God Empowers Women??

It’s a tired, worn-out song that many in the religious world sing over and over…..women can’t be preachers of the gospel or teach men, or do a long list of things that legalism dictates. But is that just tradition or is that found in the Bible?

Well, let’s turn to the scriptures to find out. In the daily faith walk, we are to live as representatives of Jesus Christ. We are to observe, live and model, as well as teach the values and virtues of His Kingdom that contrast with this world’s (remember the Sermon on the Mount?).

Paul wrote of the citizenry of the kingdom of heaven in Galatians 3:26-28 (NKJV).

For you all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Wait, that goes against what most religion teaches! But according to the Bible, men and women in the kingdom of God are all treated as first sons whose inheritance is the best and largest portion. Men and women in the kingdom of God are viewed as one, rather than distinct or different based on the demographics of this world – ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, educational status, or gender.

Now, apply this to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV).

And Jesus came and spoke to them [the disciples], saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Jesus, in red letters, told the 11 disciples to go; make disciples; baptize; teach... to all people of all nations. Not just men, not just highly trained, educated, and lettered people. Not just the affluent and wealthy. Not just any people group or ethnicity.

Jesus said to go to all; make all disciples; baptize all; teach all.

SCRATCH!!!! Imagine you hear the cringing sound of the old-fashioned arm of a record player being pulled across a spinning record. Got your attention?

The New Covenant recognizes that there are no identifying labels to be used in the kingdom of heaven. Instead, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:16, in Christ, we are not to view each other according to the flesh. Instead, we know each other in Christ.

So why is there such a debate as to whether God empowers women?

Jesus empowered both men and women with this command – Go! Make disciples. Baptize. Teach. Transcending culture, times, and preference, each of us – male and female – will stand before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ, or the bema. Our day of accounting will include whether we’ve declared Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord. As Savior, we confess our sin, repent, and declare our lives under the blood of Christ. As Lord, we accept His commands to serve and go, make disciples, baptize, and teach!

Jesus empowered women with a connection relative to their proximity to Him in significant moments.

To whom did Jesus first reveal Himself as the Messiah in the gospel of John? John 4 records that Jesus rested at Jacob’s well to meet the Samaritan, or half-Jew/half-Gentile woman living in sin. In their conversation, the woman revealed her awareness of the coming Messiah. Jesus declared, “I am He, the One speaking to you.”

Who extravagantly worshiped Jesus before His crucifixion, pouring out expensive fragrance upon the King of the Jews Who would have this fragrance lingering at the cross and at the tomb? Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, was entrusted to anoint the King for His last meal before His arrest, His death, and His resurrection (Matthew 26:6-13).

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost was no gentlemen’s quarters. There were women present. “All were filled with the  Holy Spirit” and heard Peter’s sermon declaring the fulfillment of God’s word as written in Joel 2:28-32.

And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy...I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female servants in those days and they will prophesy..

Jesus also empowered women with a call on the day of His resurrection. Look at that Resurrection Sunday morning when Jesus appeared to the women at the tomb. “Rejoice! Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

Who preached the first Easter sermon of Jesus’ resurrection? Yes, women.

Watch my complete teaching on this on YouTube (linked below). Just see that Jesus still empowers men and women to be His vessels in this life to bring His kingdom to our own personal lives, our families, our churches, and our communities.

Jesus empowered and still empowers. Do you operate in His authority, believe for His miracles, and faithfully speak His words of love, hope, grace, and mercy? Never forget that we each stand before Christ our King to give an account, not before a denomination, not before a council of church elders, or a group polled for popularity. Speak Jesus!

Take Initiative

Have you ever walked into your kitchen to see the sink filled with dirty dishes and maybe even food left on the counter instead of stored away? Your first thought is likely, “Really!?! Why do you have to be told to do the obvious?! Why can’t you just take the initiative?!”

Jesus taught great truth through His sermons to the disciples, in synagogues to those seeking God in religion, and to crowds who followed Him for any number of reasons and needs. The Gospels reveal that there were times that Jesus, just like us finding so much left undone, unattended, and even abandoned, shared the same assessment.

