Can a Woman be a Pastor? | 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 & 1 Timothy 2:11-14 | Pastor Daniel Banna (7/17)

His teaching. The one who exhorts in his exhortation. The one who contributes in generosity. The one who leads with zeal. The one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.

This is the word of the Lord. Let's stand up to worship him.

I will wait for you. I will wait for you on your word. I will I will wait for you through the song and through the night. I will wait for you. Surely wait for you.

For your love I will wait for you. I will wait for you on your word. I will be glad. I will wait for you, surely wait for you till my soul is satisfied.

Lord Jesus, we thank you tonight that we have you and we have, you as our savior, Lord. We give our lives to you knowing that you can do whatever you want with them, Lord. We ask that You would humble us and that You would allow us to bring You glory in everything that we do, Lord. We thank You for these words that we get to sing, that we get to sing together, God. It's such a joy and such a blessing.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Have a seat.

Good evening, church. We have a custom here to start our service by greeting each other. So please, meet someone, say hi to somebody before we begin our service. It's time to do our offering. If the Lord puts on your heart to give, its time, there's also different ways to give.

Feel free to do that. I don't have many announcements. Just to remind you of our services, Sunday is at 10:30 in the morning, and our Wednesday meeting is at seven. It's our prayer meeting. All are welcome, and I'm sure you'll be blessed by attending these meetings.

Let us turn our bibles to the book of first Corinthians chapter 14. And as we do that, let us let us pray. Our heavenly father, we thank you that you have given us your word. You have entrusted us with the word of life, and, Lord, we know it's, such responsibility, Lord, for us to teach it. So, Lord, help us.

Help us, Lord God, teach it by the power of the holy spirit. Help us, Lord, come with all humility. Accept what it says and obey the word as it is, as the word of God, Lord. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Can a woman be a pastor? Notice the question I'm asking. I'm not asking whether a woman can be a CEO, a judge, a member of congress, a prime minister, or even a president of a nation. It's a much narrower question. Can a woman serve as a pastor or preach to a local church?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians agreed on every doctrine, on every interpretation of scripture, and every theological issue? But we know this is not the case. That's why we have many denominations. Even within the same denominations, we have different different views. The subject before us this evening was not regarded as controversial at all before the twentieth century.

Today, however, it has become one of the defining issues among many evangelical churches. The subject of the role of women in the leadership of the church, particularly whether a woman may serve as a Bible teacher or a pastor, in the context of the church. Just remember that we're talking here in the context of the church. A recent example comes from the Southern Baptist Convention. Just last month, the messengers of that of the SBC, nearly 75% voted to advance a constitutional amendment reaffirming that the office of pastor is reserved to qualified men.

Final vote will take place in 2027. Now with so many voices today promoting new interpretations of scripture on this subject and related issues, it is easy for error to find its way into the church. And I do call this new interpretation because it is. Throughout the history of the church, no major Christian tradition, no bible commentator before the twentieth century argued that the office of pastor or elder was open to women. None.

This is not the historic position of the Christian church. In fact, it's a modern departure from it. For that reason, I believe it is necessary to address this subject, and I pray that these warnings would be received with the humility and discernment. In reality, the issue before us is really a simple one, yet many made it complicated in an effort to support their own conclusions. And before we listen to those voices, we should first ask this simple question, what does the scripture say?

Let's read the word of God in the spirit of humility, in the context in which it was written, laying aside every preconceived idea and every agenda. When it comes to Christian doctrine, as I've repeatedly said, and when it comes to God's ordained order, we must not be governed by what the culture said or what the culture demands, but by what God has revealed in his word alone. What God has said. And to answer that question, we'll be looking primarily at two passages that deal with this subject. The first passage in first Corinthians chapter 14 and the second passage would be in first Timothy.

Let us look beginning first at the first passage of first Corinthians chapter 14 beginning in verse 26. What then, brothers, when you come together, each one has a hymn, a listen, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation that all things be done for building up. Let's jump to verse 33. For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. The women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they should be in submission as the law also says.

If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came, or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he's a prophet or spiritual, you should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues, but all things should be done decently and in order.

Now, before we examine this passage, there is a important question must be answered. Now, what is the primary subject of Paul's letter to the Corinthians? It is the order in the church of God. But this is this order and is this order intended only for the Corinthian church or for all churches everywhere? And this is the question.

