Women in Ministry

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#FF9966" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Woman of Grace Internet Magazine</B></FONT><B>     |   </B><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Woman of Grace Internet Magazine"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feature Article"><U>Feature Article</U></A>   |   <B>Women in Ministry</B>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study "><U>Bible Study </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Graceful Parenting"><U>Graceful Parenting</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From a Mans Perspective"><U>From a Man's Perspective</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Conferences"><U>Conferences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Viewpoint"><U>My Viewpoint</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guest Book"><U>Guest Book</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0f496d20.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="210" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>“Do not neglect</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B> the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>1 Tim. 4:14-16</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Women in Ministry</I></div> <div> <B>Do Not Neglect the Gift</B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Preface by Rocky Green, </B></div> <div> <B>Commentary by </B><B>Sherry Green</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Welcome to our new encouragement for women in ministry!  Here are some great books I recommend to affirm your calling and help equip you.</B></div> <bR> <div> Rocky states our purpose in this preface.  He reminds us that women must focus on the scriptures of Biblical freedom that agrees with God's calling in our hearts today.  Go... and preach the Gospel.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rocky Green</B></div> <div>      Paul admonishes<FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Timothy to hold onto and consider precious the Gift that was given him by the laying on of hands.  <B>Timothy was to meditate on and give himself entirely to the Spirit's work in his life.  We know that all scripture is inspired by God, useful for training and correction.  It is written for all people-- both men and women. </B><B> </B><B>As Paul said, there is no male or female in Christ Jesus.</B>  Accept this as we may, we are still sometimes confused by the things written in 1 Corinthians, and 1 Timothy concerning women and the congregational instruction of their day:  “Let the women keep silent in the churches, it is not permitted for them to speak;..”  (I Cor. 14:34)  “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”  (1 Tim. 2:12)</div> <bR> <div>      Don't get stuck on these scriptures.  <B>These are not meant to be a lens through which the rest of the scriptures should be viewed. </B> Instead, seek to understand how they fit with the wonderful truth of our freedom in Christ.</div> <bR> <div>      These words from Paul were not intended as a spiritual statement about women.  He was possibly passing on social wisdom that was very relevant at that time and in that scenario.  We may not understand how these scriptures fit into our time and culture.  <B>However, I believe there are other scriptures that are relevant today that encourage women to be active in the preaching of the Gospel and at the same time shed light on the misapplication of these women silencing verses. </B>  Women are of the company called to testify of the Good News.  So.. <B>Don't neglect or silence the Gift of the Holy Spirit within you!</B></div> <bR> <div> Sherry Green</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>God's Affirmation</B></div> <div> <B>...before we get started on this message...</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#666633" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT>I would like to encourage you to read two books I've found to be excellent for affirmation in God's call on you to "move out" in ministry.  If you feel your self-concept as a woman "minister" is being undermined by your understanding or <I>lack</I> of understanding a woman's "place" according to the Bible, then you will greatly benefit from these two books.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Why Not Women?</U> </div> <div> by Loren Cunningham, and David Hamilton    Loren Cunningham is the founder of Youth With A Mission.  He has a very refreshing approach on the subject of women in ministry.  Having worked with missions for years, the validity of women in ministry is crystal clear to him.  This book will really open your eyes to how God can use you in missions and ministry.</div> <bR> <div> <U>25 Tough Questions about Women and the Church</U> </div> <div> by J. Lee Grady  The editor of Charisma magazine and the author of "10 lies the Church tells Women,"  Lee Grady doesn't mince words to get his message across.  Well, it might help you understand why Lee is so passionate about  this message to know that Lee and his wife, Deborah, have four daughters!  Fortunately, He is paving the way for everyone's daughters to minister as God calls.  Its Good News for modern woman.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>"God's Affirmation" </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Bradley Hand ITC" ><B>by Sherry Green</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> My husband, Tom, and I are coming up on our 33rd wedding anniversary.  How we met and married is a whole story in itself.  We are very unique because God told us to get married.  It really was not something that we had seriously considered!  But, God gave us the faith we needed to take that step, and here we are 33 years later.  Our life has been filled with ministry, songwriting, and travel.  </div> <bR> <div> I have always ministered along side of my husband.  What a joy!  I am so glad to have had this opportunity with him.  I see how blessed I am to receive this kind of life as a gift.  God had it planned for us.  So, when God's Spirit began moving me into a teaching - evangelism - speaking ministry, I really struggled believing that I was hearing God right.  I had mental pictures of myself in a "Joyce Meyer" role of ministry. That didn't seem to fit into my life as I knew it.  And certainly, I knew very few mentors as women ministers to talk to.  But as the months went by I kept on receiving messages from God coupled with faith and revelation that He wanted to use me to speak through  ...my husband being my greatest encourager!   