THE FATHER NEEDS YOUR WOMB!

(I shared this message at the recent ARISE WOMEN OF BRITAIN AND THE NATIONS Conference, and felt I should share it with you to challenge and encourage you).

One of the greatest biblical phenomena occurred when an angel appeared to a teenage virgin, to ask if God could use her womb to carry and birth the Messiah! In fact, she was not even asked, but was informed that she had been chosen and given the awesome privilege of carrying and birthing the Saviour of the world! Her response, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word,” resonates throughout the ages. (Luke 1:26-38)

The unequivocal truth is that the womb of woman is the designated gateway through which ALL humanity, and thus God’s purposes, come into existence. Even God could never come in human form without the womb of a woman. This was why at the beginning, God said it was not good that the man should be alone without the woman. There was no one with the apparatus, capacity and capability to reproduce the seed of humanity created in the image of God.

After the Fall of Man, God’s redemptive plan was unveiled in the garden of Eden with a promise from the sovereign LORD to Satan, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

Thus, throughout the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, the enemy always sought to destroy woman, and especially, the Seed of woman. (Revelation 12:3-5 best describes this). It is also important to note, however, that throughout the scriptures, whenever the Seed faced termination or extinction, God would raise a woman to carry, birth and preserve the Seed for posterity.

Women Who Carried The Seed

1. Sarah: It began with Abraham, to whom God had promised dominion and the inheritance of the nations. The promise was to him and his Seed, yet, his wife Sarah was old and barren. (Genesis 17:1-8; Galatians 3:16) God visited them, and by the power of His word, old, barren, post-menopause Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

2. Rebekah: Rebekah married Isaac, but also struggled to conceive. God opened her womb when Isaac prayed and pleaded for her. When Rebekah took seed, the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Rebekah watched over this word from God, to ensure that the blessing of the Seed did not go to the wrong son, Esau, but to Isaac, the one chosen by God.

3. Tamar: Tamar cunningly took and reproduced Judah’s seed, to birth Perez, thus continuing the lineage of the Seed, the Messiah. (Genesis 38)

4. Jochebed: Pharaoh had issued a decree that the seed of Israel should be destroyed – all new-born sons should be killed at birth. Yet, Jochebed birthed Moses, who, as the deliverer of Israel, was a type of Christ, the Seed of woman. Together, with her daughter Miriam, they came up with a plan to preserved Moses’ life.

5. Ruth: At the end of one of the darkest periods in the history of Israel, we find Ruth, the Moabite, through the guidance of Naomi, positioning herself to take the seed of Boaz, and producing a king for Israel. Ruth birthed Obed, the father of Jessie, the father of King David, the forebear of Jesus Christ.

6. Hannah: We also have Hannah birthing Samuel, at a time when the word of God was scarce in Israel. Though barren, Hannah cried out to God, and He heard and opened up her womb. Through Samuel, the word and knowledge of God was restored back to Israel. (1 Samuel 1–3)

7. Bathsheba: Even Bathsheba played a role in birthing Solomon, and when the kingdom was in chaos, worked with Prophet Nathan to ensure Solomon was made king, according to the word of the Lord. (1 Kings 1:11-40)

8. Three Women: Finally, we have three women who facilitated the birth of Jesus, the Messiah – Anna, the old widow, who carried and travailed in prayer for Him to be born; old and barren Elizabeth, who carried and birthed John the Baptist (the forerunner of Jesus); and Mary the teenage virgin who supernaturally took seed, carried and laboured and birthed the Messiah!

One Thing In Common

The only thing these women had in common was the simple fact that they were women, created in the image of God with the ability and power to take seed and reproduce. In the natural, women are physically designed to fulfil this purpose. We have the ability to multiply seed, and create and birth new life.

The question is, if we are like this in the natural, WHAT ARE WE LIKE IN THE SPIRIT? In the spirit, we are the Church, the Bride of Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can give life to that which is dead or inanimate. (Hebrews 11:35) All a woman needs is a seed, and we need to begin to ask God to plant the seed of the Kingdom in us. What is dead in your community? What is dying and needs life? What needs nurturing? What can we influence?

“And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and the violent take it by force.” – Matthew 11:12 (AMP)

There are very few things as violent as childbearing. Therefore, as women, and as the Church, the Bride of Christ, the Father is calling on us to rise up and take the seeds of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ – righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – and incubate, travail and birth the Kingdom in our homes, communities, churches, villages, towns, cities and nations. The Father is calling on us to travail in prayer and warfare, and in preaching and sharing the Gospel!

The Time To Travail Is Here!

““7 Before she was in labour, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labour, she gave birth to her children. 9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.”  – Isaiah 66:7-9

To the many women (and men) out there, who have carried the promises of God for Britain and the nations in their spiritual wombs for many years, God is also saying, the time has come to enter into travail, for the time of delivery is nigh.

ARISE WOMEN OF BRITAIN!!! ARISE WOMEN OF THE NATIONS!!! AWAKE! ARISE! ACT!

You may watch the video of the entire message “THE FATHER NEEDS YOUR WOMB” which was recorded on ZOOM, by clicking on the link.

Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace
CEO/International President
WOMEN IN TUNE

WE MUST LOOK TO JESUS

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” – Matthew 9:36-38

We are in the midst of a global crisis, and God is preparing the Church for one of the greatest moves of His Spirit on earth. This will bring in a mighty harvest of souls into the Kingdom, and God is stirring up all, especially women, to join His labour force! Many women are already praying earnestly, however, they must go a step further to preach/share the Gospel to/with others. Unfortunately, the argument that women should not preach is hindering many women from stepping up to be used by God to reach out to their families, communities and society with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To truly discover the mind and will of God concerning women as labourers in His Kingdom, however, we must turn to Jesus Christ, since the Church originates from Him and is His Body. We must look beyond all else to our Lord Jesus, who is represented in our lives by the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-26).

Before He ascended, Jesus released authority and power to His disciples, through the promise of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came, He was not gender selective but fell upon all present and empowered them to preach and share the Good News, and raise and build the Church.

Looking To Jesus

There is enough proof in the bible that Jesus Christ is not biased against women preaching. First of all, there is nothing in the scriptures, said or done by Him that indicates that He does not want women to preach or share the Gospel. On the contrary, everything He did and said empowered women to leave their comfort zones to follow and serve Him. (Luke 8:1-3; Luke 10:38-42; Mark 14:3-9)

Secondly, it is true that Jesus chose 12 men and sent them out as apostles to proclaim the Kingdom, but, it is also true that Jesus first disclosed His identity as the coming Messiah to the woman at the well, and watched her drop her pot and run off to spread the Good News. A whole town was saved because of her actions. Again, after His resurrection, Jesus first revealed Himself to Mary, and then commissioned her to go and tell the others the Good News that He is risen!

The Greatest Evidence

However, the greatest evidence we have from Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Holy Spirit coming on us can be found in Isaiah 61:1-4:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.”

Jesus fulfilled this purpose when the Holy Spirit came upon Him. After His wilderness experience, He came out in the power of the Spirit, went into the synagogue and took the Book of Isaiah, and reading out the prophecy, declared: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!” (Luke 4:16-21).

Long before He went to the Cross, Jesus declared that He had accomplished His task, because the Spirit had come upon Him!! The Spirit came upon Jesus to enable Him to preach the Good News of God’s Kingdom and demonstrate its works. The Spirit came upon Him to set captives free, and bring hope, salvation, restoration, healing and deliverance to humanity. The Spirit came on Him to raise the Church (oaks or trees of righteousness planted by God to reveal His glory). Jesus Christ, full of the Spirit and moving in His power, fulfilled all of these and more!

It is for this same purpose that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church. In the Great Commission, Jesus mandated ALL BELIEVERS, not just the eleven remaining disciples, but ALL His disciples, including women, to go out and PREACH the Gospel of the Kingdom. However, He cautioned them to wait for the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to preach and bear witness to Him from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the utmost part of the earth! (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4,8).

In The Upper Room

God is not a respecter of persons, therefore, Christ’s callings and the Holy Spirit’s gifts are given freely, according to the will of the Father, to whoever is deemed worthy, male or female, young or old. (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-12; Galatians 3:26-29).

The record of those who were in the Upper Room, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit gives the names of the eleven remaining apostles, and also, deliberately, mentions that the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus were present, together with the men! (Acts 1:12-14). The women had not been sent out or left behind at home. The Bible says that they, 120 men and women were all together and continued with one accord, in prayer and supplication, waiting for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to preach and fulfil the works of the Kingdom!

