Honor

Should Women Keep Silent in the Church? (Part 3) – Gary Florence

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Yes, finally we are coming to the conclusion “Should Women Keep Silent in the Church.” Let’s ask our questions from Part 2.

  • Who wrote it? (Paul),
  • Who was it written to? (Timothy).

Now we will do a little digging into the historical context. In 1 Timothy chapter 2, Paul is giving advice on how a church service should be ran. Let’s look at something interesting in verse 8 it says “Likewise I want WOMEN to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments.” (NASB) This is how the women who were leaders at the temple of Diana (Artemis) dressed because prostitution was one of the many things that went on there.

Now look at verses 11-12 “Let a WOMAN learn in silence with all submission and I do not permit a WOMAN to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be silence.”

Look how Paul changed from women to woman. Some scholars believe he was talking about one particular woman not women as a whole.

Continuing on, Verses 13-14. “For it was Adam who was created and then Eve, and it was not Adam who was deceived but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.”

Where did that come from and why did Paul have to say that? One of the teachings of Diana (Artemis) was that they believed Eve was created first and that Adam was the one who was deceived in the garden. Therefore they pointed fingers of blame at the men. So when these idol worshipers got saved they brought this mentality into the church and it caused them to have a negative attitude toward men and the men Timothy put into leadership. Could Paul have been pointing out this WOMAN’S inappropriate behavior? People were literally jumping up in the middle of the services and yelling what they believed and were taught to them regarding their false religion that they had now come out of. So if we look at the historical context of what was happening in the services of that day. Paul was addressing women or particular a “woman” that was an outspoken leader of Diana (Artemis) not women of today.

I would like to say as a man if these scriptures or any others dealing with women have been held over you. First of all I want to apologize on behalf of us men and ask for your forgiveness. You are not to be off to the side or in the background but we are to be standing side by side together as one voice. So finally what is my “opinion” on “Should Women Keep Silent in the Church” it is a resounding NOOOOO!!! They should not keep silent in church.

I would like now to speak into the women’s lives “May the Wonder Women you truly are begin to rise within you and may the lasso of truth be wrapped around your minds. May all the gifting’s, callings and your destiny come into fruition and you be those Wonder Women that you have been created to be.” As men we need you ladies and we love you and speak blessings over you. So do not keep silent any longer!!!

Should Women Keep Silent in the Church? (Part 2) – Gary Florence

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Let’s go ahead a pick up where we lift off shall we. I was sharing about the word is the same yesterday, today and forever, actually that is not even in the bible. In Heb. 13:8 it says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. I realize that according to John 1:1 it talks about Jesus being the word. There were many situations when I would argue about the word being the same, I actually was talking about the bible and the 66 books that is in it. I would say that the 66 books of the bible are the same yesterday, today and forever. Then one day I was reading something and was challenged on it. Moses was told by God if a son was disobedient to his parents and they couldn’t get it resolved they were to go to the elders and stone him. I don’t’ know about you, but I don’t read those types of headlines in the newspapers anymore.

He was also told that they were to circumcise their male children on the eighth day. Can you image in this day to tell the people working at the hospitals “We will be back in 8 days to have a child circumcised.” Here is a little tidbit concerning why God had them wait till the eighth day. That was when the vitamin K was at its highest level in their body to help with the clotting of the blood. Now a days they can just give them a shot.

Here is one from the New Testament. If somebody would come up to us and say that they sold 2 dozen Easter eggs for the building project but they only sold 1 1/2 dozen. Should we then like Peter with Ananias and Sapphira call down the judgment of God and strike them dead? So I need to ask myself a question, “Is the Bible the same yesterday, today and forever. I have discovered when just grabbing scripture out of context and applying them into the culture of our days that there is somethings we need to do. When need to ask “Who wrote it”

“Who was it written to” and “What the historical context of that day was.” The next time we get together we are going to apply them to Paul’s saying of should women keep silent in the church. Some of you might being thinking to yourself “I just want to know your answer so I can either hit my hot button or not.”

This is one reason why we have to dig a little deeper so we are not taking scripture out of context and throwing it into someone’s face. Trust me it will be worth the wait. In the meantime start your own bible study and read Acts 19: 22-28, this will give you a jump start for the next time we meet.

Should Women Keep Silent In the Church (Part 1) – Gary Florence

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I believe before we dive into this very controversial topic, I need to put a disclaimer out here. I am by no means claiming to have all the answers on this topic. This is one person’s opinion on the matter. You may agree with it or you may not agree with it. There may be portions you are ok with and others you are not ok with, and that is ok. We have to come to a place in the body that it is ok at times to disagree with one another in love but in our society we focus more on the disagreeing and proving we are right rather than on the loving part and that really needs to change in the body of Christ.

