2 Corinthians 9:10-15 NKJV
“10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
Persecuted for Speaking the Truth
Now I will say here that I am still being faced with some
strong opposition to the writing that the Lord gave me on the subject of women
in ministry, which was titled, “She Loved Much.” There are some people
who believe that God intends that his daughters have absolutely no voice
whatsoever within the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, i.e. those
of genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But if we have no voice at all, then
we cease to be part of the body of Christ, ministering to one another as God
intends.
If we have no voice, but we are to exist in silence only
when we are with other believers in Christ, then most of the teachings in the
Scriptures on the body life do not apply to us. So it is okay then for parts of
the body to say to other parts, “We have no need of you”? No! It isn’t! Did
Jesus send women to share the gospel with men? Yes! Did he not honor a woman
for doing what the man should have done, but did not do? Yes! Did Peter allow
for women and men to prophesy together on the day of Pentecost? Yes!
So, why do so many take Paul’s instructions on the silencing
of women in the gatherings of the church as to mean that women are to have no
voice at all? It was clear that what he was teaching was in regard to women who
were usurping authority over men, and who were causing a disturbance, and who
were asking questions out loud and were disrupting the gatherings. And it is
clear in Paul’s words that he was speaking of order within the gatherings,
which has men as the heads, and women as in submission to the men.
But some will insist that God intends for all women to be in
absolute silence always and to never speak, even if called upon to speak, and
even if given permission to speak within the gatherings of the church. Even
though God spoke through his prophet Joel that in the last days that his sons
and daughters would prophesy, so many women are being silenced and are not
being permitted at all to share in the gatherings of the church what they are
being taught by God via their times spent with him each day in his word.
Encouragement From God
So, when I read this passage of Scripture this evening from
2 Corinthians 9:10-15, the Lord immediately began to encourage me. For the Lord
called me 22 years ago to be one of his messengers, to take the message of the
Gospel and the teachings of the Scriptures to the people of the world and to
the church, via the internet. And he has given me thousands of writings which
he has had me post on the internet which have gone to the people of the world
and to the gatherings of the church throughout the world.
And so he was saying to me through this passage of
Scripture, “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food,
supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your
righteousness.” For “the seed I have sown” is in the words which God has given
me to write in sharing with the church and with the world what the Scriptures
teach with regard to salvation and our roles as followers of Christ, and with
regard to obedience to God and holy living and being his servants and
messengers.
And he encouraged me through these words, “For the
administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but
also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God while, through the proof of
this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the
gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men.” So what
he was saying to me here is that these writings are supplying the needs of the
saints, and there are those who glorify God for the obedience of my confession
of Christ.
And then he encouraged me through these words, “and by their
prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks
be to God for His indescribable gift!” The Lord encouraged me that there are
people throughout the world who are receiving these messages who are being
blessed by them who are praying for me and who are thankful to God for the
ministry he has given to me and that I did not remain silent, but by faith in
Jesus I obeyed the Lord and I spoke his messages to the people.
All Glory to God!
This blessed my heart! This gave me such encouragement! All
that I am and have that is good is from God and not from me, so he gets all the
glory!!
A Believer’s Prayer
An Original Work / July 31, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
With my whole heart,
Lord, I pray
To be Yours, and
Yours always.
Lead me in Your
truth today.
May I love You, and
obey.
Lead me in Your
righteousness.
When I sin, may I
confess;
Bow before You when
I pray;
Live for You and You
always.
Love You, Jesus,
You’re my friend.
Life with You will
never end.
You are with me
through each day,
Giving love and
peace always.
You will ne’er
abandon me.
From my sin You set
me free.
You died on that
cruel tree,
So I’d live
eternally.
Soon You’re coming
back for me;
From this world to
set me free;
Live with You
eternally.
Oh, what joy that
brings to me.
I will walk with You
in white;
A pure bride, I’ve
been made right
By the blood of
Jesus Christ;
Pardoned by His
sacrifice.
The Seed You Have
Sown
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