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were ALL with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon EACH OF THEM. And they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

When the Holy Spirit came, He fell on every one of them and they were all empowered to preach and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom to all.

Revival

It is a historical fact, that whenever there is revival, that is, a fresh move of the Holy Spirit on the Church, all gender and social barriers are removed, and men and women, young and old, emerge as leaders in the Church, and are freely used by God. Women evangelists are often a distinctive feature during revival, as the Holy Spirit empowers and uses whosoever He chooses, and is ready and willing. It is only when revival wanes, that the gender constrains return.

In the midst of the current global crisis, let us prepare ourselves to be used by God as labourers in His vineyard, by earnestly praying: “LORD, POUR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT AFRESH ON US AGAIN, AND SEND REVIVAL!!!” In Jesus’ Name!

ARISE WOMEN OF BRITAIN!!!

***This was adapted from my book “SONS OF GOD – Our Ultimate Identity As Women In Christ,” which you may purchase from AMAZON

Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace
CEO Women In Tune / QUIVER Convenor

 

 

Single, Married or Divorced?

Several years ago, I read a book entitled “Defining Women,” which attempts to “explore the ways in which social institutions, practices and discourses define women and their position in present day society.” A colleague had recommended and loaned me the book, after a discussion with her about society’s definition of womanhood. This colleague believed that woman’s identity has always been expressed in relationship to man, and voiced out her resentment at having to, for instance, write down her marital status every time she has to fill in a form – single, married or divorced. She mentioned that she had read “Defining Women” for her degree course in Sociology and suggested I read it.

‘Defining Women’ postulates that women are always defined by society in relation to men and that “masculinity and male behaviour are always the reference points” for defining women. It also states that women are more obviously defined in familial terms as carers and nurturers, and that women derive their identity and status from the gendered categories of mothers, daughters and wives. I understood why my colleague was resentful. After all, I would like to think there was more to my existence than being a daughter, wife and mother.

The Simple Fact

I prayed for wisdom and decided to share my thoughts with my husband. (Thankfully, he  recognises that being his wife and a mother to our children is only part of God’s plan and purpose for my life). As I discussed my thoughts with him, I realised that the statements made by the book were facts that have ruled and directed woman’s destiny for centuries. The simple fact is that many women, even Christian women, define and identify themselves only in terms of their statuses as wives and mothers.

Of course there are cultural variations all over the world, but generally, society tends to regard women as such. In Ghana, for instance, a woman maintains her identity as daughter until she marries. Then people begin to identify her as “Mrs…” In fact most Ghanaian women thrive on being called “Mrs.” This identity is further redefined when a woman starts having children. Then people begin to refer to her as “So and So’s mother.” Her first name is lost and with it, a new identity is created!

Please don’t get me wrong! I am not speaking against motherhood or marriage. I enjoy being my father’s daughter, as well as a wife and a mother and consider these roles a very important part of my life. I count it a blessing and a privilege to be married and also have children, but I refuse to limit myself to just being that! I refuse to be identified only as such, and my husband and children are okay with that.

However, I strongly believe that when a woman identifies herself and focuses her life solely as a mother, wife and/or daughter, she limits herself – her potential, scope of influence and achievements. This kind of definition influences her life-choices and lifestyle, determines her boundaries and minimises, obscures and underutilises her strengths.

Is That All?

The question to be asked is, “Is that all God purposed and planned for women?” If God’s only purpose is for women to be wives, mothers and daughters, what happens to the identity of the single and/or childless woman?  What happens when the mother’s children grow up and leave home? What happens if the wife is widowed or divorced? How would the unmarried, orphaned and childless woman identify herself? These are serious issues we ought to ponder over. And what has scripture got to say about all this?

There are several examples in the bible of women who rose up above their cultural definition and identity of woman. Deborah was such a woman. She was the wife of Lapidoth and she described herself as “a mother in Israel”. Yet Deborah did not limit herself to these descriptions only. She extended her boundaries and rose up to become a Judge in Israel. God used her powerfully in a, seemingly and culturally, masculine role. (Judges 4:1-9)

Lessons From A Great Woman

Our best example, however, is the woman described in Proverbs 31:10-31. Now, I am not going to get into a debate about whether this woman exists or not, or whether we can attain the high standard she sets for us, as Christian women. I make reference to her because I believe there are many great lessons we can learn from her.

One such lesson is that she did not take her position as wife and mother lightly. She was very resourceful, loving and organised, and invested time and effort to maintain and sustain her family, home and household. She provided food, clothing and maintained a warm and lovely household. The bible tells us that her husband, who was ‘known in the gates and sat among the elders in the land,’ praised her. Her children also appreciated and valued her, and “rise up and call her blessed”. There is absolutely no doubt that she did not neglect her familial position and role as wife and mother.

Yet, this woman also found time to reach out to her community. The bible tells us that, “she stretches her hands to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.” I believe people in the community knew her by name and could turn to her at a time of need. She was kind and caring enough to extend her love and care outside the boundaries of her home. She recognised and believed in who she was, and touched her community with the fruits of her labour. Indeed, she was a blessing to society.

How many of us can match up to that? How many of us can break out of the mould we find ourselves in and reach out and touch someone else’s life? Mother Theresa was a nun, a woman who did not marry or have any children. Yet, she left behind her a rich legacy by reaching out to her community in India. She got her identity from God and used the virtues He had placed within her to touch many lives. The world still remembers her after her death.

My God, What A Woman!

Apart from taking care of her household and reaching out to her community, the woman described in Proverbs 31 was very industrious. In modern-day terminology, she would certainly be described as a businesswoman or entrepreneur.  She made wise investments. “She considers a field and buys it, from her profits she plants a vineyard.” She was into agriculture – could that be you? “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.” She was also in the clothing business – could that be you? The bible describes her as “like the merchant ships.” Merchant ships often brought a diversity of merchandise from faraway places. This portrays her as industrious and versatile – could that be you? She was a confident woman who carefully and productively managed all that was put in her care. It is really amazing the variety of things this woman was involved in. Yes, that could be any of us!!!

Of course, she drew strength from her relationship and walk with God. However, I also believe she succeeded because she identified and defined herself in Him. She defined her purpose for her life by the blessings, gifts, talents and opportunities given her. God blessed her with a husband, so she was a wife. God blessed her with children so she was a mother. God placed her within a community, so she was a neighbour, a friend and a pillar of strength to her society. God blessed her with wisdom for business, so she put that to use and became a successful businesswoman. God blessed her with dressmaking skills so she became a dressmaker, etc.

She had little time for what was mediocre and commonplace, “she does not eat the bread of idleness.” My God, what a woman!! We certainly have a lot to learn from her!

Let Her Works Praise Her

Another lesson we can learn from the life of this woman is found in verse 31, which says, “Give her all the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.” The ‘gates’ was where the elders, judiciary and administration sat. It was a communal area for public meetings and public justice. The ‘gate’ was also a public forum where community business was discussed. It was the marketplace, where traders met to sell and exchange goods. It was the Administrative Centre for the community. Hence the ‘gates’ was an important place in the city or town. We have already been informed that this woman’s husband had a prominent position there.

However, the scripture requested that her works should praise her within the ‘gates,’ offering her  a place of prominence and recognition in the important place in the city. She deserved the same respect her husband had attained. She had broadened her definition of herself as a woman and earned the peoples’ respect. She was no longer only a mother and wife. She was everything that God had created and purposed for her to be.

What a role model! Like Mother Theresa (who was unmarried and childless), this woman (who was married with children) was celebrated and honoured by her community and society. Of course, this epitome of a woman deserved to be praised, honoured and celebrated!

Our Works Will Be Tested

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.” – 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

As Christian women, our identity must only be found in Jesus Christ. As we discover who we are in Him, we must redefine ourselves accordingly. We realise that we have been set free to pursue and fulfil His purpose for our lives, and His purpose for our lives extends beyond  ourselves and the boundaries of our homes, households and comfort zones. For when Christ gave the command, He said, “Go Ye!” And we must obey Him and go forth and proclaim, display and demonstrate His Kingdom in all spheres of life!

One day, our works will be tested  and may we, like the woman in Proverb 31, receive praise from our Lord Jesus Christ. But before then, you may well need to tackle the question,  “How do I define myself as a woman?”

 

In Christ’s love and service
Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace

Women In Partnership With God

There is much talk about the kingdom of God, in these last days, as the Church re-focuses on her mandate and purpose on earth. Jesus Christ is coming soon and the mandate given to the church to “go into the world and preach the gospel of the kingdom” must be fulfilled. This is a critical moment in time, as many of the signs that Christ predicted would precede His return are manifesting all over the world. Jesus is soon coming to establish His kingdom and to reign and rule on earth with His Bride, the Church.

