language

The Gift of Prophecy: 14

Prayer and prophecy are inextricably linked in terms of their communication process; both involve listening before talking. – Developing Your Prophetic Gifting, by Graham Cooke

Casting Vision:

Although this passage talks about the gift of tongues, we see that it can be used as a guideline for prophetic visions:

1 Cor. 14:6-12 – if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you… Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?… If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker… For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

Anytime we speak in a language someone else can’t understand, there is a need for an interpretation; so it is with prophetic visions. – Shawn Bolz

This week I shared a vision with someone who understands visions and I had no need to interpret it because they beat me to it. However, when I shared a vision with someone who did not understand visions, it only confused them. I saw a vision of a tent and the person responded, ‘I don’t like camping’. The symbols we see in visions rarely hold meaning to the person we are ministering to. Most of the time God is simply speaking our own personal language to convey His message. When I see a tent, I get exciting because I love to go camping, but tents and camping may have a bad rap with someone else. If you are asking God for a prophetic vision for another person, God will speak from items as they pertain to your own personal experiences. You then need to ask God a series of questions about what He is showing you, so that you can cut to the quick of what He is saying. Questions like, ‘God, why are you showing me a tent?’ God may respond with an unction about what is important about the tent, or even highlight a certain part of the tent to draw your attention to it, or He may show you a new vision that relates to it. Any place we feel like we are hung up or confused is an opportunity to hold a dialogue with God about what He’s showing you.

I asked God why he was showing me a tent then I told the person I was ministering to, ‘You’ve been in a place of isolation and God wants to bring you out.’ God then showed me the tent from another perspective and I told the person, ‘You like to look at situations from all angles, which is good, but God wants to remind you that at some point there has to be a move to action instead of camping out on an issue.’

This person would’ve never grasped God’s message if all I had said was, ‘I see a tent’. They would’ve left confused, wondering if God wanted them to go camping. On the other hand, someone at church received a prophetic vision for me of a barn. All she said was, ‘I see a barn, and I don’t know what it means.’ I told her that I immediately knew the meaning, as God had been repeatedly showing me a verse in the Bible about a barn, through different speakers. God was saying that He was going to fulfill that verse in my life, and spoke it over me 4+ times in a couple days to make sure I got the picture.

Experiencing the prophetic:

If you’ve never received a prophecy you may be confused about what it is. I wish I could upload a recording of one of the prophecies spoken over me, but the best I can do with a free WordPress account is share the text from one. Parts of this word from December 2014 have come to pass and I can see others starting to surface in my life now. Some prophecies are fulfilled quickly and some take many years. Joseph waited some 20 years to rule Egypt, while Mary’s pregnancy was instantaneous. Some of the phrases spoken over me in this prophecy have been spoken over me, verbatim, by multiple other prophets who’ve never met each other. Other times certain themes, like leading worship, are touched on and reveal different aspects of it. In Bible you may notice Him repeat a phrase 2 or 3 times before moving on, then touch on the topic again later. Anytime there is a verbatim repeated phrase or a repeat theme, you know God wants to get your attention and to confirm what He is saying.

Prophet 1 said to me:

I hear the Lord say some people think you are small in stature, but you are huge in the kingdom. You are a small person but you carry a loud voice. I hear the Lord say He is causing you to be a warrior in the kingdom. I see where there is a worship anointing on you. I see you as one that is radical when you praise God and when you call the people to give Him praise. I see where God is going to use you, even in the realm of the prophetic. The Lord is going to raise you up and stir some things up in your spirit.

Prophet 2 said:

God says even on the direction, and the path that you take in life, He will show you where you need to go to. He says, even concerning every place you go to, He’s going to direct you and He’s going to have everything already laid out for you. There are going to be a lot of places that you’re going to get to travel to; so He says, even as you go to these places, some may be in the state, outside of the state, even outside of the country. He says, even as you go to these places, know that there is no need to worry, because everything is going to be taken care of. You’re going to be safe while you are there, He is going to watch out for you; He wants you to know that its going to be Him leading you to these places. He says, there’s even a humanitarian anointing that He has placed on you, a concern to even give of yourself to other people. He says He’s going to open doors for you to give of yourself even more; to care for those who are poor, and to care for those who are weak, and to care for those who are in need. He says He is going to open doors, and there are going to be a lot of doors that are going to open for you.