So, why is it that God’s Word tells us exactly what God’s will is, reveals His Kingdom as it would be on earth if we chose to live like Jesus, and gives us great hope and promise of life eternal – beginning now, yet we don’t take the initiative to seize it, to take it?

No. That’s no rhetorical question. This is an interrogative question or one that demands an answer through personal inspection and individual reflection.

So, why is it that you have God’s Word that tells you His will, reveals His Kingdom, and gives great hope and promise, yet you decide not to take the initiative in applying those truths and values to your life?

“Hey! Ouch!” That might be your response, but stop! Don’t scroll or swipe away. A desire to see a chaotic world put back in order with God’s love and blessing, or “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,” will not happen if our own lives are not assessed and lived with the simple gospel applied.

Put simply, you want a revival in this nation and this world? Then, it must begin in each of us – individually. Then, our families will experience Godly change. Then, our churches will be houses of prayer and ministry, not just politics and socializing, again. Then, our communities, our schools, our workplaces, will reflect Jesus’ impact.

Yes! It begins with you, me, and each of us taking personal initiative. We have divine information available. But will you make it divine revelation through serious assessment of your life and a determination to apply it with the help of Jesus’ Spirit?

Will you? Will you take initiative?

Men and women of Jesus’ day – and throughout history of beliefs and faith – have experienced persecution, being marginalized, and even martyred for their love of God and lives lived like Jesus.

Look at Matthew 11:11-15.  Jesus is speaking of John the Baptist’s ministry. His message was a departure from the religion of the Jews and even of any pagan god or cultural icon. John the Baptist declared (Matthew 3:2), “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, come near, or accessible.”

Jesus preached the same message in Matthew 4:17 – exactly. “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, come near, or accessible.”

As Jesus speaks in Matthew 11, He teaches that the least is the greatest in God’s Kingdom and His values, not of this world. And Jesus continues to teach that the Kingdom of Heaven had been suffering violence – through persecution, execution, in addition to the great division caused by the prejudice against Christ followers.

Despite the barriers and cultural oppression exerted by pagans, the religious, and the prevailing government of the day, the Kingdom of Heaven was being forcefully advanced in terms of a spiritual battle, pitting the forces of darkness versus the Light of this World and His followers.

Jesus’ Kingdom was also being advanced through divine revelation as the eyes of our understanding are opened to see the truth...then acting.

Friend, read these next words carefully. Knowing about Jesus and His teachings, including His salvation and redemption, His forgiveness and grace is completely different from knowing Jesus, being in His very presence by abiding in Him to receive all that He promises.

You can have information. Or you can experience revelation.

Information is available to all. Jesus responds to us as we call upon Him. When we take that initiative to confess ourselves as sinners in need of the Savior, the first step begins to an everlasting salvation and the open heaven provided in His revelation and understanding of things previously unknown.

So, how is it that the Kingdom of Heaven is advancing violently?

There is a spiritual battle waging in dimensions that are not seen. But we must die to self in our own personal battle. To receive Jesus as Savior means we perform the first aspect of “Repent!” We see our sin and confess.

Changing our minds, changing our directions away from sin and toward Jesus to complete the repentance command. Then we’re dying to self, taking up our own individual crosses, and living the life dead to self and born again in a resurrected life in Christ.

Living within the Kingdom of Heaven comes as our faith walk. Faith without works is dead. Do you want life? Do you want life abundantly, as Jesus promised?

It begins with your own spirit being made alive in Jesus’ Spirit to rule over your flesh and will in victory. Living like Jesus in His Kingdom begins with your own sacrifice of self that is authenticated by your life of works in Christ and faith.

Take the initiative. Take it by force. Crown Jesus as your Savior, King, and Victor!

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Go deeper by listening to Pastor Ronnie’s entire message that will help you “Take Initiative.”

Does Your Heart Burn For Him?

Have you ever repeated something to emphasize the importance of your message and even repeated it with a little change to make sure the meaning is clear? If you’ve ever raised kids, coached, or worked in an environment with team dynamics, I know you understand!