Every believer, irrespective of age, gender or status must, therefore, be actively engaged in preaching and proclaiming the Gospel, and building the kingdom of God on earth. Indeed, it is a critical time when “all hands must be on deck.” Thus, women must rise up to partner with God to advance and build His Kingdom. Our position, status, responsibility and role in this awesome task have clearly been defined in the scriptures. We must discover these, empower ourselves and join the workforce!

The Kingdom of God

Before we proceed, however, let me briefly define the kingdom of God. The dictionary simply defines kingdom as an area ruled by a king or monarch. A kingdom is essentially a nation, with all of its citizens, land, and laws, ruled by a government headed by a monarch. It is a defined territory, area, state or realm subject to the rule and sovereignty of a monarch.

The kingdom of God is Christ’s reign, rule and authority on the earth and over all creation, as the triumphant Messiah and King. It is wherever Christ reigns in the hearts and lives of people. Thus the territory is the earth and Jesus Christ is the King. Revelations 11:13 tells us:

…The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!” AMP

Hallelujah! The church has been given the awesome privilege and responsibility to partner with God in establishing His Kingdom on earth. (Daniel 7:18, 27)

Power and authority have been released to the Church through the Blood and Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Eternal word of God and all of heaven’s resources. The Church has also been elevated by God to sit together with Christ in heavenly places, giving us access to the mind and heart of God the King, so that we can establish heaven on earth.

The bible says further tells us that we have been made kings and priests to our God (Rev 5:10; 1 Peter 2:9). A priest is one who has access to God and ministers to Him, so that he can minister to others. As priests, we have access to God through the word of God, prayer and intercession, and can therefore determine His mind, plans and purposes concerning the earth. A king is one who reigns and rules over a territory; we reign as kings and are, therefore, to establish heaven’s plans and purposes on earth through prayer, preaching the Gospel and engaging in spiritual warfare. This is the only way we can effectively partner with God in building His kingdom on earth.

Women’s Role

Women have as much a responsibility and role as men in partnering with God to build His kingdom. What we must realise is this, unless the entire body of Christ, male and female, young and old rises up to build, the Church will never accomplish her assignment.

So what must we do, as women? I believe the initial thing to do is to change our mindsets – how we see ourselves, how we think, our priorities, etc. We are transformed by renewing our minds. For so long, women have been told “you can only come so far, because you are a woman. You can only do so much because of your gender. God has set the protocol and status quo, and you have to accept that.” Many have been vigilant in enforcing, what to them, are God’s boundaries and limitations set for women within the Church. It is time to renew our minds regarding who we are and our status and responsibility in Christ!

The boundaries and limitations had been set for Queen Esther, the king had put forth a law that anyone who went before the presence of the king without being called would die, unless the king stretched out his sceptre to them (Esther 4:11). Yet, Esther stepped up, prepared herself and, disregarding the law, approached the king, according to her identity and status as his wife and queen. Esther got her heart’s desire and delivered her people from death.

 Our Status In Christ

What is our status in Christ as women? How we answer this question will determine how effectively we can partner with God in building His kingdom on earth. This is what the bible says about our status in Christ:

1. We have been redeemed, and reconciled with God. (1 Pet 1:18,19; Rom 5:10-11).
2. There is no condemnation towards us who have come into Christ. (Romans 8:1)
3. We have been made alive, together with Christ and raised up to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Eph 1:20,21; 2:5,6). As said earlier, this gives us access to God through prayer/worship and releases power in and through us.
4. We are Sons of God. There is no question in scripture about the identity of women in Christ. We are sons of the Living God. Sonship in the New Testament is not by virtue of gender, but rather is a status, position and function, which we gain when we come into Christ. The Holy Spirit confirms and affirms us as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Women share the inheritance of the kingdom of God with Christ. Women share the possessions, blessings and benefits of the kingdom, our inheritance. Women must, therefore, also share the responsibility of advancing, extending the boundaries, building and establishing the kingdom of God (Gal 3:26-29, 4:4-7; Rom 8:14-17).
5. Our status has been restored. We have been given the authority to take dominion, rule and reign on the earth (Daniel 7:18, 27; Matt 28:18; Acts 1:8). Through the Church of Jesus Christ, God will build His kingdom on earth, and women are part of this audacious work (Psa 110:1-3)

Our Role Models

There are countless numbers of women, both in the bible and history, who partnered with God in building His kingdom. The bible tells us of women like Sarah, Miriam, Zelohehad’s daughters, Deborah, Jael, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Joanna, Salome, Mary Magdalene, Priscilla, Dorcas, Lydia, etc. History tells us of Catherine Booth, Susanna Wesley, Kathryn Kuhlman, etc. The present day also has its list of women who are actively engaged in proclaiming the gospel, raising disciples, healing the sick and casting out demons, feeding the poor and widowed, praying and interceding, taking territories – villages, towns, cities and nations – for Christ.

Every Christian woman can and must join this partnership, because it is our legal (through the Blood) and biblical right and responsibility. Together with our brothers, we will partner with Jesus Christ, the King of kings, until His reign, sovereignty, dominion and rule is established, and His majesty, greatness and glory fill the earth.

In Christ’s Love and Service
Apostle Jennifer Wallace

Good News To Women!!!

A major setback to the Church’s fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20) is that for far too long, more than half of God’s workforce has been redundant. This is because the Church has operated under-capacity by limiting and under-utilizing the gifts and talents of women. However, this seems to be changing as God is releasing His daughters everywhere to worship and work!

God is letting loose the shackles and fetters of culture, tradition and religion! He is breaking the locks on the doors of the boxes and cages of fear, prejudice and mediocrity! He is opening the doors of the prisons of low self-esteem and self worth, depression, oppression and suppression! God is releasing His women to worship and work!! (Isaiah 61:1-4). Hallelujah!

Isaiah 61:4
“…And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations”

Godly women can now rise up, breakthrough the limitations, shake the chains and fetters off their feet and hands, come out of the boxes, caves and prisons to worship and serve God!! Culture, tradition religion and prejudice can no longer stop or hold them back, for they refuse to conform to the boundaries set for them by human beings! Their ears will be unstopped to hear from God and their tongues shall be loosened to proclaim what they have heard!

These God-fearing, prayerful, Spirit-filled, wise, bold and confident women will rise from the place of mediocrity to influence, impact and change their families, churches, workplaces, communities, societies, and nations.

These women will preach the Gospel, win souls to Christ and teach and disciple young converts. They will engage in prayer, intercession and spiritual warfare, and will be the watchmen over their communities, cities and nations. They will raise their families and the next generation in a godly manner. These women will be found everywhere – home, schools, workplace, shopping malls, etc – and, like yeast, salt and light, influence and impact their environment for Christ!

Psalm 68: 11,12 (AMP)
“The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host. The kings of the enemies’ armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil [left behind].”

They will form a global ‘army’ and network, and will become mighty instruments in God’s hand for the final harvest into His kingdom. This mighty army of women will join hands, together with the men, like Moses, Aaron and Miriam, Deborah and Barak, Esther and Mordecai, Priscilla and Aquila, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON! He is coming to receive His Bride, the Church. There is, therefore, an urgent need for preparation, and the Gospel must be preached in every nation on earth. What we now have is a critical situation of ‘all hands on deck’. Hence, women must be restored, raised and released to work.

Matthew 9:36-38
“But when He saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest”

Good News

I have good news for women: A woman, who has been born again from above, and is yielded, surrendered, and filled with God’s living Spirit is free from the oppressive grip of sin and its consequences. She is free to live as a daughter of God knowing that her identity is secure in Him. She is free to discover her God-given purpose. She is free to influence others in her sphere of life with God’s kingdom purposes, mindset and characteristics, as revealed in Christ Jesus and incorporated in the Great Commission.

Indeed, the shed blood of Jesus has purchased our freedom!!! We can now rise up and work. I encourage you, therefore, to prayerfully find your place in the harvest field. Locate your particular assignment, position and rank, and sharpen your tools. Let His word and Spirit guide you, as you rise up to fulfil your assignment.

Your reward will be great! You shall certainly hear these words one day, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of the Lord!” (Matthew 25:21)

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14

Warning

This message is the introduction to our FREE TO SERVE Course. Please feel free to contact us if you want more information about the course. I MUST issue a warning, though: FREE TO SERVE could positively, purposefully, progressively and permanently transform your life!

