The Persecution of Women in the Church

[Sister Alvear]

it was the women who first discovered that Christ had risen. It was to the women that Jesus had said, "Go and tell that I have risen."

No matter how good a preacher you are you are only repeating a story that Jesus told the women to tell. For if it would not have been for His resurrection, His victory over death, hell, and the grave, we could not be where we are today. That is the core of the gospel. So put your guns aside, beat your swords into plowshares and your spears into pruning hooks, and let’s get on with evangelizing the world.

Do not be guilty of setting yourself up as God - deciding whose mouth to open or close. Don’t let the resurrection message that we must carry to the Four Corners of the world get diluted with sour feelings over who takes the message to the lost.

While preachers spend enormous energy debating and deciding who will be the one to carry the gospel, the devil laughs and continues working full speed ahead toward his purpose, and if we are not careful, we’ll help him do it!

Why crush the tongue that could tell a liberating message to captives? Do you realize God’s people that are God’s messengers carry the only light left for this dark, sinful world? Why try to snuff out a part of it?

We have the only lasting hope, the only real miracle, the only eternal promise, and yet some of our methods resemble India’s Castle System.

It was the Pharisees that always stood on their feet. They muttered and ground that truth belonged to them only and they only had a right to spread it. They pulled their long self-righteous, cloaks around them and condemned the innocent. But did you notice Jesus never condemned - except those that condemned?


Jesus’ friends did not meet the religious standards of the Pharisees for His friends were unlearned fishermen, the tax collector, the adulterous woman, the Samaritan woman. But it was to these and others like these that Jesus pointed down roads of time and said, "Go unto all the world and preach...Go, and tell that I have risen."

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

In the long history of the church, God has conducted its affairs in a way that often was beyond human understanding. Peter once said, If then God gave them the same gift to them as he gave us...who was I (who are we) that I (we) could withstand God (Acts 11:1).

Acts 5:33 - 39 (KJV) 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Mother Alvear ... I'm floored ... You have schooled us ...

Thank you Daniel...because of circumstances here for many years I studied about women in ministy...I have no doubt that Jesus called me to be a missionary but I studied this in depth because of the Catholic church and especially William Branham´s teachings against women. I am not an ordained minister neither claim to be but precious Sister Agnes Holmes my mentor of many years is a beautiful example of a woman in ministry...I went to christian school when she and her husband pastored the church in north Little Rock and many Friday mornings in our assembly she would preach to us...she is old and feeble now. I watched them help her to the platform at Brother Holmes ' campmeeting and wiped tears from my eyes...remembering so long ago when she preached to us...I am very endebted to a woman preacher...

[Sister Alvear]

I love the story of Deborah..the bee...
She knew how to use both pen and sword; however, her greatest force was not human force, it was a God -given force. In everything she did, she depended upon God. Deborah’s song of victory belongs to some of the oldest, most beautiful poems of Hebrew history.

[Sister Alvear]

Even though God had placed her first in a song, she reserved space for others. Barak and Jael were carefully mentioned. She only considered herself a mother in Israel. Deborah is one of the most distinguished women of Bible history because of her character, her leadership abilities and her poems. Certainly she lived an interesting life; the secret of her life was in Jehovah God.
She showed what a woman could do when God takes over and is in full control. Can you imagine a woman governing the people of God? See Judges 4:8; here is a woman governing (ruling) Israel in the time of the Judges. Even though the devil was fighting against her each step of the way, here is a woman that rises above her disadvantages. A notable fact that a man was happy to follow the leadership of woman!
Under her capable leadership, Israel experienced forty years of peace and prosperity. I think one of the reasons we have stories such as Deborah’s governing Israel is that God wants us to understand the opportunities of women in the New Testament and especially in the millennium.
What did it mean for Deborah to judge the nation of Israel? The concept of a judge to the Hebrews was one that governed. It means vindicate, judge, punish, govern, litigate, defend, plead, reason and rule (Strong's #8199). It also meant a bringer of justice.
Deborah is considered one of the wisest women in the Old Testament. All her activities didn’t hinder her from being a good wife. As judge, she exercised authority in legal matters. As prophetess, she proclaimed the Word of God under divine inspiration. As poet, she wrote poems; she was a gifted woman. She exercised political leadership, military leadership and religious leadership. It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that many men filled the post Deborah occupied with fewer results. A woman that occupied such a great official position could not be inferior to man.
Some have said there is a difference between a prophetess and a preacher. Young’s Analytical Concordance on page 71, tells us that the Hebrew word "Nibah" is a female preacher. So at the death of wicked Ehud, God raised up a woman, a nibah to lead His people.

