Women As Leaders

Sufficient Holy Elegant (SHE).  SHE was formed of the side of her mate.  SHE was thought about from the foundation of the world.  SHE expressed the softer, naturing, and emotional part of our Creator. 

SHE was so important to the Creator that He placed man (Adam) in a slumber while He pulled woman out of the formed man...and He said as He admired His handiwork that SHE was GOOD!

I speak to the women of the world who are still striving to fulfill their goals. I speak to the women who've lost site of where they were going. I speak to the women who've yet started their journey. I speak to the women who feel that you've waited too late! Too late to be used by the Master...He's saying step on up, your right on time! Today is the right time for you to make an extraordinary mark on the world.

I want to remind each of you that greatness is already in you. A diamond in the rough whose value will be seen as life carves the facets of her worth. Whether the one who will nurture, or the one who will encourage others, or the one who will lead the brillance of your facets will glorify Him as you walk out your journey.

SHE cries for the child who is hungry and the mother who cannot provide for her children. SHE lends her hand to help those in needs, while serving with a smile. SHE rises up early to seek out opportunities to make her environment better. SHE is skillful, artistic, and looks beyond her cirucumstances to create solutions. SHE leads by example with beauty and grace.

SHE weeps for the child that doesn't know his/her worth because they were never properly loved or wanted on conception. SHE prays that the words that she shares will unlock the door of their broken heart that will allow the light of love to enter. SHE seeks to start the healing process of their soul by uttering soothing sentiments from the very heart of God.

SHE understands that brokeness takes time to heal and with that comes a trail of a journey littered with remnants of failed relationships, lack of trust, and deception. SHE carefully cleans the wounds of the mind and heart with the potent balm of the Word of God.

Finally, SHE cries tears of joy when the healing has taken root and a smile has entered the heart of the hurt and lost. SHE cries for hope of another freed soul.

Whether you believe in women preachers or not, much is to be said about their profound impact on ministries around the world. The churches are filled with this creation that finds it much easier to submit to the awesome will of God.

There are two controversial texts concerning Women in Ministry and they are 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15.  The key in resolving this controversy is to look at the context, time, and traditions of the text.  Followed by reviewing the results along with the Will and Purpose of God.

The Word of God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9) One point we must also note is that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled both men and women alike without respect to their gender (Acts 2:1-21).

When we walk through the New Testament we see that both genders participated in a full variety of Christian service which included prophecy, leadership, and teaching (Acts 2:15-18; Acts 18:26; Acts 21:9; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 11:5).

Finally, Joel 2:28-29 declasres that He will pour out His spirit "upon ALL flesh; and ...your daughters shall prophesy...and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." No where in the writings of the New Testament will we find conditions or exceptions placed on the distribution of spiritual gifts along gender lines!

All gifts are given by God for HIS greater purpose and without regard to social, economic, or gender demarcation (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 27-28; Ephesians 4:7-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

We, the Esthers, Ruths, Deborahs, and Junias of the written world will continue to bless the world with a touch at a time. Seeking to fulfil His purpose in the vessels that we were given.

I recently came across Junia, a woman Apostle.  In Romans 16:7, Paul praises a woman named Junia as "outstanding among the apostles."  It is believed that her name was mistranslated in the masculine "Junias" or "Junius" it is believed that it should have been translated as "Julia." 

According to God's Word to Women they report:  "Certain early manuscripts do contain a variant name, but it, too, is feminine.  "Julia" is found in P46, it, cop, Ambrosiaster.  P46, a papyrus manuscript dating about 200 AD, is one of the most ancient and reliable Greek NT extant.  In Romans 16:7, P6 reads "Julia," which can only be feminine.  What does this mean?  That Paul commends a noteworthy woman apostle.  It also means that translators who found a woman apostle unacceptable made up the name "Junias" to substitute their own word for the Word of God.  That led into the limiting of women's freedom has been to religious legalist.  Taken from www.godswordtowomen.org.

The day I wrote this hub, a woman Pastor had stopped by to talk and of course the Holy Spirit had other plans. She began to counsel and witness to a 29 year old family member about God's role in his life.

She used the story of Balaam and the talking donkey (ass) Numbers 22:28-29.

"In Numbers 22, the Moabite king Balak is afraid of the Israelite's power after their success over the Amorites, so he sends some of his princes to petition Balaam to curse the Israelites. Per God's disapproval, Balaam refuses, but Balak makes one more request-- this time with more numerous and distinguished princes. This time, God tells Balaam to go with them, but he must obey God's dictates.

On the way, Balaam's donkey sees the Angel of the Lord-- not once, not twice, but three times-- and moves to avoid it. The first time, she goes off-trail and into a field. Second time, she squashes Balaam's foot between herself and a wall. Third time, she just lies down. All three times, Balaam must resort to beating her in order to force her to behave-- none of which is probably looking very good to his image in front of the princes and messengers accompanying him."

Let us be mindful when listening for the voice of God...even when it comes through a donkey!

© 2010 Lady Summerset for Heart of a Woman Ministries