In Christ’s Love and service,

Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace

MOTHER OF ALL LIVING

MOTHER OF ALL LIVING

The name resounds from the beginning of time,
A name, birthed from the loins of pain.
For on that fateful day, when man fell from grace,
And God pronounced judgement, not to His gain,
Adam rose and called his wife ‘Chavvah,’
The MOTHER OF ALL LIVING!

What did Adam hear that day,
To give his wife such a name?
Oh, the voice of hope was so clear,
For God in mercy had declared,
That through the seed of Woman
Redemption shall appear.
Hope was rekindled, as God ordained,
That in childbearing, woman would save the day.

The trees shook at their roots,
For the earth heard the voice of the Creator,
And responded and took the seeds man planted.
Earth multiplied that which it received,
And when it had brought forth its fruit,
It earned the name Mother!

Mother, every woman’s desire!
Ingrained in her, at the very core of her being,
The urge to reproduce, she must satisfy!
For God has created her to function as the earth,
To take seed and multiply,
Bringing forth the fruit of her womb.

Rachel cried, ‘give me a child or I die!’
Hannah knew no peace until she conceived.
Sarah had given up hope,
For she considered her body dead.
The Shulammite woman, Elizabeth, all received,
The seed of the womb and hope was alive again,
For they could bear that name once again, Mother!

The miracle of birth,
Is but a fusion of the divine and human.
For heaven unites with earth,
When seed is taken by woman.
This is the wonder of motherhood,
That a woman would take seed, incubate it,
And birth the fruit of that seed –
Another human being!

MOTHER, such a multifaceted name
Nurturer, Nourisher, Nurse,
Life-giver, Sustainer, Protector,
Strength, Grace, Solution…
Mother, a song in the ear of every child,
The sweet song of the fruit of the womb.
Mother, the essence of womanhood,
Worthy to be honoured and celebrated!

MOTHER!
A name the Church must also bear.
For, indeed, She is a woman,
The Bride of Christ, Her bridegroom.
Not only must She bear the name,
The Church must also possess the nature,
The very essence of the name.

For Mother has known intimacy,
Mother has rejected barrenness.
Mother has taken seed and conceived,
Mother has incubated and multiplied seed,
And has nurtured and nourished till term.
Mother has laboured
And brought forth her fruit in pain.
Mother, the one who nurtures,
And raises the womb’s fruit, till maturity.

MOTHER OF ALL LIVING…
Church, arise to Motherhood!
Bride of Christ, let the cry be heard from you:
“Give me children or else I die!”
Zion, know no peace till you conceive!
Church, draw to your Bridegroom in intimacy!
Bride of Christ, take the seed of His Word,
And nurture, nourish, multiply and reproduce!
Church, bear fruit for Jesus Christ…
Knowing that the hope of humanity and all creation,
Lies with you arising to MOTHERHOOD!

 By Jennifer Abigail Wallace
(As Inspired by the Holy Spirit)
©2007

The Paradigm of Beauty

I watched a comedy on TV about an older woman who was desperate to win first place in a beauty pageant. She had competed in several beauty pageants when she was younger and had always won second place. This woman was beautiful, had a rich husband, a son, lovely home and all that money could buy but still bemoaned the fact that she had never been crowned “Miss….”. It was very obvious that her concept of beauty was shallow and based solely on physical appearance. She had another opportunity at age fifty-something to compete for “Miss Mature Woman”. Guess what, she still did not win because apart from her physical beauty she did not excel in any other way. A plump, blind woman who had devoted her life to helping others, and whose inner beauty radiated outwardly for all to see won the pageant.

As I pondered about this, my thoughts were drawn to the “Virtuous Woman” described in Proverbs 31. This woman is strong, God-fearing, wise, honourable and contented, yet, the bible also describes her as a beautiful and well-dressed woman (Proverbs 31:22,30). Beauty is, therefore, one of the characteristics of a virtuous woman. This woman’s beauty, however, is not shallow and outward only, but rather a reflection of what is inside her.

Defining Beauty

Before we take a closer look at this paradigm of a woman, let us try and define beauty. What exactly is beauty? The world’s view of beauty is usually formed around the physical aspect of an individual. Magazines and television ads present the “ideal” woman and then encourage us to purchase their products, lose weight and tone up through their programs, and dress or act in specific ways so as to be like these ‘model women.’

Webster’s dictionary says that beauty is “the quality attributed to whatever pleases or satisfies the senses or mind. These good feelings of pleasure may be aroused by a certain line, color, form, texture, proportion of an object; sometimes by rhythmic motion or tone; or possibly because of a specific behaviour or attitude.” The Thesaurus defines beauty as “a physically attractive woman,” “a knockout,” and “a stunner.” All these definitions focus on the physical, sensual and outward.

The bible, however, admonishes us not to focus only on outward appearance.

“Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; but let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.” – 1 Peter 3:3-4

Hence the biblical definition of beauty incorporates not only the physical, but also character, demeanor, speech, conduct and attitude. The bible has a great deal to say about both inner and outer beauty.

Beautiful Women in the Bible

Is physical beauty wrong? Is it unacceptable for a Christian woman to make herself beautiful and attractive? I don’t believe so because there are several women mentioned in the scriptures who were described as outwardly beautiful, for example, Sarah (Gen 12:11), Rebekah (Gen 24:16), Rachel (Gen 29:17), Abigail (1 Sam 25:3), Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2), and Esther (Esther 2:3,12). The Book of Esther gives an account of a beauty pageant (Esther 2). Queen Esther also had to go through beauty treatments to prepare her for the king.

There are several other scriptures that speak of physical beauty in a positive way. My favourite is Ezekiel 16:1-14, which talks of how God found Israel (us), cleaned and dressed her (us) up in costly apparel and jewellery. Song of Solomon gives an in-depth description of the Shulamite woman’s beauty (Song of Solomon 7). It is, therefore, generally good for a Christian woman to make herself beautiful on the outside.

However, the bible makes it clear that a Christian woman’s appearance should be a reflection or complement of her inner spirit and should not be a hindrance to the kingdom of God. A problem only arises when beauty is seen on the outward only and not reflected from within. Beauty is certainly more than an appealing face or the latest fashion. It is more than skin deep. Physical beauty should portray and reflect what lies within a woman.

The Role Model

Let’s take a closer look at the “virtuous woman”. This woman possessed outer beauty. Proverbs 31:22 says, “She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].” Wow! The first part of this verse describes the most private place of her home – her bedroom. You will notice that she takes great care to make it a place that is warm, comfortable, uncluttered and pleasing – a special place for her and her husband. It is important to have one place in the home, a ‘haven’ that invites rest and fulfills personal joys.

My Bridal Suite

I had an interesting experience a few weeks ago. I have been on a sabbatical since the beginning of April and been spending a lot of time in my bedroom as a result. As I looked round my bedroom one morning, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to change everything in my room. I smiled and made a mental note to do so sometime during my sabbatical. A week later I popped into a home furnishing shop to buy a bathroom rug and was surprised to see they were having a 60% – 75% sale!!! I just could not believe it! I bought everything – duvet covers, sheets, cushions, curtains, etc, at just a fraction of the cost!!! My husband was pleasantly surprised at the transformation when he walked into our bedroom the next day. He described it a bridal suite and was so happy that he gave me back all the money that I spent!!! God cares, even about your bedroom… WOMAN!!!

Quality and Class

Now back to the subject, the second part of Proverb 31:22 describes the woman’s personal clothing. There is no indication that her clothing was expensive, but that she had a look of quality and class. There are women who buy very expensive and trendy clothes that don’t look too good on them and yet, there are others who shop in bargain shops or the market and mix and match clothes so well that they look a million pounds. I believe women should help each other choose clothes, etc. If there is a woman, a friend perhaps, whose clothes and dress sense you admire, feel free to seek help from them. (If you need tips write to me)

A Christian woman’s clothing should be clean, well ironed and appropriate. Her outward appearance should be an example, testimony, representation and witness of Christ. After all, we are His special women! We should reflect our priesthood status. There is nothing more unsightly, unappealing and inappropriate than half-naked Christian women trying to be ‘modern’. A young man once said on television that this way of dressing could be compared to a half wrapped Christmas present – the elements of surprise, excitement and appeal are lost because the gift is exposed. I believe this is one of the reasons why the Church needs role models to teach and guide the younger women. Young woman, trust me, you will not attract the kind of man you need to marry by exposing yourself. Yes, you will attract men all right, but the wrong type.

