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THE MINISTRY OF SISTERS IN THE CHURCH
AND IN THE HOME
I.
1. Order in the Church: I Coronthians 11:1-6
This passage teaches clearly that both man and women, under certain conditions, have a equal right to pray and prophesy in church or fellowship meetings. The simpler meaning of the word, "prophesy" is to “tell forth," not "fore-tell.” Every child of God, both men and women, should feel free to tell forth God’smind in and out of meetings.
2. Disorder in the Church: I Cor. 14;33-35
Evidently married women in Corinth were creating disorder and confusion in the church meetings by interrupting and asking questions which should have been asked only of their husbands in the home. They were reproved for their lack of consideration.
II.
1. Order in the home: Ephesians 5:22-33; I Peter 3:1-7
2. Disorder in the home: I Tim. 2:8-15
In the above passages, Paul is not dealing with church or fellowship meetings, but with home and family life. Evidently some women in Ephesus were not willing to be guided by instruction given in Eph. 5:22-33, which is the only true foundation for happy home and family life.
THE MINISTRY OF SISTERS IN THE GOSPEL
There are several examples in Old Testament which prove the Lord used women to make known His mind to others:
Miriam, Exodus 15:20; Deborah, Judges 4:4-9; Huldah, II Chron. 34:22.
In Psalm 68:11 R.V. we read, "The women that publish the tidings are a great host."
In the New Testament there are many passages which prove conclusively that women filled a useful place in the extension of the Kingdom of God as forth-tellers of the Good News, while many others ministered of their substance to the needs of those whom He sent forth. Luke 8;13; 10:38-42; Romans 16:3-4.
Proof from the Gospels:
Luke 2:36-38 "Anna, a prophetess, spake of Him to All that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." She preached in a public place to all, both men and women, for a long term of years.
John 4:27-29; 39-42. The Samaritan woman "left her waterpot, went into the city, and saith to the men, ‘Is not this the Christ?’ And they (the men) came unto Him." She became a winner of souls immediately after her conversion and her going into the city and speaking to the men of her new found Saviour had the full approval and seal of the Christ.
John 20:11-25. Women were last at the cross and first at the tomb. In verse 17, Mary Magdalene was given a special commission, "go to my brethren" (men and women) and say unto them, ‘I ascend unto my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ "Mary came and told the disciples (men and women) that she had seen the Lord and delivered her message.
The same day at evening these same brethren or disciples (men.and women) were gathered together in an upper room and Jesus came and stood in the midst and showed them his hands and f eet. The disciples (men women) were glad when they saw the Lord. He said unto them "Peace be unto you; as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained."
The following passages prove that between the crucificion and Pentecost women were very closely associated with the eleven and were with them when Jesus gave the commission in John 20:19-23; Luke 24:9, 10, 22, 24, 33, 48.
Note the expressions in these verses "all the rest," ”other women that were with them," "certain women also of our company,’ "certain of them that were with us," " The eleven gathered together and them that were with them," "Ye (men and women) are witnesses of these things."
Proof from Acts of the Apostles:
Acts 1:12-14. The women mentioned in John 20 and Luke 24 are here numbered with the apostles in the upper room as continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, and in verse 15 to end, evidently had a part in selecting one of their number to take the place of Judas.
Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost has fully come they (the 120 men and women) were all with one accord in one place and received the same baptism of the Holy Ghost and preached the same Gospel in other languages as the spirit gave them utterance."
Acts 2;14-21. Peter solemnly declared that the pouring out of the Holy Ghost and the preaching of the Gospel in other languages by the 120 men and women, bondservants and handmaidens, was the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Joel. Joel 2:28-32. Thus on the day of Pentecost, God set His seal to the ministry of women and as the result of the labors of the whole 120, over 3,000 were added to the Lord that day.
Acts 21:9. Philip had four daughters which did (preach) prophesy.
Proof from the Epistles:
Romans . 16 :1 "Phebe, our sister, a servant. ” The word translated servant in this verse is translated “ minister" in I Cor. 3:5 and II Cor. 6:4, and refers to the ministry of the word. Phebe was undoubtedly a minister of the word and ministered as a worker just as Priscilla ministered as a saint.
Romans 16:6 “Greet Mary who bestowed much labor on us."
Romans 16:12 "salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. "Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.”
Philippians 4:1-3 Euodias and Syntyche – “help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other of my fellowlabourers, whose names are In the book of life."
Why were women told how to dress when praying or prophesying if they were not to do so?
I Cor. 11:5. This chapter deals with the worship service and partaking of communion.
I Cor. 14:31 “ Ye ( men and women) may all prophesy one by one, ”
I Cor. 14:3 To prophesy means to speak unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort. If men and women cannot speak in this manner, they are to be silent. They were not given permission to speak just any way (gossip, chatter, etc.) but both men and women had equal right to pray and prophesy in the fellowship meeting.
[Author Unknown]