She stopped and asked if I had been out of the country before. I said yes.

She continued: ‘He’s says you’re going back. He says He’s going to open even more doors for you to travel to new places. It’s going to be like you’re going to travel to some places with a group, but it’s even going to be new people that you’re going to meet as you go. Some places you are going to go with a group of people, but then its like God is going to send you back; where the group might not go back, but He’s going to have some doors open for you to go back.’

She stopped and asked if I was a teacher. I said no.

She said: He’s going to use you to teach. I even see children around you and its like you are teaching the children sitting around you. He said He’s going to use you, even in those areas, He’s going to open the door. Some of these places its not going to be you visiting, its going to be like you’re going to be there a long time. He says you are going to be there a looong time, so just know that its Him and He’s going to have every connection for you. He’s even going to take care of family here, so He says don’t even worry about what’s going on here, because He’s going to take care of everything; and He’s going to make sure everything works out for you.

Even concerning the finances, God says the finances are taken care of. Finances are not going to be a problem. Some places you go to, its going to be like they are all expense paid and some places you are going to go to it’s even going to be like a job; like an assignment that you’ll go to and you’ll get reimbursed while you’re there. It’s like you’re going to be there for a while, but it’s like there is going to be reimbursement for some of these places you go to, but it won’t be a burden on you financially.

This prophecy definitely encouraged me to continue pursuing worship whereas I hadn’t led worship in many years. It comforted me about the main issues I had about traveling: finances, family, protection. It strengthened me to see that God had noticed my increased humanitarian desires. It excited me to know that God wanted me to travel and would provide a way, since earlier that year I had decided that my money would be better spent helping others than seeking my own pleasure. It’s also exciting to note that my job, through a God ordained game of dirty Santa, gifted me a set of luggage this Christmas. They also travel internationally multiple times a year, giving me a group of people to go with. O, and I’m also loving every opportunity I get to teach kids, every other Sunday, as they sit in a circle around me.

1 Cor. 14:3 – But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Empty

‘Bottomless pit’ and ‘well’, in the following verses, are the same word in the Greek language: phrear. This is one of several word denoted as ‘Hell’ in the Greek language. Hell, then, can be a state of the heart…

– Rev. 9:2 – He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

– John 4:11-12 – “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

In context with the rest of the story, the woman at the well was basically saying, ‘I am an empty, bottomless pit’. I have a hole that I can’t fill. I cannot get enough husbands, or boyfriends, to fill this hole in me. How then can I draw water up to quench my thirst?

– Eccl. 12:8 (MSG) – It’s all smoke, nothing but smoke.

Smoke chokes you out and burns your eyes. It dulls the senses. It wants you to flee in discomfort instead of putting out the fire at its source. It doesn’t want you to have an endless source of water to squelch its flames.

The smoke isn’t the fire; it’s only what the fire produced. I lot of times we try to treat symptoms instead of curing the illness. God is the healer. This woman’s symptom was that she felt like she had to have a man in her life. The root issue was something else. It might have been that she had not received love from her father, or that she never finished grieving over the loss of her first husband. Whatever the case, Satan loves to throw up the smoke screen and try to confuse us. He knows that if we can’t see to put out the fire, that he can continue to burn us out till there is nothing left.

– John 4:25-26 – The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

She had heard of Jesus, but now she’s met Jesus. Jesus turns your bottomless pit into a spring of water. He doesn’t just give you one drink in your need, but provides a lifetime of provision for you. He is the living water and the only way to put out the flame at its source. If you have a bottomless pit that you can’t fill, ask Jesus to come meet with you and give you a spring of water, welling up to eternal life.

