Saluting my sisters who love the Lord in sincerity!
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.Philippians 4:21
I love looking at the definitions for deeper meaning...
Then it makes me think of Christ's family...purchased with His blood.
And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.Mark 3:34-35
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
And then it got me thinking about the body of Christ all around the world...His ekklesia! And we know there is only one. There were more scriptures than I thought on that so I share a few and encourage you to look up more on it!
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.Colossians 1:18
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:Ephesians 3:6
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.1 Corinthians 12:18, 27
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.1 Corinthians 10:17
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.Ephesians 4:16
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.Colossians 3:15
And we know the Lord adds to His body and no man can really cast anyone out! Let us abide in Christ sisters lest this first one happen to us...
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.John 15:2
We do want Him to prune us though for sure so we can bring forth more fruit to His glory!
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:27-29
I was thinking about hearing His voice. That surely would involve keeping His Word which is His voice amen sisters?!
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.John 14:23-24
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.Luke 11:28
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.Matthew 13:16
Let us hear His voice and follow our good Shepherd!
Beautiful creations...
We are blessed with all the good pure and true things to see in this world as dark as it is out there. Glory to God. He is good! And we women are commanded to be good also.
I have some extra days before needing to travel to the children's. I am trying to pack as much in as I can and redeem the time before I am away for awhile again. We all just do what we can don't we sisters! We really are blessed to have good works to do no matter if they are cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, looking after children or being a mother, being a helper to a husband, having to work to support yourself and any number of good works and more within all those! He set us free from bad works and we keep pressing on to grow to be even more refined for Him!
I added more to the gospel page I have on my blog here. I don't believe women should go real deep into the teaching the gospel either as it is theology/doctrine still. We do do what we can and you realize that really we are just puny labourers with God anyway and He is the One doing the main work and we can't make anyone believe or repent or anything and the Lord will have His way in finding all His lost sheep I know. Yes He may use us and our witness but it's comforting when we just do what we can, put it in His hands, and shine our lights! We don't want to stumble anyone of course and the Lord sure can use us to share truth with people but He is so much greater than us. There's so few of us and so many souls around the world. It can't all be dependent on us. We need to obey Him though which is why we do what we do in living the truth and sharing it.
And no I do not believe women have been commanded or called to be preachers (public criers/heralds) of the gospel. We do not see any command specifically given to women in this nor see examples of women 'missionaries' or whatever you want to call them like Paul and Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, and Timothy were. Many women traveled with Jesus...not preaching the gospel of the kingdom or lifting up their voice and calling out for men to repent...but quietly serving Him with their possessions (maybe they cooked and sewed for Him and His disciples or provided lodging?).
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,
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Luke 8:1-3
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:Matthew 27:55
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; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.Mark 15:40-41
Of course we sisters can speak to people about Jesus and share the way to eternal life but we do not have the calling that men do to preach the gospel, just as we are not called to teach in the body or be leaders in it. We simply don't. Preach means preach but we sure can share Christ the Saviour with others! He is everyone's only hope! It's precious life changing truth even if most everyone doesn't want it. People have to be truly seeking it too and we know Jesus said there will be few so that's no surprise...but we don't know who those few may be. And obviously we have to endure in obeying the gospel ourselves!
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.Romans 16:1-2
Oh yes we sisters can do many good important works especially if we have a body of believers round us in serving them and helping the men in their duties while they preach the gospel (not us) as we see many examples of women in the scriptures doing so. But we may not have that blessing today with so few saints. And that doesn't mean we go and do what the Lord hasn't called us to if no one else much is doing it. No. We obey God no matter what and He is greater than us and will accomplish His will without us puny women thinking we have to step out and take things into our own hands (which would be feminism no matter if something is a good thing in itself). That's why you have women in the (corrupt and false) churches preaching and teaching to the so called body as they say "there were no men to do it". We don't and can't be like that either lest we be hypocrites.
So let's keep being a light and witness sisters ready to speak about Christ the only hope and ready to give an answer of why we do what we do and all the hope in Him. And today we are blessed with being able to have gospel cards that help as simple tools along with being ready to speak it (well do our best anyway and I take comfort in knowing God uses the 'weak' things to confound the mighty etc as it says in 1 Corinthians 1.).
Praise God for showing us what we are supposed to be doing as women and what our focus would be. We want to be faithful in the callings we know for a fact that we do have. We can read those in many places like Titus 2, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Peter 3, 1 Timothy 5:9-16, 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Ephesians 5:22-24, and all the commands which are in general for all saints. Let us not allow ourselves or anyone else to demean the calling the Lord has for us nor be discontent and wanting something else. Let us please the Lord by submitting to the authority and roles He has set up and doing them with joy as unto Him! No commands are of any lesser value are they as we live unto Him don't we!
Submit yourselves therefore to God.(James 4:7)
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.Revelation 5:12