And I think the Holy Spirit gives us this answer clearly in this letter. Look at first Corinthians chapter one verse one, how Paul begins his letter. Chapter one verse one and verse two. Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus, and our brother Sustenus to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our lord Jesus Christ, both their lord and ours. Now Paul certainly addresses the church in Corinth, but he also makes it clear that that he is writing to all those who are in every place, call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He makes it clear. His instructions are not limited to one local congregation. They are giving to all churches. How could anyone argue that Paul's instructions in first Corinthians were only for Corinth? Let me give you more verses from first Corinthians just to prove that.

First Corinthians four seventeen. That's that is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus as I teach them everywhere in every church. Look at first Corinthians seven seventeen. Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

Look at first Corinthians eleven sixteen. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice nor do the churches of God. Now look at first Corinthians fourteen thirty three. For God is not the God of confusion, as we have read, but of peace as in all the churches of the saints. In verse 36, he says, or was it from you that the word of God came or are you the only ones it has reached?

He is rebuking them in this last verse. Do you think you are the exception? You are the only one who is receiving these instructions. Paul's expectation was not that each church would develop its own doctrine according to the culture, but that every church would submit to the same apostolic teaching. The Holy Spirit knew that in the last days, people would attempt to twist God's word.

That's why he repeatedly led Paul to emphasize this truth, and nowhere in all of the scripture the same truth is repeated so many times but this. That's that's amazing. Now this instruction were not for one church. It was, as we have read, again, again, for all churches, all cultures. Jerusalem was vastly different than Corinth.

Corinth was different than Ephesus. Ephesus was different than Antioch. Antioch was different than Crete. Yet everywhere Paul taught, he taught the same principles, the same instructions, God's command for all. He never told the Ephesians to follow one pattern and the Corinthians another pattern.

Where do you see that? Instead, he repeatedly reminds the churches that the same apostolic teaching applies everywhere. The culture changed. God's order did not. Let us begin looking now at first Corinthians verse 26, fourteen twenty six.

What then brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a listen, a revelation, a tongue, or interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. When you come together, It's the subject. When the church gathers together.

The order Paul is presenting here is the order of the church. He's not speaking about order everywhere, not the role of women in every sphere of life. He's not talking about the hat. He's he's not addressing women in politics, in the judicial system. He's not talking to women in the military, in the workplace, in a society as a whole.

He's not addressing that issue. Paul addressing the gathered assembly of believers, the church, and the order God has established within that church. A church that is gathered is the body of Christ assembled under his order. A church. When we talk about church, we're talking about men and women together with elders and deacons, families gathered, spiritual gifts exercised, praise offered, prayers lifted, the word of God presented, baptism, and the Lord's Supper are rightly observed.

All these things are at appointed times under God's order. This is the church. This is the context of Paul's teaching. This is not a children's Sunday school. This is not a women's conference.

This is the church of the living God assembled, whether gathered for worship or for any other concerning the life and order of the church. The Lord Jesus, by the way, in the context of the church discipline in Matthew 18, he says, when two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. The context of that statement is not primarily worship. Look it. But it was the church exercising its authority in a church discipline.

And Christ says, where two are together among you, there I will be in their midst. The Lord is present as the head of the church, and where he is present as the head, his order must be observed. And whether it is Sunday morning meeting, Friday evening bible study, Wednesday prayer meeting, whether it's in a church building, in a hotel hall, in a school auditorium, or even in a home, whenever it the church gathers as a body of Christ, these instructions govern what takes place. Exercise of spiritual gifts during the worship service. He didn't conclude this section by reminding the church in verse 33, for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace as in all the churches of the saints.

God is not a god of confusion, but of peace. And then he continues in verse 34 to say, the women should keep silent in the churches for they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission as the law also says. Now I think there is nothing that can be clearer than that. Anything, Paul says, that is says anything that is contrary to this order is confusion. That's what Paul calls it.

Anything that is done contrary to this order is not of God because god is not a god of confusion. And anything that applies to the Corinthian church applies to all churches. And it's wise the apostle Paul uses the plural, the churches in verse 33 and verse 34 to stress that point. This is god inspired order for all churches everywhere and every generation. And here is the issue.

The word of god offends. You know that. Right? The word of God often confronts our pride. In verse 34 34, Paul lays before us the reason for this.

And it's not cultural. It's theological. It's rooted in God's order. He says as the law also says as the law also says. When Paul says as the law also says in in verse 34, he is not necessarily pointing to one single isolated verse in the Old Testament that says woman cannot do that.

