Women Shouldn’t Teach

or at least that’s what we have been told!

Jesus was always being faulted for healing people on the Sabbath.  This is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is the implications on women in ministry.  Stay with me, you’ll see the connection in a minute.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus in the middle of the night to question Him in John 3. 

……… “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 

John 3:2

This was a Pharisee admitting that “we all know” that you come from God because of these works.  So, they know that this is God.  Jesus further admits that He can do nothing but what He sees the Father doing.  John 5:19.  So, Jesus too attests that these works are from God.  So Jesus, in John 9, heals a guy who was blind from birth, and does so on the Sabbath.  In vs. 16 the Pharisees complain:

…… “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. 

John 9:16

We can only conclude one of three things here.  Either Jesus is possessed by an evil spirit, as they claimed in Mt. 12:24, He is in complete control of the Holy Spirit and wields Him and His power inappropriately, or God Himself is the one breaking the Sabbath.  In this first conclusion, we would have to admit that the first demonstration of power like this in nearly 400 years was demonic, and that the demonic spirits were positively healing sick and broken people.  That seems a stretch, especially since Jesus Himself suggested that a house divided against itself couldn’t stand.  Apostle Luke further asserts that sickness is sourced in the Devil in Acts 10:38 (now you know!).  Our next possible conclusion is equally silly.  I think everyone is clear on the fact that we don’t control the Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit isn’t just power; He is God!  2Cor.3:17.  I don’t tell God what to do; He tells me.  Further, Holy Spirit, like Jesus, doesn’t do anything except what the Father in heaven is doing.  John 16:13.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all in complete unity.  This leaves us with only one conclusion.  God Himself was ok breaking the Sabbath.  Think about that for a minute.  If Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, that means God was at work, and obviously God endorses the work of His own hand.  Here’s where this ties to women.  Many assert that women cannot minister to men or teach them in any way.  Yet, we find that there are a number of women who minister under the anointing of Holy Spirit.  Under this anointing they demonstrate sensitivity in being led by Him in many ways, including their teaching, teaching which bears good fruit.  Why would Holy Spirit rest upon a woman to enable her to do what He Himself has prohibited her from (that being the teaching of and ministering to men)?  God wouldn’t rest upon and empower a woman to break His own rules.  It just wouldn’t happen.  In fact, this would be a house divided against itself and it couldn’t stand.  Our only conclusion can be that if God is resting upon a woman to empower her to minister, that it must be His will.  He would not violate Himself to empower her!  Just some food for thought as you continue to pursue God this week. 

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