Published May 16, 2008 10:20 am -
God calls us all to serve
Robert H. Gray Jr.
Have you ever heard it said: "God does not call women to preach?"
Well, do you think that God appointed men here on earth to advise Him of what He does and does not do? God calls whom He pleases to call.
In part, what we have here is a lack of study of God's word. Let's look at what His word says 'concerning the woman preacher, starting with the first woman God called to preach.
"Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances."
"And Miriam answered them: Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" (Exodus 15:20,21)
In the Book of Judges we have another woman preacher. Now this woman God set over ALL the people of Israel! "Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time." (Judges 4:4)
In II Kings 22:14, we have Huldah, and in Isaiah 8:3, we find Isaiah's wife. God's people belong to Him. He calls, He anoints, He appoints.
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity." (Luke 2:36)
Please note here: I am by no means saying that because a woman is a preacher, she is also a prophetess! Yet, one cannot be a prophet or prophetess, without first being a preacher. Ephesians 4:11 states: "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."
If you lack understanding here, check the meaning of the word 'prophet' and the word 'prophetess' in the original Hebrew and Greek (for Old and New Testament).
In Acts 21:8,9 we read: "On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with Him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied."
(Scriptures in this article are from the New King James Version.)
God tells us in II Corinthians 3:6, that it is He "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)
"And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (Galatians 4:6)