I think maybe Genesis three sixteen would be a good verse that says your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. But I think what Paul means by that is he's appealing to the broader testimony and the pattern of God's word. The law, the five books of Moses, reveals an order established by God beginning in creation where Adam was formed first and Eve then afterward. She was created as his helper corresponding to him. And that order is also reflected in Israel's worship, by the way, where God established the priestly ministry through the sons of Aaron.

Even though surrounding nations had women priestesses, yet Israel was strictly from the line of Aaron, the Levites. Paul is not appealing to temporarily cultural custom. He's appealing to the order God himself established in scripture. Recently, I heard John Hagee, some of you are probably familiar with him, he's a prominent preacher, Teaching on this passage, I usually I don't quote, preachers, but I'm gonna do it this time because, pastor John Hagee is very well known. He has probably millions of followers.

And I must admit, I could not believe what I was hearing. And this is a direct quote from the mouth of John Hagee. He says, and he quoted these two verses, the verse from first Corinthian and from first Timothy, which we'll be looking at a little bit later about, you know, the role of women in the church. He says, I'll tell you why that happened in reference again to Paul's commands. Saint Paul, at his word, was an Orthodox Jew speaking to Jewish people and their conduct in the synagogue.

These are his words, factually. He was having trouble with the women speaking out because of this reason, and he gives the reason. He says, then and now, orthodox synagogues have a curtain that goes right down the middle aisle of the main aisle of the church. The women are on one side and the men are on the other side. The curtain is about eight feet tall and goes all the way to the floor.

The woman sit over here, and the men sit over here. What was happening is that Paul or a rabbi was speaking, the woman not picking up on what he is saying, and he is she's asking through the curtain, hey. He said one word there. I could not get it. Here's something.

Paul said, shut that down. Go home and let your husband explain that to you. This is an honest answer. That's what he says. To say he continues.

To say that a woman in the twenty first century may not preach or teach the word of God because of this custom is just biblical ignorance. Let me say that let me say it that way. God has favored the women to be world shakers all throughout history. End of quote. Now this last statement has nothing to do with women roles in the churches, by the way.

It's a general statement about women in general. It should have no place in his message, but whatever. Mister Hagee, I'm I'm sure he's not listening to me. I hope accidentally he would listen. We're not foolish to believe this interpretation as if it is factual.

Paul explicitly frames his instruction as an apostolic command for the churches of Christ. Paul begins his first letter to Corinth by saying, as we read, Paul called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. He is not speaking as an Orthodox Jew or a rabbi preserving a synagogue custom. He's not. And then in verse two, the first Corinthian which we have read, we read, for the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those with all those who are who are in every place call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.

Paul's audience is not an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. It's the church of God. It's clear. How could anyone come to such conclusions? The first two verses of the letter makes it very clear.

To be honest, this is not handling the word of God rightly. It's not. Let's go to verse 35. If there's anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home for it's shameful for a woman to speak in church. Now those are strong words.

Strong words. Some argue that Paul merely correcting women who were chatting or disrupting the service. But if that were Paul's point, the question naturally arise, why address only the women? Would would it be acceptable for men then to chat? Would idle conversation somehow become holy because it's it's coming from men?

That's illogical. It can't be. Disordered disorder in the gatherer church is wrong regardless who causes it, men or women. Paul is addressing something more specific than casual conversation. He is dealing with the order God has established for the gathered church, and he calls the women to learn in manner consistent with that order.

Then Paul concludes with a sharp rebuke. Look at verse 36. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? Wow.

I mean, Paul speaks as though he anticipates some objections to his instructions. It is some in Corinth were saying, we're not going to follow these instructions. Paul answers with two penetrating questions. He says, did the word of God originate with you? Are you the only church to which it has come?

And the obvious question or answer is no. The Corinthians had no authority to redefine what God has spoken. No one has authority to redefine what God has said. Neither them or us. Paul then removes every doubt about the source of his instruction.

He says in verse 37, if anyone thinks that he is a prophet, to any of you who are there, Paul says if anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I'm writing to you are a command of the Lord. It's not the culture. It's not the culture. It's a command of the Lord. And notice carefully what Paul does not say.

He does not say this is my opinion. He does not say even this is my command. Even if he had said this is what I command, still it will be the lord's command because he is speaking as an apostle of Jesus Christ who Christ has sent to speak for him. But he chooses his words carefully. You see, this is the command, a command of the Lord.