[Sister Alvear]

. This story illustrates the Hebrew belief that God could communicate messages of vital importance through either men or women. No character in the Old Testament stands out in bolder relief than Deborah-prophetess, ruler, warrior, and proctor.
Meroz was cursed because they came not to the aid of the Lord - not helping Deborah was not helping the Lord. Helping Deborah was helping the Lord!

[Sister Alvear]

II Chronicles 34:22: "And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college and they spake to her to that effect."
Josiah, king of Israel, began to reign and did what was right in the sight of God. In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah sent men to repair the house of the Lord. That’s when the book of the law (Bible) was found. When it was read before the king, he rent his clothes and sent Hilkiah and Shaphan, the scribe and Asaiah, to find someone who could give them a Word from God. It was not long until they were sitting at prophetess Huldah's feet learning and hearing the word of God.
Think about what a great event it was as Huldah rose above her disadvantages and operated in a supernatural ministry in Israel.
Let’s study some of Huldah's life. She was a prophetess, a woman that was God’s voice to the people. Her calling was special and her ministry was notable; yet she was a housewife. Her husband’s name was Shallum. He was the keeper of the king’s wardrobe. Like all godly women, she took care of her husband.
Her marriage with all of its responsibilities did not keep her from obeying the call of God. She knew how to harmonize each responsibility. At this time, Israel had other well-known prophets such as Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah who were continually insisting that the people return to God.
Huldah dwelt in Jerusalem in the college (II. Chronicles 34:22). It must have been there that she gave counsel to the people. Some have thought that Huldah taught at the school of prophets, which included women. She taught and had authority. Jeremiah possibly could have been one of her students. Huldah openly did her job; there was no need for her to hide as some prophets have tried to do. She could hear the noise of the rebuilding of the temple.
One evening she saw five men coming to her. No doubt she recognized Hezekiah the high priest along with Shaphan and many others. They told her about finding the Law of Moses in the house of God, how they read it to the king, and that he had sent them to find someone with a word from God. They also realized that they were living so far from God’s law. Maybe Huldah wondered why they had come to her instead of Jeremiah or another prophet. However, she, like prophetesses of long ago, was a willing and capable worker among men.
God needed someone to declare His will on earth. Usually God used a man, but this particular time He used a woman. No doubt showing once again He will use whom ever He chooses. Huldah perfectly understood she was not in competition with men. So she did not try to shun her responsibilities or her duties just because she was a woman. God needed someone to be His mouthpiece, to be an instrument, and it did not matter to Him if it were male or female. "Thus saith the Lord," those four words were enough to prove to them that she was a prophetess. God, who is merciful, saw that Josiah sought Him and wanted to walk in His ways, so God said these judgments would come only after Josiah's death.
After the messenger had delivered God’s message to King Josiah, he had no doubt that God had spoken and began to make some necessary changes. He went to the temple with the leaders and read the Law to all the people of Jerusalem and Judah. All were convinced that God had spoken through Prophetess Huldah. A great revival like never before began among the people.
Both king and people, an entire nation, made a new covenant with God. Together they affirmed that they would serve the God of Israel. They were willing to obey God’s Law with their whole hearts. Even though the message to turn their hearts back to God was delivered by a woman.
The Passover feast was once again observed. It is wonderful to note that even in the Kingdom of Judah's departure from the Lord, God had a prophetess that from whose mouth wisdom and truth could be retried upon. God in His sovereignty chose a woman even when men prophets were available. Thus she has a permanent place in Old Testament religious history of those who led God’s people. My friend, God still speaks through His prophets and prophetesses today. The church cannot be perfected without them.
The Israelites had forgotten that God had liberated them in the past. They had also rejected the sacrifice that pointed them to the life of Christ. They had ceased celebrating the yearly feast instituted by God as a memorial their deliverance from Egypt. It had been many years since they had observed the Passover.