It is also important for a Christian woman to practise good hygiene and maintain healthy skin and hair care. For rural women who cannot afford deodorant or anti-perspirants, I often recommend lime or ash from their coal-pots (yes, it works). A godly woman should also possess gracious manners, as this makes her outward appearance more appealing and attractive to others – a definite witness of Christ in her.

Living From the Inside Out

The “virtuous woman” also possessed inner beauty. Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised”. The preceding verses tell us that “Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.”

Since she received so much praise from both her husband and children, it is logical to deduce that she exhibited unique character traits, which she could only have acquired by a reverential walk with and fear of God. She was not praised because of her physical beauty, but because of the strength of character she possessed. This woman clearly manifested the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Thus, the source of her inner beauty was God, and the reflection of God within her drew others to her. 1 Peter 3:3-4 tells us that what draws people to us and the Lord is “the hidden person of the heart.” We are, therefore, supposed to live “from the inside out,” as someone put it.

Finally, I would like to quote from an article on beauty in The Woman’s Study Bible, “A woman’s countenance is often a mirror of her heart. When she abides in God’s love, her features tend to soften and lines become tempered. An inner peace and joy are reflected upon her face. A woman’s actions and attitudes are often an indication of where her roots are planted. When a woman’s heart is rooted in peace and joy (Gal. 5:22,23), her outward countenance radiates vitality, enthusiasm, love and a deep sense of well-being – something no amount of make-up, perfume, professional styling, high fashion, or personal fitness programme can create. Having the Holy Spirit within empowers a woman with vitality and enthusiasm, making her a magnet to other people. True beauty comes from within and is manifested by pure motives and a generous, unselfish spirit towards others. Jesus alone can establish such a wellspring of love… No beautification regime or stylish clothes can mask an unattractive heart, unkind words, or hurtful actions.”

AMEN!

By Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace

Extraordinary Ordinary Women

Several years ago, the Lord showed me something very encouraging and empowering from the Book of Judges. As women we sometimes, or very often, see ourselves as inadequate and lacking the skill, ability and potential needed to be effectively used by God. We fail to realise that within each and every woman lies great power and potential to serve God, and all that is required is for us is to release ourselves to Him and grab the opportunities that come our way. May I share the lessons God taught me from the Book of Judges with you, perhaps, it might inspire you as you rise up to touch, change, affect and impact the lives of the people around you?

A Dark Time

The history of Israel is recorded honestly with no attempt to cover the repeated failure of God’s people. The Book of Judges, therefore, records one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history. People did what was right in their own sight (Judges 17:6, 21:25), which sounds quite like these times, when there is so much rebellion and people choose to ignore and disobey God’s laws and commandments or seek to change them?

After Joshua’s death, an adulterous generation of Israelites grew up who failed to know, love and obey God and His laws. They reaped the consequences of their actions by coming into bondage and oppression to other nations. Yet God was faithful, and whenever they cried out to Him for help, He provided courageous leaders and people for their deliverance.

It is in this regard that the Book of Judges records the acts of three faithful women who were used by God to deliver His people. They were ORDINARY WOMEN WHO BECAME INSTRUMENTS IN GOD’S HANDS for the deliverance of His people. Let’s take a look at these women and what they did to affect their generations.

DEBORAH – Judges 4:1-16; Judges 5

Deborah was a homemaker. She was the wife of Lapidoth and described herself as “a mother in Israel”. She was a counsellor/prophetess who sat under a palm tree near her home to discuss people’s problems and give directions/solutions to them. Deborah was an ordinary woman, just like you and me, who saw a problem and need, and was burdened enough to do something about it.

Through her faithfulness and diligence, Deborah rose to become a Judge and finally a Deliverer of her people in a time of war. She demonstrated boldness and strength when she summoned Barak (from the tribe of Naphtali) and ordered him to recruit an army from his own tribe and the tribe of Zebulun. (Who said women cannot lead men, if God so determines?) Deborah’s boldness and strength flowed from her knowledge of God’s will. Her initial words to Barak were “Has not the Lord of Israel commanded, go…?” She was obviously a woman in tune with the voice of God. Deborah joined the drive to raise the army when Barak wavered and insisted she came along. She also suggested the strategy for war and together with Barak led the army to victory. God came to Deborah’s help by sending a violent thunderstorm and the enemy’s ‘chariots of iron’ were destroyed.

Before Deborah became a leader and warrior, she was a homemaker (housewife) – a wife and mother in Israel. But she was moved with compassion when she saw the evil suffered by her people. She rose up to make herself available and was victorious, as she trusted God and then inspired others to trust Him. The Song of Deborah in Judges 5:1-31 tells us about the victory won. As a result of Deborah’s courage and boldness, the land of Israel had rest for forty years.

JAEL – Judges 4:17-24; 5:24-27

Jael was another woman in the book of Judges whose actions changed the destiny of God’s people and sealed the fate of Israel’s enemies. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. The Kenites were descendant of Moses’ father-in-law and were farmers and metalworkers. Jael’s name means, “ally”, and she decided to be an ally of Israel instead of Canaan. This was significant because her husband, Heber, was a friend of Sisera and had allied himself with the Canaanites. Jael’s decision, therefore, suggests that she placed her commitment to God above her own husband, especially since he had chosen to stand with the enemy. This reminds me of Abigail, Nabal’s wife, whose story can be found in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail also demonstrated that our commitment and loyalty, as women, must always first be to God and His righteousness, above all else.

Jael was commitment to God and probably influenced by Deborah’s actions. Taking initiative, and perhaps thinking, “If another woman can do it, so can I,” Jael called out to Sisera, Israel’s enemy and offered him refuge. He asked for water and she applied wisdom by giving him goat’s milk instead, which lulled him to sleep. Then using her own working tools, a peg and a hammer which she used to erect her tent, she killed her guest, an enemy of Israel and Yahweh.

The interesting thing about this story is that Sisera was fearfully running from the mighty warriors who pursued him, yet, without fear he trusted himself for shelter in the hands of a humble woman. Sisera, obviously, underestimated the power of woman and suffered the ultimate humiliation men in those days feared, by “dying at the hands of a woman.” I believe the enemy is also in for a big surprise, because when ‘ordinary’ women in Christ rise up against him, he will not know what hit him. Woman in Christ, never underestimate the power that lies within you! Ask God to give you wisdom to use that power appropriately.

A CERTAIN WOMAN – Judges 9:50-54

The third woman in the Book of Judges did not even have a name; at least we are not told what her name was, and the bible only refers to her as “a certain woman!” However, this unnamed woman found herself in a desperate situation. Abimelech, the personification of evil, had already burned 1000 men and women to death in the Tower of Shechem and intended doing the same to this woman and her people, who were hiding in the Tower of Thebez.

This woman was a woman of strength whose only desire was the preservation of her life and her people’s. For her to survive, she had to think and act fast. Realizing she had no special weapons with which to fight and defend herself and her people, she reached out for whatever was handy – her millstone (a round stone with a hole in it which she used for grinding corn). The millstone was the tool of her housework or trade, and that was all she had available, but she did not let that hinder her. This seemingly innocent household tool became a lethal weapon in this woman’s hands as she crushed the head of Abimelech with it. In those days women were considered as feeble and inferior, and so it was a huge disgrace for a man to die at the hands of a woman, so as Abimelech lay dying, he asked his armour bearer to draw his sword and kill him, lest it be said of him, “a woman killed him!” Yes, even in death, he was prejudiced

It Could Be You!

These were ordinary women who did extraordinary things for God. The truth is that God uses the ordinary, poor, weak, lowly, foolish and inferior to do extraordinary things and make and change history. God used Deborah, an Israelite and God used Jael, a Kenite. God also used “a certain woman” with no specific identity apart from her gender. This means that that woman could be anybody! That woman could be you! Yes, God could use you!

Woman of virtue, you and I no longer have an excuse to remain idle, passive or silent. Like it was in the Book of Judges, there is so much evil on the earth and all around us people are doing what is pleasing and right in their own sight. God’s word and commandments have become irrelevant to most and many ignore them. Even Christians now interpret scripture to please themselves or support whatever lifestyle they choose.

However, I believe it is time for us to arise and take our position in the land. It is time for us to fight! If you have ever seen women fighting, you will know that women always fight with everything they’ve got or anything they can lay hands on, especially their shoes and handbags. God also always uses what you’ve got. When Moses had the ‘burning bush’ experience and doubted his capability and suitability to approach Pharaoh as commanded by God, the Lord asked him “What do you have in your hand?” He replied, “A rod” (Exodus 4:1-5). Moses trusted God and went on to do many miracles with that rod.