– 1 Cor. 3:20 – The Master sees through the smoke screens

– Rom. 8:27 (MSG) – He knows us far better than we know ourselves

– Rom. 8:1 – there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

When you can’t see through all the smoke, ask Him to show you and snuff out the flame. Notice that Jesus didn’t condemn this woman. The woman didn’t lie to Him about her sin. God honors your honesty, even when you know that you are doing something wrong. He won’t condemn you for being honest and asking for His help. He came to explain everything to us. He wants you to know your own heart and understand what it is you really need.

James 1:5 – But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

Jesus isn’t just a well of water. Jesus is a spring of water welling up.  You don’t have to do the work of drawing up the water for yourself when you have Jesus. Just get in His presence.

Listen to this worship song on the subject: Jeremy Camp “Empty Me”

Animal Salvation?

Everyone always wants to know if their pets go to heaven and if animals have souls, so I did a fun little study on it.

It might look long, but all topics are highlighted, and in all of my posts I bold the important information so that you can quickly see the highlights. I always want to give the full scripture reference in case someone wants to know more, but if it looks overwhelming, simply read the bolded parts.

We’ll look at these topics:
– The Beginning of Animals
– Will there be animals in Heaven?
– Is there salvation for animals?
– If animals can be saved, then do they have souls?
– Will my pets be in heaven?
– Will animals be able to speak in heaven?
– Can we eat animals if they have a soul? Is it a sin to eat animals?
– How does God view animals?
– What does it mean to have dominion over animals? Are we doing our part?

Let’s look at the beginning of animals for a moment:

– Gen. 1:25 – God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good

– Gen. 3:1 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Animals could talk in the beginning and God said it was good.

– Gen. 3:13-14 – The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers

Animals and humans sinned and BOTH were cursed. It doesn’t say that he cursed animals so that they couldn’t speak, but we’ll talk more about that later. If animals can still speak with that kind of eloquence we can’t hear it anymore.

*SideNote: the curse on the snake was for him to crawl on his belly… meaning he previously swam (job’s leviathan?), had wings (fallen angel?), or legs (dragon of revelations?). Dragons in heaven? Well, Renaissance paintings made him look like a mermaid, so moving on.

serpent of Eden– Num. 22:27-28 – When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.” 30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.” 31Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” 34Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned…”

– Is. 22:22 –  what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open

God is capable of opening or closing the mouths of animals, giving or taking away their ability to speak. I do not see any reference inferring that we could teach an animal to speak with human eloquence, but I do see scriptures that infer animals were originally made to speak and will again speak (more so than Fluffy barking on command); more on that in the following sections.

Will there be animals in Heaven?

As we can see from the previous section, animals were in Eden and God said they were good. Below we see that God is going to renew the earth and restore Eden. This would imply that animals will exist in the restored Eden just like the former Eden.

– Rev. 21:1 – Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea

– Is. 65:17 – See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.

– Rev. 21:5 – He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

– Eze. 36:35 – They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.”

– Is. 11:6-9 – And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

– Rev. 19:11 – Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True

– Ps. 145:21 – Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

So we see that there will be a new earth like the garden of Eden, where all creatures live in harmony for eternity. So if animals are in heaven then:

Is there salvation for animals? 

– Ps. 36:5-6 – Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

Let’s define preserve:
1. to keep alive or in existence; make lasting
2. to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare
3. to maintain and reserve for continued survival

– Gen. 9:9-10 – “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.

– Gen. 9:15-17 – I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. 17So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

The story of the ark was a foreshadowing of God saving our souls. The animals were saved with Noah on the ark, which points to the idea that they too will be saved with the righteous. The Lord tells us many times that He has made a covenant with the animals; and not just in the flood account…

– Hos. 2:18-19 – In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. 19I will betroth you to me forever

– 2 Peter 2:5, 9 – if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah… and seven others… 9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

This verse seems to be saying that animals were rescued from trials because they were godly.

