Audio Download

Acts 21:9  Philip had Four Daughters Which did Prophesy, Part 2

[Study Aired August 13, 2023]

The goal of our study today is to understand the way in which Philip’s four daughters prophesied. Paul repeatedly forbids women teaching and preaching in the church:

1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

We ended our last study taking notice that the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the holy spirit, had forbidden women to teach or “usurp authority over the man” in the church.

We had also noted that he said that a woman can prophesy if she has her head covered.

Let’s go now to the Old Testament of which Paul told Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God,” and see if we can find out what all is included under the definition of this word ‘prophesy.’

It turns out that the Old Testament reveals that the word ‘prophesy’ includes…

1) Singing
2) Playing Musical Instruments
3) Prayer
4) Relating dreams
5) Edification, Exhortation and Comfort

Therefore, it is possible to prophesy without teaching, but you cannot teach without prophesying. ‘Prophesying’ is a very broad brush while teaching is a very focused part of prophesying.

That is right! When we investigate how this word is used in the Old Testament, we find that ‘prophecy’ is a word which is used to include much more than simply speaking as a teacher or a preacher. Let us read what the Holy Spirit inspired to be called ‘prophecy’. When we see how this word was used in the Old Testament, we will then have a much better understanding of how Paul used this word in the New Testament, and we can then understand that he was not contradicting himself at all when he tells us that a woman who ‘prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head’, and in the same breath tell us that “Let your women keep silence in the church for it is not permitted for a woman to speak” (1Co 14:34)

1) Prophesying Includes Singing

The seventy elders who were to help Moses judge the people were all prophets:

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him [Moses], and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Where were these leaders and elders when they were prophesying? Were they in the camp teaching the people? They could have been, but no, that is not where they were prophesying:

Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
Num 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

These seventy men were all standing with Moses at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. The only person in the group who prophesied of what was about to happen with these seventy men and who also prophesied of the imminent arrival of flocks of quail which would fall upon the camp of Israel three feet deep a day’s journey on either side of the camp, was Moses. So, what were these 70 men doing while ‘they prophesied and did not cease… standing with Moses at the tabernacle’?

Let’s read on and see what others did when they, too, ‘prophesied’ and maybe then we can get a feel for what was happening with these men at the tabernacle of the congregation:

2) Prophecy Includes Playing Musical Instruments:

Samuel was both a prophet and a judge. In that capacity, we will see that Samuel prophesied of future events while telling Saul, whom he had just anointed to be king, that Saul would ‘prophesy with a company of prophets… with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp’:

1Sa 10:5 After that thou [King Saul] shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
1Sa 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

1Sa 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1Sa 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
1Sa 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, [with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;] then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
1Sa 10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

How did King Saul prophesy with these prophets? The answer is: “With a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them… they [did] prophesy.”

King David appointed men to “prophesy with” musical instruments:

1Ch 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
1Ch 25:2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied [with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals] according to the order of the king.
1Ch 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

1Ch 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

These men all “prophesied with harp… under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God.”

Of all these men, it is also stated that they “prophesied with a harp… for song… to give thanks and to praise the LORD.” That is what the seventy men were doing when they ‘prophesied without ceasing while standing with Moses at the tabernacle’ (Num 11:25).

Even an evil spirit prophesied through King Saul as David played upon his instrument:

1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
1Sa 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

It is obvious that when King Saul “prophesied in the midst of the house” he was not “speaking unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort” (1Co 14:3). What wicked King Saul was doing was singing to David’s music just as He did at the very beginning of his reign when he ‘prophesied’ with the “company of prophets” with musical instruments. Let’s read it again:

1Sa 10:5 After that thou [King Saul] shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy.

1Sa 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Is this not the same thing that took place among the seventy elders at the tabernacle of the congregation?

Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
Num 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Is this not why Miriam, Moses’ sister, is called a prophetess? Did not God speak through Miriam as she led the women in song in celebrating the destruction of the Egyptian army in the depths of the Red Sea?

Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

3) Prophecy Includes Prayers:

1Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them [the prophets of Baal], and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1Ki 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1Ki 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

The prophets of Baal were praying and begging their God to come down and burn up their offering. We are also told “they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice…”

It should be very clear that prophesying has a much broader application than simply teaching in a congregation and speaking unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort (1Co 14:3). It should by now be clear that Paul was referring to this much broader application when he made the statement that women could indeed prophesy with their heads covered and yet they are not permitted to teach “as also saith the law.”

What Is Love?

Of course, there always have been and there always will be false prophets. The last thing in the world these false prophets want you to do is to expose them and their false doctrines. Consequently, such prophets will aways, of necessity, be accusing God’s true prophets of being less than loving when God’s true prophets “try the spirits” and find them to be false spirits. It is considered ‘unloving’ to apply God’s Words concerning the function of women in the church. We then end up right back in the same position as those who teach the false, cancerous and deadly doctrine of “agreement in the essentials and tolerance in the non-essentials, but love in all things.” It is the very same doctrine which has produced the 40,000 plus Christian denominations, all claiming to be serving the same God while teaching conflicting and opposing doctrines and “saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Here are a few of the scriptures which are considered ‘unloving’ by the heretics of “historical orthodox Christianity.”

“A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition reject,” becomes words of hatred proffered by that same hateful apostle whom we are told in Babylon that he “hated women”:

Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Are these the doctrines of Christ or are these false doctrines from false apostles? Are these spiritual Truths or are these words merely ink on paper? Are those who take these words seriously just modern-day Pharisees who know their Bibles but don’t know and recognize Christ? The difference is the difference between life and death. Here again is Paul’s answer to that question:

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Here, too, is the verse just before John’s admonition to keep any other doctrine out of your spiritual house:

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Are you “abiding in the doctrine of Christ, or have you “progressed” beyond that doctrine? Has it now become unloving to apply these strict warnings against allowing heretics and heresy into your spiritual house? Has it now become a loving thing to just allow a spiritual fornicator to remain in your spiritual house and “leaven the whole lump?”

Here is a verse for the consideration of all those who believe that the written word holds us back from ‘progressing in the things of the spirit:’

1Co 4:6  Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other. (ACV)

All who are teaching that you are receiving revelation completely independently of God’s written words, look closely at verse 6. Now leave out the words which have been added to the text. They are bracketed to let us know that these words were added by the translators. Here is how verse six reads without the added words:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Not one of God’s apostles ever thought “above that which was written.” None of them were “puffed up one against the other.” Those who “think above that which is written” are the very ones who are “puffed up for one against another.” All who go beyond “what is written” have gone ‘beyond’ any possible hope of “trying the spirits to see whether they be of God.” They have not “learned… not to think above that which is written.” They are adrift in a sea of heresy without the rudder of “that which is written” against which to try those “idols of the heart” which have them in their grip. Paul poses this question to all such “prophets who think themselves spiritual:”

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

After receiving so much from “that which is written,” these “prophets who think themselves spiritual” refuse to “acknowledge that the things [which Paul writes] are the commandments of the Lord.”

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

What are we again told to do with such heretics? Here is the very next verse. It accords with all the other verses which deal with heresy and heretics:

1Co 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

When we go back to a mindset of fear that others will perceive us as dictators who are just looking for an excuse to cast others out of our synagogues, then the sad truth is that we were never really in the synagogue of Christ. Those who “abide in the doctrine of Christ” are uncompromising when it comes to “abiding in Him.”

1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye [false prophets] have made the heart of the righteous [who try the spirits] sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked [with all their heresies], that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life [‘let’s all just love each other’]:

Again, what is Truth?