Now with that out of the way let’s begin shall we. If you read 1 Timothy 2: 11-12 out of the NKJV it reads,

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”

Taking this scripture out of context and at face value one would think that Paul has a problem with women. Yet in some of his earlier writings he talks about women who are apostles and prophets. He also makes mention “I wish that you ALL would prophecy.” So what is going on here? Is Paul in his older years changing his mind or what? I have watched and heard from both sides of the aisle concerning this issue. As I stated earlier this is only one person’s opinion, who just happens to be a man. This is why grabbing a scripture out of context and inserting it into a circumstance and situation or even in our modern culture can at times be detrimental to us or to others. I know in my own life there have been many times depending on what was or wasn’t happening in my life I would grab a scripture out of context only to find out later that it really wasn’t for that moment in my life. Ok now I know some of you might be scratching your heads thinking to yourself “I thought the word was the same yesterday, today and forever.”

The next time we get together I will pick up right here where we left off because I want to explain myself a little better and clearer. Then I will give my answer, which is an opinion “Should Women Keep Silent in the Church”?  So you can put your hot buttons away for a few more days because this can be a very hot button topic.

I Believed and So I Spoke – Frank Work

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2 Corinthians 4:13-14(ESV)

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

These two verses really stuck out to me. It’s not a big secret that what we hold in our hearts we will also speak and do. I know Jesus said the same thing about the treasures of our hearts (Matt 6:21). What we believe, we will hold true to our hearts in all that we say and all that we do. If I hold malice and discontent, that will be evident in my actions and thoughts. If I hold joy and love, that also will be evident. Belief though, that’s a game changer. Belief can cause us to do some fantastic things, but it can also cause us to do some really questionable things. Belief can drive us to help the poor in spirit and minister to the widows, orphans, and the homeless. Belief can also drive us to darker times, like hate, jealousy, envy, and war.

Even though everything I am is given over to Jesus, I still must ask myself…”Frank, what do you believe?” What do I believe about Jesus? What do I believe about my heavenly Father? Are my beliefs in line with scripture or am I straying away from the foundation of the word?

Romans 10:8-10 (ESV) speaks to the exact concept of belief;

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

We can talk all day about what we believe and who we believe in and how we believe it. But truly everything comes from our heart, the innermost core of who we are. Our thoughts are constantly changing, but our belief system is constant. I really have to ask myself; What do I really believe about my faith and my walk with Jesus? How is my belief system affecting my walk and more importantly, who is affected by my belief system? Because what I believe will spill over to my family, friends, and people I meet.

My beliefs will also cause me to do things I shouldn’t do, but because I have such a strong sense of belief in what I am doing, I will justify it as being right and true. I believe..(haha), but really, I believe that accountability will help me stay true to the very nature of Jesus. Not just accountability from family and brothers/sisters in Christ, but accountability from the Holy Spirit. Honestly, the only way I am truly going to know if I am hearing God correctly is to bring it before my trusted brothers/sisters and give it over to prayer. The Holy Spirit will then begin to give me the Father’s truth.

When I am going through trials and tribulations I must ask the question, “What do I believe about this?” My beliefs will dictate my prayers and how I respond. I need to respond with the heart of God and according to the foundation of His word. Any other way is soulish and selfish and will cater to my flesh and not strengthen my spirit.

Generations Come Together for Battle – Gary Florence

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There was a guy in our church who shared a vision with us that God had given to him. He saw the younger generation dressed in battle armor standing on this hill that was made out of skulls. They were standing there in victory after defeating the enemy. I thought to myself “where is the older generation?”

I believe the Lord showed me that many of the older generation are in “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hand” mode. That many are feeling like their time of advancement is over and that it is time to hand the baton to the younger generation. That they have become weary and tired waiting for the Lord and the fulfillment of the promises given to them. That by default they took themselves out of the vision. I am here to tell you this is not about one generation laying down their weapons and armor and allowing another one to pick them up and go on without them, but this about each generation coming together in this hour and flowing into one stream and advancing as one.

I am reminded of Caleb he was 40 years old when he was given a promise about the land that the spies entered into. It took another 40 years for that promise to come to pass. He made the comment “I am as strong and vibrant at 80 years old, as I was at 40.”  Those of us in the older generation do not give up or give in to your circumstances and situations. Though the vision may tarry God is faithful to His promises to you.

There are those who are saying that not only have we entered into a new decade but that we also have entered into a new era. I believe we are entering into a time of acceleration and of suddenlies, we could go to bed one night tired and frustrated and have an encounter with the Lord and everything from that moment on would change and all those prophetic promises begin to come to pass. We have been through the battle of life and we carry the wisdom and scars that the younger generation needs. They need our wisdom and counsel and we need their excitement, enthusiasm and zeal of the Lord. There is a cry in the Spirit for us to arise with them and to advance as one together with the younger generation. Do you have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying? I prophecy to you that your best years are not behind you but that the best is yet to come.

Get ready, get ready, get ready your promises are coming!!!!!