I've tried to hide behind all kinds of excuses.  It seems like I have a million of them.  As soon as I settle one objection, it seems two others appear in my mind.  I don't see myself in such a position.  But God does.  He keeps nudging me on.</div> <bR> <div> I have grappled with a lot of unbelief.  Its caused by ignorance of how God sees me as <I>His creation, not my own, and not anyone else's either</I>.   This is key.  If you are feeling God's call in your life accept the truth that you are God's creation alone.  We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus.  It is a finished work.  Yet, God's call can be a gradual process because it takes time to renew the mind.  It may come as a new thought to you that God wants to express Himself powerfully in a woman.</div> <bR> <div> God has been patient with me.  I've been learning to work on how I see myself, the role I fill in my family, and the time I spend comparing myself to other Christian women.   Honestly though, the worst thing I've had to deal with has been ideas of myself as a woman, based on past sermons about the "woman's place."  Different  ideas taught from the past have become, in my mind, a collective hodge podge of submission to the point of self-obscurity.  Over the years I have submitted myself to the point of omitting myself.  Forget about women in ministry.. these were just general ideas of what a woman was.  At times I ended up feeling like not much of anything.  Where was my sense of worth to God?  I never heard it addressed from a pulpit anywhere.  No hard feelings, I realize now it was teachings of tradition rather than the Bible. They were preachers who meant well, teaching about women <I>to women</I> from a male perspective rather than a God perspective of women. (These are the guys who might be doing good to just get along with their wives and don't seem to have an inkling about women.)  I'm not really blaming them so much as I blame myself for not listening to God.  </div> <bR> <div> The moral to the story is don't let what others think displace God's word.  Study it and pray, let God form your thinking.  For He alone knows who you are.  He sees your full potential in Him. And you by the way are fully responsible to God for your decisions in life.  Just because you are a woman doesn't mean God won't hold you responsible.  Most women in jail are there because they followed a man there.  Follow God.  Then you'll be a much better help to the men in your life the way God intended.</div> <bR> <div> My advice is to look into your heart, unashamedly, and ask God to show you what the driving force in your life is.  Deal with it.  And then ask God to be the driving force.  Will God call us all to have "Joyce or Beth" ministries... where we'll be in the spotlight with perfect hair, and get to be on Larry King... Well...... Actually, no.  The spotlight is appropriately always on Jesus. That's our job, we're just stage hands, <I>men or women</I>, and by the way if you are wondering what special ministry you are called to realize this: we are ALL in ministry.  Jesus said if you give a cup of water in His Name you are ministering and will not lose your reward. Ministry is God's energy working in us.  You can't stop little kids from jumping around and you can't stop believers from ministry.. its just energy at work.  </div> <bR> <div> Now back to the subject of women in ministry. Its not so complicated is it?  We are all called to ministry, even women.  Don't subject God's call to limitations.  Jesus said He was Lord of the Sabbath!  </div> <bR> <div> I hope to have exposed some misconceptions that halt women from going forward into ministry. Fight the good fight of faith.  Wrap around what the Holy Spirit is working in your heart, even though it may be a new concept of how God wants to use you. You will struggle with the need for affirmation.   All of us with a heart to be used by God deal with this.  Will people affirm you?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, God will affirm you.  God affirms His potential and direction in your life. </div> <bR> <div> Will visibility and recognition provide some confirmation? What if there's no applause?  We are not always applauded, but as ministers of the Gospel we're always poured out.  If you are waiting for affirmation from man, you are looking in the wrong direction.  God affirms. Moreover, my husband has always told me ..." If you are waiting <I>for permission</I> from man to do what God has told you to, you'll never do it.  You'll be waiting forever."  Also, the Word reminds us that approval of man comes and goes.  Jesus said, "I do not receive honor from men" and "How can <I>you believe</I>, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5:41 & 44)  Seek God's approval.  </div> <bR> <div> Our permission, approval and continuing affirmation come from the highest Authority.  We can't make the spiritual progress that God desires if we put too much importance on what people think.  Jesus didn't do it.  This is a clear admonition to turn away from it, even though our old nature loves it.  God will provide the faith it takes to go forth in ministry.  Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.  We only need the affirmation of God's gift of faith in our hearts.  "This is the victory that conquers the world -even our faith". (1John 5;4)  Here is the definition of the word <I>affirm</I> in Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary: <I>To assert positively, to tell with confidence, to aver; to declare the existence of something; to maintain as true; opposed to deny.  To make firm, to establish.  </I> This is God's affirmation.  You will learn to recognise it as you are led by the Holy Spirit in steps of faith.  </div> <bR> <div> "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state to which as (members of Christ's) one body your were also called to live.  And be thankful (appreciative), (giving praise to God always).</div> <div> "Let the word (spoken by) Christ the messiah have its home (in your hearts and minds) and dwell in you in all its richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with His grace in your hearts.    Colossians 3:15,16 Amp.Bible</div> <bR> <bR> <div> More to come!  Watch for the next <I>Women in Ministry</I> Bible Study.</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <bR> <bR> <div>     </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women in Ministry Archives"><U>To Women in Ministry Archives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Woman of Grace Internet Magazine"><U>Back to Home Page</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>