[Sister Alvear]

It was God that chose to use Huldah, even though there were men prophets in her day. Thanks be to God that Huldah has a permanent place in the religious history of the Old Testament. She will always be remembered for bringing a revival to the Levitical priesthood (ministers) and what a revival they had.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Mother Alvear ... I'm floored ... You have schooled us ...

She is pretty awesome isnt she?

[Sister Alvear]

What human knew more about Jesus than Mary, his mother did? Without her, there could be no witness of the truth. Who besides her could tell about the appearance of Gabriel, the angel who spoke with her face to face?
The doctrine of the incarnation depends upon the words of Mary and a dream of Joseph. It is written that the disciples abandoned him while at Calvary and they all fled (Matthew 26:56), except for John who stayed a little longer and then took Mary away.
John could not tell us what he did not see. So the events found in Matthew, Mark and Luke were from the mouths of women (Matthew 27:56), among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children (John 19:25). Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Of the seven phrases John mentioned, four of them were told by women (Luke 23, 34, 43; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46).
In the light of these facts, we can see why the Lord Jesus blessed His women followers. They were ready to believe and to publish to the brethren the resurrection message. Augustine comments that these women were the first preachers of the resurrection of Christ. It’s unacceptable to believe the fact that our Lord would choose women to publish to the disciples the most important message of the gospel and then later put an embargo on their further publishing the good news.
There was a law given by God in the Bible. Two witnesses were needed to prove a fact (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; John 8:17). John’s word was not enough; that is why each gospel states “the women of Galilee”. So the fact of Jesus’ resurrection is based almost entirely upon the words of women. Matthew 18:1-2: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them. If you do not believe a woman can preach, then you should not preach about the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus.
It was the women who felt the earthquake and witnessed the things that followed. They saw that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. They heard the angel’s voice. The unsealed grave was left as a testimony to the fact the Jesus has risen.
What we know about the earthquake, the appearance of the angel, the stone being rolled away, guards falling as dead men, the announcement that He had risen, we know because Matthew told us in his gospel how the tomb was witnessed by the two women both called Mary.
Mark tells us about the women seeing two men (angels). Luke speaks of the clothes the angel was wearing. The guards fell as dead men, yet these Gospel authors were not eyewitnesses. Not even Peter or John did see the angels. Even if they did, they do not serve as witnesses because the Bible only mentions the words of the women. It was simply the testimonies of two women.
The earthquake did not come and neither did the angels appear until both Marys were there to witness it. The words of the women are the central theme of the gospel HE AROSE! That is the most important message, the message that makes our religion different from all the other religions on earth.
The disciples did not believe the words of the women. (Mark 16:9-11, Luke 24:22-27), no of course not! It is not strange that they did not believe; they were accustomed to the Talmud teaching.
Notice Jesus gave the women that followed him one of the greatest privileges in connection with the resurrection:

1. They saw where he was laid.
2. They saw the tomb being closed.
3. They saw the stone being rolled away.
4. They saw the guards fall as dead men.

When Jesus said you are a witness of these things, He could not have been talking to Peter, James, or John because they did not see it. It had to be the women He was talking to because they had seen (Acts 1:8; 1:14-15; Acts 2:16-18).

Now the women also could fulfill Isaiah 40: 9: O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The poet reminds us about Mary Magdalene:

Not she with treacherous kiss her master stung.
Not she denied Him with unfaithful tongue.
She, when Apostles fled, could dangers brave.
Last at the cross, and earliest at the grave...
Author Unknown

Faithful, loving Mary was the first one to see Him after His resurrection