He does not say this is my or your cultural preference. He says the things I'm writing to you are a command of the Lord, which means to reject Paul's apostolic instruction is not merely to disagree with Paul. It is to reject the authority of the Lord Jesus who sent him. Simple as it is. Let's look look briefly at another scripture that speaks of that subject in first Timothy chapter two verse eight.

Paul continues the same line of thoughts here. He says in verse eight, I desire I desire that men everywhere pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling. Jump to verse 11. If a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness, I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. Then he gives us the reason in verse 13.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Now Paul does something very important. Now Paul is writing to whom? To Timothy, his protege, his envoy, his representative, instructing him concerning the order of the church of God.

Where was Timothy at that time? He was in Ephesus. In Titus, Paul write the same principles. And Titus where was Titus? When he received the letter from Paul, he was in Crete.

Later, he moved from one place to another. But whether Paul write it to the Corinthians, to Timothy who was in Ephesus, to Titus who was in Crete or wherever he went, we see the same principle exactly, the same apostolic doctrine, the post the same apostolic teaching. Now Paul here goes all the way back to creation to establish his reasoning why this is so. Not to culture, not to tradition, and not to a particular society as he did in first Corinthians as the law also says. And if Paul goes back there, we should also go back with him.

Let us do that. In Genesis, Adam is formed first. Adam is given responsibility in the garden. Adam receives a command concerning the tree. You remember the story.

And Eve was formed, brought to Adam as a helper suitable to him. And the word used to describe Eve's role, by the way, is also described describe god himself who is our helper, yet it still communicates distinction in roles. And that what God's trying to emphasize here, distinctions of roles, not of value, not of equality, but distinction of roles. Therefore, from the beginning, before sin entered the world, before culture existed, before any tradition developed, God established order. Now that that does that order stay in creation?

No. We see it continues to the family. In Ephesians five twenty three, we know very well that verse. The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. Paul is not talking here about value.

He's talking about roles. He's talking about responsibility, about accountability, about leadership. It's what he's talking about. And we see this pattern. We see it in creation.

There's order. In the family, there's order. In the church, there is order. God's order, God's design. And these are not different ideas.

It's one idea. It's God's design in all of that. Even we see that in the nature of God himself. Have you thought about that? Father, son, and holy spirit.

One God. Equal in essence, equal in glory, yet we see order. The son willingly submits the father, not because he's less than the father, but because within the perfect relationship of the trinity, there is order of roles. He just said, I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. John six thirty eight.

The spirit, the Holy Spirit, glorifies the son. Jesus said in John sixteen fourteen, he, speaking of the Holy Spirit, will glorify me. He will take what is mine and declare it to you. The Holy Spirit ministry is to glorify the son, to reveal Christ, and to point to him. You know that?

This is the Holy Spirit occupation to glorify the lord Jesus Christ through the church. Does that make the does that make make the Holy Spirit inferior? Absolutely not. He is fully God. He's coequal with the father and coequal with the son.

But within the perfect unity of the godhead, there is a perfect order of roles. No confusion. No competition. No struggle for position. Only perfect harmony.

The father sends the son. The son accomplishes the work of redemption, and the spirit applies that work and glorifies the lord Jesus Christ. The father, son, and holy spirit each work according to their distinct roles, yet together, they accomplish the perfect will of the true god. And that's how the church should be working the same way. Men and women working together in their distinct roles to accomplish the perfect will of the father in his church.

Therefore, when God establishes order in his creation, in the family, and in the church, he is not creating inequality. He is revealing his wisdom, the wisdom of his design. There's couple of verses I do love when I read. Ephesians three eleven. Listen to what Paul writes there and says.

He says, so that through the church, the body of Christ, the bride of Jesus, according to his design so that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Look at first Peter chapter one verse 12, another verse. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things who which angels look long to look. And one more verse. First Corinthians eleven ten speak about the angels too, about the angels.

It says that is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of what? Because of the angels. Through the church, Paul says, God is making known his manifold wisdom. When the church follows Christ's design, it reflects his wisdom to both the world and to the heavenly hosts. Even the heavenly hosts are watching to see God's design in the church and they marvel when it's done correctly.