Use What You’ve Got!

Every one of us has got something we can work and fight with. How do you know what you’ve got? You have a career, don’t you? Use it. If you have a profession, use it! If you have a talent or gift, use it! If you have a hobby or pastime, use it! If you have strength and/or ability in a particular area, use it! If you have a qualification, use it! If you have a voice, use it! If you have money, use it! Remember the story of Esther? She was an orphan who had very little going for her, except her beauty. Yet, when she was made part of a beauty pageant and became queen, she used both her physical and inner beauty and her position to bring deliverance to her people. The list of things we can use is endless. To put it simply, if you have a life, use it!!!

In Genesis 3:15, God made a threat to the enemy that He would put enmity between him and the woman. That promise is being fulfilled, even now!!! I believe the time has come for us to rise up from obscurity and mediocrity and take our place in the army of God. It will be an awesome picture of women with different shapes, of different sizes, from different backgrounds and races, with different ‘tools and weapons’ of all sorts, marching forth together with men, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and advancing His Kingdom on earth! Hallelujah!!

“The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host. The kings of the enemies’ armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil [left behind].” – Psalm 68:11-12  (Amplified Bible)

AMEN!!!

By Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace

ARISE AND BUILD!

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.” – Isaiah 61:1-4

This prophecy was fulfilled in Luke 4:14-21, when Jesus walked into the synagogue, opened the book of Isaiah, read out the prophecy and declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Today many of us have come or are coming into the liberty and restoration that has been made available in Jesus Christ. Today the scripture, which was fulfilled in Him, is being manifested in our lives. Women are rising up and shining in His Light. Hallelujah!

Isaiah’s Prophecy

A careful look at Isaiah’s prophecy, however, reveals more than we care to acknowledge. The prophecy seems to be in two parts, and does not only concern Christ, but also, those whose lives have been impacted and transformed by Him.

Praise God, Jesus Christ fulfilled His part! Right from the moment He read those words in the synagogue, to the minute He died on the Cross and rose from the dead, until the day He ascended back to heaven, Jesus committed His life to fulfilling His part. Through His compressive work, we have been set free and are being restored. Indeed, a new day has dawned upon us!

However, Isaiah also predicted a particular response from us, which can be found in the latter part of verse 3 and verse 4.

“…That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.”

Our automatic response to the freedom and restoration we receive in Christ, therefore, must be:

1. To grow in stature and mature as trees (oaks) of righteousness, planted and nurtured by the Lord through His Word and Spirit. This will bring glory to God.

2. To rise up and build and rebuild the ruins, desolations and devastation around us.

Unfortunately, many of us are not doing our part yet; many are not even aware of this. We are neither growing nor rising up to build. Actually, this is one of the reason why many women are frustrated, bored, and feel like they are on a treadmill going nowhere, or in a vicious cycle, experiencing fear, low self esteem, depression, etc, over and over again.

The Need To Arise And Build

God is requiring of us to grow in the fullness and stature attained for us by Christ Jesus, as oaks of righteousness. (Ephesians 4:13-14) God is requiring of us to rise up and work, to build and rebuild. This is not a suggestion, it must be the automatic response to our restoration. When Peter’s mother-in-law was healed by Jesus, the scripture says, she rose up immediately to serve them (Luke 4:38-39). God requires us to arise and build

The Ancient Ruins

Spiritually, the United Kingdom (a nation of nations) is in ruins.

First of all, the souls of men lie in ruins as man rejects God, walks in rebellion, rejects God’s word and rule. As it was in the Garden of Eden, man continues to seek independence from God and self- governance. And as it was in the Book of Judges, “everyone does what is right in his on eyes.”

Needless to say, an unholy and rebellious soul is like a city that is broken down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins. Such is the state of many in this nation

Secondly, the spiritual heritage of the fathers of this land lies in waste and ruin. The fathers fought and worked hard to establish Christianity and build the kingdom of God in this nation, as described concerning England in William Blake’s poem, Jerusalem,

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England’s green and pleasant Land

Unfortunately, we have abandoned and forgotten the God who made Britain great. Everything has been affected – church, government, the laws of the land, marriage and family, education, economy and commerce, etc. Not only have we abandoned and neglected what the Fathers built and achieved, sadly, we have removed or lowered many of the standards they set for us to continue to build by!

Oh, this nation knows well how to preserve the heritage of past generations! The many listed buildings all over the country, museums, etc, prove that we are well able to preserve the past. So, why have we abandoned the Christian heritage and left the souls of men, families and homes in ruin?

…Churches for sale (always to the highest bidder, irrespective of their faith) …Prayer and bible reading out of our schools …Sunday trading …Redefining marriage …just to name a few! Many “ancient landmarks” have been removed and our children have very few or none left to lead them back home to the ways of God.

Sin has done much damage to the spiritual, moral and social fibre of the nation. Immorality, sexual perversions, idolatry, witchcraft, drunkenness and debauchery are now commonly practised and accepted. People live solely to gratify the flesh – greediness, selfishness, wickedness and godlessness. Indeed, we have become a godless nation. The result is that many are lost and live without hope. We have broken homes and families, which undermines the very foundation of our society. Many live in fear, depression, dejection, brokenness and hopelessness. People are turning to alcohol, drugs and all kinds of ‘spiritual’ meditations, looking for a cure or some sense of meaning to life. Yes, the ruins, desolations and devastations are right before our eyes; they live in our homes, on our streets, we work with them, we meet them everyday…!

The Lord’s Comfort

Despite the current situation, God has every intention of fulfilling His promises to the fathers of the land. God wants to repair and rebuild the people and nation. This is why God wants us to arise, pray and work. This is why the Church must rise up, pray and work, like Nehemiah did.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” – Isaiah 40:3-5

God speaks comfort to us today and brings us hope. The Lord assures us that His glory will be revealed again in the lives of the people and nation. His glory will be revealed again in our marriages, homes, families; in our schools, work places and communities; in government, legislature; in economics, media and arts; in our villages, towns, cities and nations – “and all flesh shall see it together!”

Jesus Christ, the Glory of God, shall be seen in this land again

However, we, the Church, have a part to play, and God is particularly calling on us women to rise up for this venture. (Ref: Isaiah 32)

Build Up A Highway

What is required of us? What does God require us to build, and how? God wants us to prepare a way for Jesus Christ in the lives of people and in the land. We are to build in this spiritual desert, a highway for our Lord. (Isaiah 40:3-4). However, to build this highway, we must:

1. Fill and exalt the valleys – deal with the things(mindsets) that overwhelm people and bring them down, causing and preventing them from seeing God, e.g. doubt, unbelief, ignorance, fear, hopelessness, depression, etc.
2. Level the mountains – deal with the things (mindsets) that are elevated above God in the lives of people and causes them to think they do not need Him, e.g. pride, arrogance, self, flesh, money, worldliness, power, love of riches, etc. We must contend with ideologies, philosophies and arguments that work against the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).10:4-6).
3. Straighten the crooked – deal with the ways of people which are contrary to the scriptures (Word of God), and therefore, crooked.
4. Make the rough smooth – a continuous restoration bringing all things into perfection as transformation takes place on all levels.

This must first be done in our own lives and in the Church, before we can go on and to do so in others. We need the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in our lives to be able to do this. However, we have an assurance, hope and expectation that as we build this ‘highway,’ the glory of God, Jesus Christ, will be revealed and all the people will see Him.

Go Through The Gate

Isaiah 62:10 also instructs us to, “Go through, go through the gates! prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples!”

The gates represents all the areas of influence in the lives of people. We must particularly deal with the gates of culture, which include language, marriage and family, education, socio-economics, government, law and order, religion, and arts and media. We must lift Jesus high, as a banner, in all these areas.

What Can You Do Practically?