God did and does the same thing.

In Leviticus 6:8-13, Jehovah, or the great I AM, instructed Moses to keep the fire on the altar in the tabernacle burning. The key detail was the fact that the fire was never to be extinguished. Not only that, but it was supposed to be “kept burning.” Burning. Not a gentle glow with embers crackling quietly. The fire was to burn.

Why?

The fire was to represent the consuming nature of God Himself (Hebrews 12:29) – His very Presence. The altar was the designated place for offerings to be presented for the purpose of atonement or the forgiveness of sin. The consuming fire would accept the sacrifice offered as our reasonable sacrifice in view of the Most High God’s mercy, love, and grace.

Jehovah – the God of holiness and righteousness – would abide in the tabernacle with sin confessed, sacrifices made, and the consuming fire purifying flesh and sin.

The application in our lives over 3,000 years later is the fact that we are to burn, to be kindled, from the Source – Jesus’ Spirit. Our fire should not be of our own making, not from the fuel of this world which burns as stubble.

The blaze of our faith is no figure of speech. The New Testament demonstrates an Old Testament principle with Jesus Christ as the sacrifice offered for the atonement of sin, and the Presence of God abiding with those who invite Him to stay and tabernacle.

Turn to Luke 24. Jesus has been publicly scorned, flogged, then crucified on a Roman cross of execution used for criminals. Jesus was placed in the borrowed tomb – needed only for 3 days. Angels had appeared to the women coming to dress the body and honor their friend and Rabbi, Jesus. But the tomb was empty because the power of the Holy Spirit literally brought the dead corpse of Jesus back to life.

Jesus Christ was resurrected and alive.

He appeared along a seven-mile road to a group of men “hurling words” at each other in discussing and debating about the ministry of Jesus and the whereabouts of His body, while searching for meaning. Jesus was invited by these men to walk along this road to Emmaus. As the conversation turned to Jesus, He escorted these men along another road – the journey back in time from Moses to the prophets. Every account cited by the risen Christ pointed to the Messiah’s first coming and the events that had culminated with Jesus’ death and crucifixion.

As these men urged Jesus to abide and linger with them over a meal, their eyes were opened to see Jesus – the risen Savior...before He vanished. At that moment, these travelers said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

Take the time to watch the complete teaching below, but take a moment now to see the parallels between Jehovah’s instruction.

Jesus was invited to abide. God first loved us and desires to tabernacle and abide with His people. Jesus was the sacrifice offered to atone for sins, as required for love, forgiveness, and fellowship with the Presence of God.

The never-ceasing fire burning in the Old Testament was at the altar. Our very lives are directed by that which occupies our hearts and minds. What occupies your altar, the space of your heart that holds your objects of devotion, your loves and obsessions, and the seat of your very being?

It’s time for you to acknowledge what Jesus already knows. Does your heart burn for Jesus? Is there a kindled fire that indicates the very Presence of Jesus Christ, the King, in your life that emanates from within your being? Has your heart ever burned for Jesus?

How can your heart burn for Jesus if you can’t answer these questions with a “yes?”

Make sure you have sacrificed self and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Those are two separate ways to know Jesus! As Savior, we know Jesus as Redeemer who has saved us from the debt of our sin by purchasing us. Knowing Jesus as Lord is to know Him after dying to self and placing Him on the seat of your life’s throne for governance and rule (see last week’s blogpost, He Reigns...Well, Does He?)

If Jesus Christ is both Your Savior and Lord, your altar is set for His fire to burn. We have to invite His Spirit to abide and seek His Presence. The fire of Jesus burns in the hearts of the faithful. This fire burns in those overcoming failures, flaws, and the fights in the spiritual world. The fire of Jesus’ Spirit burns in the hearts of those living under an open heaven. The Spirit revealed Jesus through the healing of spiritual blindness and the understanding of God’s Holy Word.

Do you want to burn for Jesus? You have to get close enough to the fire to catch ablaze. The Abba’s House family of faith welcomes you and needs you. Come burn with us!