They marvel. Conversely, when the church abandons this design of god in favor of cultural preference, it obscures that beautiful display of God's order and God's design. When the established order in the body of Christ is changed by human hands, it is not simply a matter of preference. It's an install insult to the wisdom of God who created that order, nothing less. Over the past century or two, we have seen a recurring pattern.

The redefinition, of biblical order of men and women in the church often begins with ordaining women, to the pastoral office and altering the biblical qualification qualifications of elders and and pastors and and deacons and so on. Once that foundation is removed, other biblical teachings become easier to redefine, including marriage and human sexuality. And over time, many of those same denominations also have moved toward accepting homosexuality and in some cases, celebrating it and affirming it. That's a pattern. And this is my concern.

And this is my warning. Those who are moving in that direction of redefining god's order in the church, You might find it difficult to believe it today. You may even reject the possibility. But time and again, we have seen this pattern repeated time and again. It is ultimately a question of whether the church will submit to the authority of God's word or allow the spirit of the age to redefine what God has established.

Now whenever this subject comes up, there are usually several examples brought forward to challenge this complementarian position, and I would like to talk about it very briefly. People say, what about Deborah? The old testament judge? We'll look at her in a minute. What about Priscilla?

What about Phoebe? What about the four daughters of Philip? Okay. What about them? They're good Christians, and I don't want to ignore these these these, questions at all.

So let us look at these examples very briefly because when you bring this up, people are going to bring up these women. Now, again, remember, we started with a question. Can a woman be what? A pastor. We're talking a pastorate in a church.

We're not talking about a judge. We're not talking about a prophetess. We're talking about a pastor. Why confusing why are you confusing offices and roles? You wanna talk about Deborah?

Let's talk about Deborah. Who was she? Judges four four. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Labidoth, was judging Israel at that time. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge.

But we must ask, what does that mean and what that does not mean? Was she a priest? She was at a priest. Did she serve in the temple or was she part of the Levitical priesthood? Where in the Old Testament do we ever read of a woman who was a priest?

God established priesthood through Aaron and his sons. It was an office entrusted to men. Likewise, in Christ's church, God has ordained that the office of elder and pastor be filled by qualified men. Again, it's qualified men, not any men either. But even if the old testament had included women priests, it would not change the issue before us at all because we are discussing the roles of women in the church, not in the temple, and it's different.

Now someone may say, but, you know, Deborah judged Israel. Yes. She did. At a time when the Bible tells us, and I quote, in those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

It was a time of spiritual decline. It was a time of moral confusion. It was a time of weak leadership among men. Terrible. God raised Deborah as a judge.

A woman can lead. Yes. Woman can judge. Absolutely. Woman can prophesy.

Yes. And a woman can be used mightily by God. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. And we see that throughout the Bible and throughout history. So it's the issue among us before us. So there is not whether a woman can be used by God or not. The issue about God's order in the church.

God raised at that time Barak in the story of Deborah, a military real leader. And Deborah calls him, and she she says to him, has not the lord, the god of Israel, commanded you to go to war in verse six of chapter four? You know what Barak responded? This military leader, verse eight, if you go with me, I will go. That's a strong man.

Right? Strong leader that shows exactly how strong a leader Israel had. Deborah says, I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Why say that?

Because this is not the normal pattern. This is a judgment on a failed leadership. Yes. Deborah was a leader. She was a judge.

She was a prophetess. She was not a pastor. So it's a wrong example to give. For anyone to defend woman pastor by giving you all Deborah, it's a bad example. What what what about Priscilla?

Another woman. There's many example, but I'm just giving few example. What about Priscilla? In acts 18 verse 26, we read of Priscilla and her husband. When Priscilla and Aqeala heard him, heard Apollos, the preacher.

He did not know everything about the faith, but he was a genuine believer. When Priscilla and Yaquiela heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Now Priscilla Priscilla is mentioned. She's involved. But is it Priscilla and her husband?

Husband and wife together. And this is not in the public authoritative teaching of the church that we see this. It was a private conversation. They took him aside and explained to him the word of God more accurately. Private clarification, discipleship.

It wasn't authoritative teaching in the church. What about Phoebe? Another lady. The last couple of examples. In Romans sixteen one, we read for a lady a woman.

Her name is Phoebe. Paul Wright, he says, I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Synchroia. And the word translated, servant here in the Greek is, deacon. Was then Phoebe did Phoebe held the office of a deacon? That's the question.