“And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and the violent take it by force.” – Matthew 11:12 (AMP)

1. Pray and ask God to show you what He wants you to do.
2. Pray for a personal revival – ask for a fresh revelation of Jesus through the Holy Spirit and the scriptures. Begin to read and live the scriptures, growing in maturity. Live as a Christian and let your life be a testimony and witness to Jesus
3. Pray for revival in the church – a fresh out-pouring of the Holy Spirit to bring a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ through His word. Pray for the Church leadership, for unity, boldness and the power of God to stand for Jesus Christ and declare Him, and to teach others to live like Him. (Acts 4:23-31)
4. Pray and intercede for the people of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (both Northern and Republic). Ask God to show mercy and visit this land again and cause us to return to His word.
5. Take responsibility for your family, work colleagues, people who live on your street and in your your community and begin to pray for them. Speak to them about Jesus when you have the opportunity.
6. Begin to do spiritual warfare. Walk the streets, praying and claiming back the people and the land to Jesus. God has promised that wherever the soles of our feet shall tread, we shall possess. Pray against the mindsets and everything that works against the knowledge of God.
7. Begin to share the full gospel of Jesus Christ. Lead as many as believe to Christ and disciple them when they come to the Lord.
8. Take responsibility for the political, economic and social climates of our cities and nation, and intercede for righteousness to prevail. Also, take action through letters, emails, etc to Members of Parliament, etc, as led by the Holy Spirit.
9. Pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in this nation as it is in heaven!” Pray for righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17). Pray and intercede for those in government and in authority on all levels.
10. Take responsibility for the next generation, praying for them, reaching out to them, and instilling in then the fear of God and the standard of His word.
11. Show and share the love of God in Christ Jesus through acts of kindness and mercy. You may set up a ministry for this like Dorcas and others did in the bible.
12. You may join QUIVER and form or join a group. You can find out more about QUIVER at http://www.quiverprayermovement.org/

…Finally, pray and do whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Our Equipment

God has already equipped us for service, and even now is equipping us. He has restored us and even now is restoring us. He is changing our garments and giving us the tools and offices to enable us to work. (Zechariah 3)

1. We have an identity and position in Christ – we’ve been made sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus. (John 1:12-13; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 3:26-29)
2. We have the Holy Spirit in us, to empower and enable, lead and guide us. (Acts 1:8)
3. We have access to God through prayer and can boldly enter to find grace to help at this crucial time. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
4. The Lord is restoring the five-fold ministry to equip the Church to do the work of ministry – (Ephesians 4:11-13)
5. God is stirring up and restoring the Gifts of the Spirit in us. – Word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discernment of spirits, faith, working of miracles, healings, tongues and interpretation of tongues, prophecy. (1 Corinthians 12)
6. The Lord is calling and releasing to us diverse gifts of service. (Romans 12:6-8)
7. We have been given the whole armour of God and spiritual weapons with which to contend with. We have the Word of God, the Blood of Jesus, the Name of Jesus, etc. (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
8. We have innumerable angels assigned to minister to/with us. (Hebrews 1:14)
9. Above all, we have God on our side!

God’s Promise

Finally, God’s promise, as we arise and build, is sure

“…You will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: “Here am I.” If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” – Isaiah 58:9-12

May He grant us the grace, strength, tenacity, focus, power and all the resources we need to arise and build! In Jesus’ Name! Amen!

By Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace

This was the message I shared at Women In Tune UK’s Women on the Frontline 2013 Conference on Saturday 9 March 2013. Theme: ARISE AND BUILD! Even though the message was to women in the UK, it is still relevant to women in every nation. So, woman arise and build!

An Unusual Man Who Loves and Cares About Women

 

“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” – Luke 4:17-21

Wow! I find this to be one of the most beautiful and powerful narratives in the bible. With the words “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” Jesus fulfilled and summed up His mission on earth! Right from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus declared, “It has been fulfilled! Today, what was prophesied has come to pass! It is done! At the end of His life the statement remained true and unchanged, as on the Cross Jesus cried out once again, “It is finished!” The mission has been accomplished! The captives are free! Hallelujah!

For women everywhere, there is a double reason to rejoice because Jesus has not only set us free from sin and reconciled us to God, He has also freed us from the snare and bondage that women have had to endure for ages! Come on, woman, give a shout and rejoice because the scripture has already been fulfilled and we have been set free, released and liberated!

If the Son Makes You free…

The word free means not subject to the rule or control of another or not bound, confined or detained by force. It also means to relieve from constraint, restraint or limitation. To free someone is to liberate, discharge, redeem, release, relieve, unshackle, unchain or loosen them.

So when He cried, “It is finished”, after reading Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus was telling all humanity, including women everywhere, that we have been set free, released, redeemed, unchained, and loosened from the constraints of sin, oppression and bondage.  We are no longer subject to the rule or control of sin, Satan or any other thing or person, except God, of course. Indeed, the snare is broken, the limitations have been removed and we can be all that God intended and purposed for us to be!

Why then does the Church struggles with this? Why do many leaders struggle with this? Why do many women struggle with this? I know things are improving and women are gradually rising up in that freedom, however, we still have a long way to go because many, many women still sit in church struggling, feeling helpless, redundant, small, bound up and suffocating. Tradition and culture, wrong doctrines and teachings, fear, prejudice and religion have all contributed to keeping women in bondage and oppression, and making them of little use to the Kingdom of God.

This article is dedicated to all women out there who are still confused and struggling, with the hope that they will turn their eyes from all else to our Lord, Saviour, King and Friend, Jesus Christ, who shows women exceptional love and compassion, and gives them dignity and freedom.

Jesus, An Unusual Man!!!

Jesus was an unusual Man! Jesus was a Man who truly loved and valued women and demonstrated the Father’s heart towards us over and over again! The culture He was born into denied women many things, including access to God, but Jesus brought freedom to all the women He met. He was not afraid to be identified with women. He walked with them, related to them and befriended them on a level that was forbidden and considered a taboo in His day. Yes, Jesus was a Man who was not afraid to use women for the benefit of the Kingdom of God!!!

Pope John Paul II said of Him, “Jesus always showed the greatest esteem and the greatest respect for woman, for every woman, and in particular He was sensitive to female suffering. Going beyond the religious and social barriers of the time, Jesus re-established woman in her full dignity as a human person before God and before men.”

Therefore, to find a truly biblical view of women and their place in God’s kingdom, the best place to start is to take a good look at how He related to and treated the women He encountered. Jesus had a very radical view about women and often deliberately went out of His way to challenge the cultural biases against them. What lessons can we learn from Him?

Jewish Culture In Jesus’ Day

First, let’s take a brief look at Jewish culture during Jesus’ time on earth. In the culture in which Jesus was born, women were generally considered to be inferior to men. They were considered a little more than property, and were always under the authority of men – either their father before marriage, or their husband afterwards. A quote by Rabbi Jesus ben Sirach summed up a woman’s position, “He who acquires a wife gets his best possessions.”

Women were considered as ‘inferior’ or ‘servants’ and their place was in the field, at the well, or in the kitchen. They could not go out in public, talk to strangers and were not allowed to talk to men in public, except to their own husbands. When outside of their homes, they were to be doubly veiled.

Women were not allowed to testify in court since the testimony or witness of a woman was considered untrustworthy. They were not allowed to enter the temples and were segregated from men in the synagogues. Because women were only valued for their ‘subservient’ roles as wives and mothers, they were not permitted to be taught by rabbis. Rabbi Eliezer, who lived in Palestine in 1^st century, was quoted to say, “Rather should the words of the Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman… Whoever teaches his daughter is like one who teaches obscenity”. A popular Jewish prayer goes like this, “Oh Lord I thank you for not creating me a woman.”

Jesus’ Attitude Towards Women

Bearing this in mind, we would find that Jesus’ interaction with women were rather radical and contradicted everything the society was accustomed to. Jesus broke many of their traditions and customs relating to women. Jesus overthrew centuries of Jewish law and tradition, and consistently treated women and men as equals. Jesus violated many of the regulations that portrayed women as inferior to men, and did not follow the rules of behaviour established by the Jewish religious groups of the day. The way He interacted with women was revolutionary! No wonder they were constantly seeking to kill Him!

They were many instances of Jesus’ personal interaction and dealings with women. Indeed, His mission was to set the captives free. Come with me and let’s meet some of those women… Yes, come see a Man!!!

Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42)

In this narrative, we find Jesus with Mary sitting at feet, being taught the word of God by Him.  It is important to remember that it was against Jewish tradition to teach a woman the Torah (Old Testament). Yet, here was Jesus, a Rabbi, teaching Mary, a woman, the word! This was unheard of and improper. Martha’s tone of voice showed her extreme annoyance with and surprise at Jesus for indulging in what was apparently unlawful, improper and out of order. Unfortunately, there are STILL too many Marthas in Church… I’ll say no more!

Jesus mildly rebuked Martha but praised Mary for choosing the ‘good part’ – freedom to pursue the knowledge of God! With this, Jesus overturned the tradition and taboo of not teaching a woman to read the Torah, the Word of God. If Jesus taught Mary the Word, all women can learn and study the word.