– 2 Peter 2:15- 16 – They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

This donkey respected God more than the prophet. The donkey understood the word of the Lord and was obedient. The donkey also understood that he should not harm the Lords anointed. The donkey saved Balaam’s life 3 times and simply said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

– Ps. 105:15 – “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

– 1 Sam. 26:9 – But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?

– Gen. 9:5 – And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.

This is the only concrete law I could find that was given to animals. Animals will be judged according to this law and apparently they understand it. What else do they understand?

– Job 12:7-9 – ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

It’s a saying that animals can see into the spirit realm, but what if there’s truth to it? What if animals are actually more aware of God than we are? Maybe they are smarter than we are but we just can’t communicate with them in our fallen state?

– 2 Cor. 5:15 – he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Someone’s getting in a tizzy about this scripture I guarantee, but we already saw that God made a covenant with ALL creatures. We can also see that this donkey isn’t living for itself, but for Christ. No animal wants to be beaten. The donkey had many chances to choose to save itself, but it waited for the Lord’s salvation. I think these scriptures clearly portray that there is salvation for animals. I’m not sure what all the rules are, but they will clearly be judged and saved like us. God tells us that the commandments are summed up into one: love; and that the greatest love is to lay down your life for another. Seems to me that this donkey passed with flying colors. The 10 commandments even include that animals should rest on the Sabbath with us.

– Ex. 20:8-11 – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

He even tells us to share the gospel with animals! This Easter one of my Facebook friends held an Easter party for dogs. I laughed, but then I thought about this verse:

– Mark 16:15 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

– Rom. 8:21 (NLV) – Everything that has been made in the world will be set free from the power that can destroy. These will become free just as the children of God become free.

– Rom. 8:19-21 (MSG) – The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens

– James 1:18 – In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

We are the FIRST fruits of his creatures. That means the other creatures will be the following act until the very last of the fruits return to God. So…

If animals can be saved, then do they have souls?
Are the animals in heaven going to be the souls of the animals from earth?

Over and over again, the word used for creatures is nefesh, the Hebrew word for soul. This word is used when describing animals and humans. The Bible clearly shows us that animals have souls; they have appetites, desires, affection, and feelings just like us.  

English=Creatures. Hebrew=Nephesh

– Ps. 104:25-30 – Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great… 27These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

You renew the face of the ground? Sound familiar? Sounds like the bodies of the animals will be resurrected when the Lord renews the earth (Rev. 21:1,5), and here’s a supporting scripture:

– Rom. 8:19-21 – The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens

Psalms 104 also showed us that animals have the spirit of God in them. God breathed life into them just like He did for us.

– Eccl. 12:7 – and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

God is whole. He is not incomplete, so if He sends out part of His Spirit it will surely return to Him.

– 1 Cor. 15:35-40, 42-44 – But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another… 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Our perishable bodies return to the dust just like the animals, until the resurrection of the body. The animals imperishable body, the Spirit and breathe of God, returns to God just like ours do. So, ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’ (2 Cor. 5:8)

– Eccl. 3:19-21 – For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

Dust to dust. Spirit to spirit

– 1 Cor. 15:21-22 – For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

The death that was brought, on both man and animal, came through a man. So the life, for both man and animal, comes from a man. Strangely enough, the same man that brings life describes himself as a sacrificial lamb; so where death came from an animal (serpent), life also came from an animal (lamb).

It’s crazy how hidden, yet attainable he makes his secrets! ❤ it! So the cherry on top question would be:

Will my pets be in heaven?

Given the foundational truths from the previous sections, I would say yes.

– 1 Cor. 2:9 – For no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

– Eph. 3:20-21 –  to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory

– Ps. 31:19 – How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.

– 1 Cor. 13:8-13 – Love never fails… 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love is imperishable because God IS love. If you have a sacrificial love for your animal, that love won’t be taken away because it is imperishable.

– Ps. 84:11 – No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly

We can trust God that heaven will be a place filled with everything necessary for our happiness. In fact more than likely, you’ll be able to speak to your pets in heaven.

