the word there for ministers is? Diaconos. The very same thing that Paul said Phoebe was. A minister. A minister. In fact, throughout the Scriptures Paul describes himself and others preachers of the gospel. In connection with preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, he uses this word and calls himself a minister and calls others ministers. They were preachers and ministers of the word, and he puts Phoebe in the same category.





Now back to Romans 16, if you would. Now she is a servant, she has ministered to the church at Cenchrea, and look what he says in verse 2, he said, "receive her and assist her." Receive her, accept her, and accept her ministry. That's what it means. Accept her. Apparently some people had a problem then just like now being Paul had to tell them to do this. Most scholars agree that she was the one that carried this epistle to the Romans. Something Paul would not just trust to anyone.




Let's read on. He talks about some other ladies in this same chapter.



Romans 16:3

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,





Fellow workers, plural; that is, Priscilla is a fellow worker and Aquila, husband and wife team, fellow workers in Christ Jesus. Paul goes on to say in verse 4 "Likewise greet the church that is in their house..."

Personally I believe they were among the first Home Group Leaders as we would call them today.



Also in Romans 16:7, "Greet Andronicus and Junia..." Andronicus is a male name; Junia is a female name. Again, perhaps a husband and wife team. We don't know. Other translations say they are outstanding among the apostles. Now perhaps it could be argued that, well, just the apostles knew them well. Well, which apostles are those? There are not just twelve apostles in the New Testament. As scripture reads there are many more than twelve at this point! Would it be so far-fetched for the same God that anointed Deborah as second in command over Israel under Him to have a few female Apostles?




So does God anoint women for ministry and place them in significant roles of leadership among His people? I believe the answer is a resounding Yes!



I did say we would address this women being silent in the church issue so lets dare to go there for I believe there is a lot of confusion about it and it has been a snare to many women not stepping out into the callings God has for them in life.



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.



The church at Corinth was undoubtedly a mess. As we read Pauls 1st epistle to them we see there are numerous bad reports Paul has to address ranging from sexual sin to misuse of the spiritual gifts to lack of love amongst the brethren and more! In chapter 11:4-5 Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about a woman having her head covered as it was a symbol of the fact that she was under submission and authority to her husband.



The same Apostle Paul that wrote those words in chapter 14 here talks about a woman praying and prophesying publicly. And he is just giving her some directions about her appearance when she does so, but he is acknowledging that women pray and that women prophesy.



What does that entail? All right, women are prophesying. What does it mean? Well, again, here is the same chapter that we read where Paul said a woman must keep silent in the church, and look what he says earlier in the chapter: Who is that written to? Just the men in the church, or to everyone?



Of course it was written to everyone. Look in verse 3, (1 Cor. 14:3-4). Now we had read that Paul said later on in the chapter to let your women keep silent in the churches. But here the Scripture clearly says that women are to prophesy. Paul acknowledged that woman are to prophesy and just what did he say about prophecy? They speak to men to edification, to exhortation, and to comfort; and he that prophesies... the one that prophesies edifies the church."



So, apparently, when he said women are to keep silent in the church, he didn't mean that they were not to stand in a place of public ministry and give forth an utterance because he just said earlier in the chapter, "He that prophesies edifies the church." It is something that is done in the church. So in this instance women can certainly speak in church.



So to take the posture that women are not allowed to speak in church is to say they cannot minister in church and this does not harmonize with the rest of Scripture and even the scripture Paul himself had written. Apparently, Paul meant something else. I have heard theories that perhaps the women of the church at Corinth were bad to gossip. It is apparent that there was plenty to talk about.





In Closing:



Personally I think it had to do with learning, and it had to do with asking questions. I dont think it has anything to do with whether women can be called into the ministry offices of teaching and preaching. That was not even the subject under discussion. It had to do with learning and asking questions. I think the scripture overall indicates that God is pleased with women in ministry and has certainly given His anointing to it. I think God is however displeased with so many callings going to waste because of a wrong doctrine on this subject.



God has never once said women are the head of the house. The roles are clear here and God is about promoting order, but even in this God requires men to love their wives as Christ loves the church and how much does Jesus love us?

He was a servant even unto death for us.



So regardless of whether you are male or female stepping out into ministry Jesus is our template for ministry and His ministry was one of Servanthood!.

Today's Need of Public Rebuke
Topic: Church

By Jesse Morrell

The attempts today of the modern Church to win the world to Christ go to such great length to assure that there be no reprisals, no rejection. It seems quite honest to me that the Church would much rather be accepted by the world then to see the world be accepted by God.