The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7-30)

I love this story! Jesus met and had a conversation with a foreign woman! By Jewish tradition and law, this woman was doubly ritually unclean since she was both a foreigner and a woman. First of all, she was a Samaritan and so a foreigner. Jews and Samaritans in those days hated each other so much that Jews travelling from Galilee to Judea would rather take a longer route than pass through Samaria. Interacting with Samaritans, therefore, was a no no! Secondly, it was very improper and socially unacceptable for a man to talk to a woman other than his wife or children in public. No self respecting man would break that taboo, certainly not with someone considered a prostitute, as this woman perceived to be. No wonder Jesus’ disciples were shocked to see Him speaking to her!

Yet, Jesus deliberately passed through Samaria in order to meet with this nameless woman. To Him it was a double opportunity to set her free from the limitations of gender and race, giving her access to God and His kingdom. That double opportunity still stands for me, you and all non-Jewish women! Hallelujah!

Jesus entered in a conversation with the woman and revealed Himself and His mission on earth to her! The woman’s response was to become the first evangelist! Contrary to tradition, the people in the city believed the woman’s witness, which is what happens when you have been with Jesus!

The Haemorrhaging Woman (Luke 8:43-48, Mark 5:25-34)

This is the story of a nameless woman with a gynaecological problem who had been bleeding for 12 years, and who reached out to touched Jesus and was healed. The woman knew Jesus could heal her, but couldn’t approach Him to ask for healing. She was even so afraid to touch Him that she only sought to touch the hem of His garment. For her the limitations were also double – she was not only a woman, she was also considered unclean.

First of all, it was a major cultural offence for a woman to talk to a man other than her husband or son in public. Secondly, the natural menstrual cycle of woman was seen as ritually unclean, and anything a woman touched during her period became unclean and had to be purified. For this woman to touch Jesus was a really big deal!

We can only imagine the pain, rejection, loneliness and isolation she must have felt. Yet, Jesus ignored these ritual impurity laws and had mercy on her. Even though the crowd was pressing around Him, Jesus felt the woman’s touch and stopped to address her. He called her ‘daughter’, a term of endearment which restored her God-given identity. Jesus healed and restored her completely.

The Adulterous Woman (John 8:1-11)

The story portrays the hateful judgemental bias towards women in Jesus’ day. Here was a woman who had been caught in adultery and about to be stoned, according to Jewish Law (Hosea 5:14). However, there was no reference to the man she had been involved with. It appeared the woman alone was being punished, and the man seemed to have got away scot-free.

Jesus was compassionate towards the woman and said, “Neither do I condemn you”. This was one of the most beautiful expressions of His unconditional love. Neither does He condemn us!

The Woman With The Spirit of Infirmity (Luke 13:10-17)

This story tells us how the Man Jesus delivered and healed a woman from an indwelling satanic spirit. This, yet again, nameless woman was bound by Satan and suffered from a kind of spinal problem. She was bent over and yoked by her infirmity, thus her life, scope of vision and activity were limited. She suffered not only as a woman, but also from her disability. Interestingly, she was not the one who asked Jesus for healing. It was Jesus who initiated the step towards her deliverance and restoration. He had compassion on her and reached out to heal her.

Something even more dramatic happened in this story! Jesus referred to the woman as “daughter of Abraham,” implying that she had equal status with the sons of Abraham. The expression ‘son of Abraham’ was commonly used to respectfully refer to Jewish men, but ‘daughter of Abraham’, was an unknown parallel phrase and occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It would appear that Jesus created the title for this woman to change her status from a demon afflicted nobody to a covenant child of God by including her as a covenant member of Abraham’s family.

Women in Jesus’ Inner Circle (Luke 8:1-3)

Jesus accepted women in His inner circle. This scripture describes the inner circle of Jesus’ followers. There were twelve male disciples and an unspecified number of female supporters – Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and “many others.” It would appear that at least half of Jesus’ closest followers and friends were women.

Mary of Bethany, Again!!

 Finally, let’s look at the story of Mary of Bethany, the woman who anointed Jesus. Two anointing took place – one in Galilee where again, Jesus interacted with an immoral woman who anointed Him (Luke 7:36-50) and this one in Bethany.

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:1-3)

The scripture says, they made Jesus a supper and Martha came in to do what she was accustomed to – she came to wait on and serve Jesus and the guests. Martha, obviously, hadn’t changed! Oh, how many women encounter Jesus and remain unchanged and bound by tradition, culture and fear!!!

Anyway, Mary who had been set free from tradition and empowered by Jesus, on the other hand, came in to worship Jesus. Mary’s interactions with Jesus and His empowerment through the Word encouraged her to break three social and cultural taboos in this incident. The people present must have had a real shock when Jesus commended her actions and distinguished it as something that would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. Mary demonstrated her love and appreciation for what the Lord has done and set an example for women everywhere to emulate.

The Significance of Mary’s Actions

1. Mary entered a “male-only club”.

Women were not allowed to sit with men on important occasions such as this one. However, Mary entered because Jesus was there; for where Jesus is there is acceptance, dignity and freedom for women. Mary’s actions tells us that God has made a way for women in what, until then and now, has been a man’s world.  In today’s male-dominated world of Church and ministry, many women, like Mary, who have encountered Jesus and are being empowered through His word are rising up, responding to His call and entering an arena that has been denied them for so long. Woman, so far as Jesus is there, you have access!

History has proved that when women get actively involved in evangelism and mission work the harvest is greater. The Quakers and Salvation Army are organisations that utilised women in evangelism and missions. It is time to release women to get into the harvest field to join men, together and in partnership, to fulfil the Great Commission.

2. Mary unveiled her hair.

Mary unveiled her hair, which is her glory – her substance, weight, honour, splendour, magnificence and excellence. (1 Corinthians 11:15). In Jesus’ time, only a prostitute would unveil her hair in public. So, it was very dramatic for Mary to enter this all-male gathering and unveil her hair. Why did she do it? What is the significance of that to us?

I believe that as women join in the work of God’s kingdom, the glory that only a woman possesses, and which has been hidden and covered for so long, will be unfolded and unravelled. There are certain qualities that women possess naturally and which the Church requires to effectively fulfil the Great Commission. A woman’s ability to take seed, incubate, nurture and birth it. This life giving, seed multiplying and birthing ability could be released for the benefit of the Church. Many ministries could be birthed and sustained on the knees and by the activities of women. Many souls could be birthed into the kingdom of God as a result of much prayer and diligent evangelism. Women also possess the ability and patience to nurture and nourish what they have birthed, thus souls won into the kingdom can be nurtured and discipled by women till they reach maturity. Also, women possess the ability to network and sustain relationships, which are necessary qualities required to bring the Church together in the bond of unity and love.

Indeed, it is time for the glory that only woman possesses to be revealed and exposed in the Church and to the world. Women in Christ, let us arise and unveil our glory. IT IS ALRIGHT WITH JESUS!!!

3. Mary anointed Jesus’ Feet with Fragrant Oil

Finally, like the fragrance of this costly oil, women who will arise and be use by God will be committed and devoted people who love the Lord passionately. They will be women whose lives have been touched and transformed by God’s hands. The fragrance that will be released as the lives of these women are poured out will flow from love, adoration, devotion and worship, and will fill the whole earth. These women will spare no cost to prepare the body of Christ for His Second Coming. These women will go to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel and establish the kingdom of God on earth. Like Mary these women will sacrifice all, as they march into hell to release captives held by the enemy.

The oil Mary used was mainly reserved for anointing the dead to prevent the corpse from decomposing and corrupting. Yet, Mary poured this precious oil on the living body of Jesus. In applying this precious oil to the living body of Jesus Christ, Mary was preserving the Body of Christ, and proclaiming that the Body of Jesus, the Resurrection and Life, will not die, corrupt, rot or perish. As women rise up, we will continue to play this same crucial role in preserving the Body of Christ, especially in these end-times. The oil and fragrance from our broken lives, in worship and service, will cover and preserve the Church, the Living Body of Jesus.

It Is Finished!!!

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32

Dear women in Christ, Jesus came to show us the way. He came to show us the Father’s heart. Jesus came to redeem humanity, including us! The gospel He preached set women free and released them from the oppression and bondage they had endured. He showed care, compassion and exceptional love towards the women He came across. Every opportunity Jesus had, He used proclaim what God had already FINISHED!!!

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! Woman, in Christ, you are free indeed!!!

IT IS FINISHED!

 

By Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace

An extract from Apostle Jennifer Abigail Wallace book, “FREE TO SERVE, GOD’S LIBERATED WOMAN.”

This article can be used by permission but with reference to author