Will animals be able to speak in heaven?

We’ve already talked about how animals spoke in the previous Eden (inferring that they should be able to speak in the restored Eden) and how animals have spoken in the fallen earth (Balaam’s donkey). What’s so hard to believe? If rocks can speak and praise God why can’t animals?

Point #1 – Called to praise & Support of Praise

– Luke 19:40 – If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

– Jer. 32:27 – Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

In fact God tells the creatures to praise Him

 – Ps. 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

– Ps. 148:10-13 – Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His splendor is above the earth and the heavens

If he asks something from us, He will give us the means to do so. If He asks for animals to praise Him, then He will give them freewill and a voice to do so. I think they praise Him now, but I think we will hear the praise in the new earth (see point #2)

– Heb. 13:21 – may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.

Here are some more animals speaking in heaven and in the earth:

– Rev. 8:13 – As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth

– Rev. 4:6-8 – In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

If we were made in God’s image, what image were animals made in? Were they made in the image of these speaking ‘living creatures’? Where animals also made in God’s image? God is vast; whose to say that we weren’t made to have some attributes of God that animals don’t have, and vice versa. If animals then were made in God’s image, but with different attributes of Him, do you think God would make them unable to communicate? Is God mute? Can God only talk to His son (in the ‘god species’)?

– Rev. 5:13 – Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Point #2 – Language & Unity

Maybe in order to understand Point #1 we should look at language (in general) for a moment:

– Gen.11:1 – Now the whole world had one language and a common speech… 4Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”… 6The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth 9That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth

Unity makes all things possible. Due to disobedience (gen. 9:1) the Lord scattered languages. If Heaven is without sin then we can assume that heaven will have unity instead of confusion. This unity can come in the form of one common language or many languages. I’ll show you how since we have already established that both man and animal have the same Spirit from God:

– 1 Cor. 12:7-10 – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

We see here that through unity of Spirit we can be given the gift of speaking and interpreting different (otherwise unknown) languages. So if I meet my pet in heaven, he can speak dog and I can speak English and with these gifts we can have unity & understand each other. As an example, it’s by the Spirit that this angel is able to preach in all languages:

– Rev. 14:6 – Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth–to every nation, tribe, language and people.

– Rev. 7:9-10 – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb

So whether there is one language or multiple languages, there will be UNITY in heaven and ease of communication between species, nations, etc. There will be no miscommunication, misunderstanding, or discord which guarantees ALL will be able to communicate eloquently and understand ALL.

Lastly, if animals can speak, and have a soul, should we be eating them? I was talking to a friend the other day whose wife is a vegetarian. We talked about the original diet of mankind: fruititarianism. Meaning we ate only what naturally fell from a plant. We would not eat anything that turns into a plant or harms a plant. I was making the point that God loves plants as much as animals and people. My friend said he couldn’t stand the thought of killing an animal anymore, and that if the grass cried out in agony when he cut it, he probably wouldn’t do that either. I laughed too hard. However, animals have a different kind of voice than people, so plants have a different kind of voice than animals. How long will it take us to realize the earth is screaming in agony from our abuse? That’s another topic though…

Can we eat animals since they have a soul?
Is it a sin to eat animals?

– Gen. 1:26-30 – Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”… 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.

Both man and animal were given plants to eat originally. They were fruitarian. They ate only what would naturally fall from a plant or regenerate on its own. Part of the curse of man is that he would have to toil the fields, so before the curse man lived on fruits, herbs, and maybe perennial vegetables and nuts. We see in the next verse that animals will return to this system:

– Is. 11:7 – the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.

– Ps. 104: – He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, 5And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.

