“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
Women In Tune International 