When the sinking ship of the worlds acceptance starts to go asunder, the rebuking against sin is the first to go overboard to assure that the worlds acceptance stays afloat. The hell-fire preaching is far to heavy, weighs far too much, and will certainly bring about the sinking of the ship. So it must, not in part but in whole, go overboard to secure the acceptance of the world.

If we are to win the world to God we are not to do it just any way that works, we are to do it God's way as revealed in the scripture. God's way has always been by going into all the world to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). God's way has always been to verbally preach and not merely witness in action as we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). God's way has always been to preach "that people should repent". (Mark 6:12). God's way has always been by preaching in the streets, in the market places, in the squares outside of the synagogues, and at the entry gates of the cities. Wherever the sinners are is where the gospel needs to be. But God's militancy has been replaced with selfish complacency, so that the only outreach most Churches have is when they merely invite the world to come to them rather then themselves going out to the world.

"Is this effective? Is this effective" is the constant cry of the Church that has been infected and polluted with the worldliness of business. "Is this biblical? Is this biblical? is the constant cry of the man who will be despised and ridiculed by both the world and the Church.

As I preach open-air rebuking sin and exhorting sinners to flee from the wrath to come I continually hear "Is this effective" coming from professing Christians who would much rather cuddle sinners into the Kingdom. "Is this effective?" My response is, "it doesn't matter." We are not to concern ourselves with being effective at all, we are to concern ourselves with being biblical. We are to preach whether the lost hear or whether they refuse (Ezekiel 2:7). It doesn't matter if it's plowing season or if it's harvest season. We are to preach the Word in season and out of season, to convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2).

Often I hear, "Your turning people off, your turning people off"? "No! They were already off. The world hated God before I had preached. The world was living in sin before I showed up! They are already off". The fallacy of the neutrality of the sinner was a concept the Lord Himself shattered when he said, "He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30). A person is either for God or is against God, there is no neutral ground. The whole concept of "turning a sinner off" because of preaching the Word is entirely unbiblical and it just further evidence of the drifting away from scripture of the modern Church.

When King Herod arrived to the open air meeting of John the Baptist, did John stop his preaching to give Herod a hug? No! John rebuked the Kings adultery and said, "it is not lawful for you to have her." (Matthew 14:4) Six months later John was beheaded. If many of the modern Christians were there I wonder if they would have confronted John and said, "Is this effective? John, don't you see how you turned Herod off?"

When Jesus spoke with the proud rich young ruler, who wrongfully thought he had kept all of God's commands from his youth, Jesus pointed out his sin of love of money which resulted in the man walking away sorrowfully without hearing a word of grace. (Matthew 19:22). I wonder what the modern Church would have said had they been there. "Jesus, why did you only tell the man about the Law? Don't you know we are under a new covenant and the Law doesn't matter? Jesus, don't you see how the man went away sorrowfully because you turned him off?"

When Paul was before Felix, did he elaborate on the wonderful plan and the deep of love that God had for him? No! Paul knew that the fear of God was the beginning of knowledge, not the love of God (Proverbs 1:7). So Paul "reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a more convenient time I will call for you." Would the modern Church have said to Paul had they been there, "Paul, you should have talked about God's love before you talked about sin and God's judgment. Don't you see how you have turned Felix off?"

Church, we must get away from the concern of "being effective" and must back to the concern of being biblical. We must get back to calling sinners to repent to flee from the wrath that's to come (Matthew 3:7). Men and women of God, it's time to rise up and boldly proclaim the uncompromising truth of God by life or by death. It's time for the Church to forsake the world with all of it's ways and methods and seek to go God's way at any cost. It's time that we prefer the foolishness of God over the wisdom of the world and take back our societies for the glory of God. As the Church has sat comfortably in padded pews, having fellowship dinners and getting fat on itching ear preaching, the world around us has been crumbling to powder being hammered by sin and the devil. As the Church has been asleep in the light the world has remained dead in it's sins. As the Church has sought to be friends with the world, the world has ever increasingly become the enemy of God. Our country is on a greece slide down to hell and it's time for men and women of God to hit the streets with the solid truth of God, exalting His righteousness, His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His grace, exalting His son.

Will you go?

How to find a good Church
Topic: Church
How to find a good Church

These are good quesions to ask. Number 15 is debatable, I know of a GNN Local Leader who does open-air Preaching. To say a Woman is excluded in Preaching is tradition. I thank God for godly woman who stand up and Preach.