*SideNote: Modern day bread is terrible for you! It doesn’t strengthen the heart… but grind your own natural ingredients instead of that GMO bleached grocery mess and you can live on bread alone for 300 days like Ezekiel. Here’s a recipe: http://breadmachinerecipe.net/ezekiel-bread-machine-recipe/

Okay, so we started out with a fruitarian/vegetarian/vegan kind of diet, but then:

– Gen. 9:2-4 – And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

Here’s our green light for eating animals. But then why would he say all things are for food, if later he says don’t eat pork (Deut. 14:8) or sea animals without scales (Lev. 11:9)?

– 1 Tim. 4:3 – They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

– 1 Cor. 10:23-33 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive… 25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience… For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

I have the right to eat every moving thing, but not all of those things will be beneficial to my body. The guides he gives in Deut. & Lev. give you an idea of what things are beneficial to your body and what things will make you sick. We know vegetables are healthy, but he lists some animals too, so it’s not a sin to eat them.

Based on these scriptures I think its honorable to choose to not eat meat since that will probably be the model of heaven anyway. That doesn’t mean that heaven will be less amazing. God can make ‘manna’ taste like some good ole country fried steak or venison back-strap. We shouldn’t be scared of the idea of giving up our favorite foods (sushi & duck for me), because we know the tastes in heaven will somehow immeasurably surpass the delectable flavors found here on earth. Nonetheless, in the current earth, we have a green light to eat meat.

With that being said, the next section is of the upmost importance.

God cares for animals, but are we doing our part to care for animals?

God cares for animals. He breathes life into them, knows every one, feeds them, knows when they die, helps them give birth, gently carries them, clothes them, protects them, etc.

– Matt. 10:29 – Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 

– Matt. 6:26 – Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

– Ps. 50:10-11 – For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.

– Is. 40:11 – In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

– Ps. 29:9 – The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth

– Deut. 25:4 – Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

– Deut. 22:10 – You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together

He cares about animal rights. He wants the ox to be able to eat his daily portion and his working portion. He doesn’t want the donkey to get hurt by being yolked to a larger animal. No matter what the price we value sparrows, he is aware of every single one. God is Spirit and He gave us the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ to train ourselves in. While we train to have these attributes, they are already a part of God’s character. He is patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled, peaceful, loving, and joyful toward us and all creation. If He cares about animals to this extent and He has set us as a servant over them, then we should care about them too, because He will surely judge us according to our given duties.

– Gen. 1:27-28 – God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

It’s not a sin to eat animals, but it is a sin to not have dominion over animals. The word dominion is an antonym to stewardship or management. He calls us a servant to creation.

– James 1:18 – He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Why are we called the FIRST fruits of his creatures if mankind was made last in the Genesis creation?

– Matt. 20:16 – So the last will be first, and the first will be last

– Mark 9:35 – Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all

We were called to take dominion, which doesn’t mean to dominate or exploit the earth, but to steward, manage, or take care of the earth. We were last so that we could SERVE all. If we eat all the animals and do not manage their numbers, and protect their existence, then we have sinned by not managing the business God gave us. Plus:

– Eccl. 3:19 – what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other.

We need to be carefully not to over consume animals or fall into the sin of gluttony, leading to poor management. All sin leads to death, and here we see specifically how gluttony can and will lead to death in the end times. Over consumption can come through gluttonous eating, clothing, poaching, hunting, whatever. I love the ideals of the native americans on this subject. They gave thanks for every animal life and they used every last piece of the animal. We should be wary of how much we take and how much we waste. If I manage myself, I can live off 1 deer a year, by using 1 pound of meat for each 4 day span.

– Luke 12:42-46 – And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

To eat, drink, and get drunk is referring to gluttony. It is also a cross-reference these other scriptures:

– Is. 22:12-13 – Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. 13Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”

The ‘Lords call to weeping’ will be through famine that WE induce. We aren’t far away from it. This verse foretells the attitude that people will take during the days of famine… they will continue to be gluttonous until they have completely destroyed the earth. They will say, we are going to die anyway, so I might as well be happy while I’m alive; all the while destroying the earth and dooming future generations. This is no way to manage a business – that’s how you drive it into bankruptcy.