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

When we ‘progress’ beyond God’s Word, we are not sanctified but rather defiled in the very same way the false prophets of old were defiled:

1Ki 22:10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
1Ki 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
1Ki 22:12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

When God decides to deceive us, we are deceived by our own prophecies. Prophesying in a manner faithful to the word of God will cause all the prophets who are not faithful to God’s Word to hate you and want you dead:

Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Jer 11:21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. [Independent of God’s Word]

Jer 26:11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city [“Spiritual Sodom, where our lord was crucified”], as ye have heard with your ears.

Eze 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Eze 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Eze 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Eze 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Eze 13:6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

So true prophecy must be in accord with God’s “that which is written” word and not “our own spirit.” “The LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.”

Jer 19:14 Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD’S house; and said to all the people,
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

4) Prophecy includes relating dreams.

Jer 23:25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

Even our dreams must be tried “to see whether they be of God.” Any prophet who has progressed outside of God’s Word is a false prophet indeed. There are many thousands of such prophets.

5) Prophesy Includes “Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort”

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

While there is no argument at all that many women are very capable public speakers and teachers, the Word of God is still our standard:

1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak [as a teacher] in the church.

1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach [in the church], nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Women can and should be teaching their children and younger women. There are so very many ways to help in the church which are crying out to be filled by women who, like Miriam, wanted to be a Moses instead of a Miriam.

Both Joel and Peter tell us, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.”

Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

We have seen how Miriam prophesied.

Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Deborah was both a prophetess and a judge. Here is how she is introduced to us:

Jdg 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Jdg 4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Now look at the very next verse in this story of Deborah:

Jdg 4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Jdg 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

What is the response from this great male leader of the armies of Israel, the people of God?

Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

How does God react to such a spineless man who must have a woman with him before he will go to war, who cannot follow the spirit of God’s Word but must be able to see the flesh of a woman taking the lead, the soul leading the spirit?

Jdg 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

So, the whole story of Deborah’s judging of Israel is not one which is meant to inspire young girls to political leadership. It is rather a story which emphasizes the shameful condition which has always been the case in Israel:

Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee [women rulers, “that woman Jezebel”] cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths [false doctrines “destroy” any Truth they encounter].

This is not a positive statement, and the story of Deborah is not one of the highlights of Israel’s sad and rebellious history. God had already decided to have a woman take Barak’s honor because God is relating this whole story of Deborah’s time of judging Israel to show us just how far from Him the spineless men of Israel were:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Barak is a perfect spiritual example of the men in the churches who call themselves by God’s name today. They would never in a thousand years quote Paul’s words to the Corinthians, to Timothy or to Titus concerning the function of women in their churches. Like Barak, they are afraid of what might happen if a woman is not leading them in their service to God. As Maud Amy Humbard told one of the TV news magazines many years ago, “Rex (her husband Rex Humbard, whose TV program was the largest religious program on TV at that time) “Rex might be the head of the house, but I am the neck, and the neck turns the head.” It was well known by all that Maud Amy was the head of the Humbard household, and that she ruled Rex Humbard. Rex Humbard, Joyce Myers, Kenneth Copeland, and all of the other ministers of our day, demonstrate by their actions that they despise the words of God respecting the function of men and the function of women in the body of Christ.

1Ti3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Those are the Biblical qualifications of a ‘bishop.’ What are the qualifications of a deacon?

1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Now if God’s Word said that a bishop must be the ‘wife of one husband,’ then that is what I would also say. But instead, we are told that both a bishop and a deacon “must be the husband of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well” or else they are not qualified to be bishops or deacons.

Can a woman somehow fulfill those qualifications? No, a woman cannot be “the husband of one wife.” If Joyce Myers rules her house and has her children in subjection, is she thereby qualified to rule the house of God? No, if Joyce Myers rules her husband, she is not even qualified to be a proper mother because she is not setting a proper Biblical example for her children, much less being a proper ruler over the house of God.

What are women to do in God’s church? Are we given any specific instructions for women?

Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mar 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

“Many… women… came up with Christ unto Jerusalem… followed Him and ministered unto Him.” How did these women “minister to Christ? They “ministered to Him” then just as they should be ministering to Him to this day. They helped in every way they could. Martha prepared meals, Peter’s mother-in-law “ministered” to Christ immediately after he healed her of her fever. Mary ministered to Christ by sitting quietly at His feet as He taught and by washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her long hair. Mary was content with whatever she was given to do for Christ.

Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Look at what a humiliating ‘memorial’ is told of Mary:

Luk 7:44  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Luk 7:45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luk 7:46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luk 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luk 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Mary’s humility and obedience is the example which Christ holds forth to us showing what ‘the woman’ is to do in His service. Such an attitude will be richly rewarded while all of today’s women preachers and teachers “in the churches” will be having this “idol of the heart” burned out of them.

Other women “ministered” to Christ financially:

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

What are the specific instructions given in the New Testament as regards women?

1Ti 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Why should “not a woman… teach nor usurp authority over the man?”

1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

There it is! That is what women should be doing “in the churches.” What a witness are such women! These women do not “despise governments and dominions” ordained by God for the good of his own ‘body.’ “Be teachers of good things… teach the young women to be sober, love their husbands instead of naturally being against them, love and teach their children, be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” There is what God would have women to do in His “church which is His body.”

Is all this still true today? If it ever was true, then it is still true for today because Truth is not something which changes with time. Jesus Christ is the Truth. Truth Is, Was and Will Be Truth. Truth never changes.

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

All who are willing to twist and distort God’s Word to make “of note among the apostles” into ‘are notable apostles’ are accomplishing nothing less than demonstrating their unwillingness to relinquish this idol of their heart.

Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Andronicus and Junia were “kinsmen, fellowprisoners, of note among the apostles and in Christ before Paul.” Is there one word in that verse that intimates that these two women were “the husband of one wife” and somehow qualified to be apostles and were somehow exempt from the “commandments of the Lord” concerning the function of women “in the church?”

Conclusion

It should now be obvious that:

1) Christ is “the beginning of the creation of God,” and when all is said and done and the eons have run their course, that the power of the throne will still reside in the Father and Christ will still “be subject unto Him.” This is the lesson we are to learn from the fact that “He made them male and female.”

2) When Paul spoke of a woman “prophesying with her head covered” he was not contradicting his own multiple admonitions against allowing women to be bishops and teachers. It should be obvious that the prophesying he was referring to was either 1) singing 2) playing a musical instrument, or 3) praying. It would never have entered Paul’s mind to allow a woman to be a bishop or a teacher. So, it is doubtful that she would be either leading a prayer or relating her dreams to give direction to those “in the church.” That being said, there is nothing wrong with the ladies in our fellowship from offering scriptures, asking questions or making comments during our solicited nightly discussions.

3) As long as we are male and female we are not yet received “the promised possession.” It should also be clear that just because there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage in the resurrection, this does not exclude a godly order in the spirit realm.

4) Adam’s condition before Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib was a condition of not being complete, and it was through Eve and not separated from Eve, that Adam would become complete. Just as “the church [is] the fulness of Him [Christ] that fills All in all:”

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

5) That “come out of her my people” is a call to come out of the bondwoman with her bond servant son into the freewoman and her “son of the freewoman.” It should be clear that both are “In Me… In Christ,” and both are the “seed of Abraham” even though one is carnal and rejected. It should now be clear that going from the first Adam to the last Adam is an inevitable progression that all mankind will experience “each in his own order.”

6) That anyone who thinks himself a prophet or spiritual needs to acknowledge that the things written are the commandments of the Lord, and that anyone who supposedly has “progressed” beyond those “commandments of the Lord” has ‘progressed’ right along with Judas, from apostleship into apostasy.

7) That we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” and will be fighting a spiritual war with the “powers and principalities and rulers of darkness of this world” as long as we are in this “sinful flesh.”

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.