Don't jump into conclusions so fast. She was clearly a servant of the church, but being a servant is not the same thing as holding the office of a deacon. Every Christian is called to be a servant, isn't it? And not everyone who serves hold an office in the church. When Paul writes to Timothy, he's no longer speaking about service in general when he talks about deacons.

He's describing the qualifications for the office of deacon, and he says there, deacons, first Timothy three eight, deacons likewise must be dignified. And then verse 10, he says, and let them also be tested first, then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. And go to verse 12. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife. Paul makes declare there A deacon must be a husband of one wife.

So the office of a deacon, Paul makes the clear, is for what? For men. But can women serve? Of course. Absolutely.

Phoebe was a servant, but there is nothing in the Bible, in Romans, to conclude that Phoebe had an office, the office of deacon, but she was a servant. And the last example I want to give, it's, if you know the story, we read it in Acts chapter 21 about Philip's four unmarried daughters. Beautiful story. Acts 21 beginning in verse eight. Let's read that.

On the next day, we departed and came to Caesarea. Here, the writer of the book of Luke is writing that. He is in a company with Paul and his companions. And we enter the house of Philip the evangelist who was one of the seven. Remember those seven?

In Acts chapter six, in the early church, it was murmuring in the church because the widows of the, Jewish Greeks were ignored and so the the the the the the apostles appointed seven people who do the work of deacons, wasn't really deacon, but similar to take care of the financials and things like that. One of them was Philip. So they came to his house and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, thus says the Holy Spirit, this is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Now the Holy Spirit specifically tells us that Philip had four unmarried daughters who what? Prophesied. At first, this may seem to be nothing more just just interesting detail. Why give us this detail, Paul or Luke?

But notice what happened next. While Paul is staying, while while he is staying in Philip's house, the Holy Spirit has a prophetic message for him concerning his journey to Jerusalem. One might naturally expect that one of Philip's daughters would deliver that message. The four women who are prophesying. Right?

Naturally, you we do expect that. I mean, they are in the same house. Instead, the Holy Spirit sends a prophet named Adebos from Judea to Caesarea to deliver it, walking all the way down from a far distance. Why? I mean, the the text does not explicitly tells us, but it's at least consistent with the pattern we see elsewhere in the New Testament.

All these women possessed the genuine gift of prophecy. They did. They were not called to exercise a public teaching. Over the assembled church. And Paul there with his friends and companions, they consisted the church.

So God sent someone else from Jerusalem from Judea to come down to Caesarea to deliver that message and not one of those daughters of Philip who had the gift of prophecy. Their gift was real. It it exercise was in keeping with the order God has established in his church. I pray and trust that that every member of the body of Christ, whether man or a woman, will faithfully use the gifts God has given him or her to advance God's kingdom in the sphere God assigns to you. And as we do that, may god's name be truly glorified, and may his church be strengthened and blessed.

Amen? Let us pray. Heavenly father, you are a good god. You're perfect. And because you are perfect, your order is perfect.

Your design is perfect. Your work is perfect. Lord, you have the you are the one who established the church. You own the church. The church was built on Jesus Christ who is the rock.

Who are we, lord god? Who are we to change the design that was established by you? Lord, we submit with the humility to your order, and we marvel with the angels at the order you have established, at the beauty of your design. And, lord, as men and women, as a children of God equal in your sight, we praise you for every gift you have given us. And, Lord, we pray that you will continue to use us in everyone.

It's his own sphere and according to his gift and according to your order for your glory. But we thank you for every woman in this church who is serving and serving and serving in so many ways in in in so many different places, lord. We thank you for them, and we ask you to bless them, lord. Use them for your glory more and more for the benefit of your church. May your name be blessed forever.

Amen. Let's stand up to worship the Lord together. One Corinthians 12 verses four to seven. Now, they are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit. There are varieties of service but the same Lord.

There are varieties of activities by the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is giving the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Verse 12, For just as the body is one and has many members, men and women, and all the members of the body through though many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one spirit. For the for the body does not consist of one member, but of many.

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have created us, men and women, God's image bearers, Same value in your sight. And, yes, our value is in your son, our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, we have no agenda but to worship God. No purpose and no goal but to honor Jesus and his word. Lord, we pray you help us be faithful to honor you in keeping your word close to our hearts.

We trust, Lord, that you will do that in our lives. Hello as they walk in your truth with all the humility and meekness, that people might see the love of Christ in our lives and follow you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Be blessed, brother and sister.

God bless you. We'll see you Sunday, 10/30.