– Is. 5:8-12 – Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land! 9In my hearing the Lord of hosts said, “Truly, many houses shall be desolate, great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant. 10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath (7 gallon of grapes instead of the 400 gallon normal average), And a homer of seed shall yield one ephah.” 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! 12 The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the Lord, Nor consider the operation of His hands. Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge.

– Is. 5:12 – They do not regard the work of the Lord, Nor consider the operation of His hands.

What is the “work of His hands”?

– Ps. 8:3-9 – When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?…You make him to rule over the works of Your hands. You have put all things under his feet… All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands… this was our Genesis command to have dominion, but Isaiah says humans will not regard the animals, earth, or space and so humans will fall blindly into famine and death. The bible says the respect of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. God wants to show us how to maintain life. Are we going to be open to His advice?

*SideNote: “I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars.” Thus we are called to be stewards of space as well. Are we going to start dumping trash in space? Will the famine drive us into space, to a new earth? Hmm.. I feel a study of Revelations coming about. 

– ‘oikonomia’ is the greek word used for steward. The word ‘economics’ is derived from it.
– Economics: is the social science that studies production, distribution, exchange and consumption of goods and services.

We can’t be good stewards of animals if we turn a blind eye to our rate of consumption.

– Is. 24:5-6 – The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left

– Rev. 11:18 – The time has come… to destroy those who destroy the earth

Those who were bad stewards, not those in Christ (Luke 12:42-46). Although many in Christ are bad stewards, His blood covers all our sin and because we love him, we continually grow in our love, learning how to please him. In Him there is no fault-fiding.

– Is. 24:4-6 – The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. 5The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. 6Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.

– Rev. 8:7 – A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

– Rev. 8:8-9 – A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

– Rev. 8:11 – a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water… A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

– Rev. 8:12 – a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

Funny what Revelations calls judgement, Isaiah calls reaping what you sow… God gave us freedom of choice and he doesn’t change his mind about that even if we destroy the Earth He gave us. The prodigal son went and spent his inheritance till he had to eat pig slop. We create our own punishment when we disobey Him.

Poor stewards> becomes famine>becomes war>nuclear bombs>disease, lose of life, lose of water, & darkness>the end

We who know and love God should be digging in the word for instructions; doing our part to protect life and rallying support. Time is short.

– Matt. 24:3 – “Tell us, when these things will be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered (Matt. 24:4-14):

There will be:
– false saviors
– wars and rumors of wars
(he adds that we should not let these rumors alarm us (social media anyone?))
– nation will go against nation, and kingdom against kingdom
– famines and earthquakes in various places

and thats only the beginning. Then there will be:

– persecution and killing of Christians
– many will denounce Christ and betray Christians
– there will be false teachers and false prophets
– gospel preached to the whole world

then the end will come.

Hmm, many of these are already happening. Even so, we don’t want to say ‘eat, drink, and be merry as if we die tomorrow’. Instead we want to hone in on the love that makes us want to please our wonderful savior, and stay busy about His work, looking forward to the great reward that’s coming… Getting to talk to pets and Oh so much more. When it comes down to the persecution of Christians, and my life is on the line, I’m going to be laughing knowing that in my next second I will be riding on, and talking to, a pterodactyl with Jesus; flying through wormholes as all the exciting, mysterious thing unveil and I’m assigned to take care of baby dolphins for a time. Don’t hate. 

Riding a pterodactyl

Last TidBit: Statistically, In homes where an animal is being abused, it is almost certain there is also domestic violence in the home. Maybe you should pay attention to this concept if you are still single and looking for a spouse.

– Prov. 12:10 – The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.

Women in the Church – Part 2

We left our last lesson talking about women in 5-fold ministry, so let’s pick back up there.

Eph. 4:6-7, 11- God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift… 11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers

The 5 types of ministry are:
1.apostles, 2.prophets, 3.evangelists, 4.pastors, 5.teachers

As you see in our scripture reference, all are called to one of the ministries; man or woman, child or elder, according to the measure God has given us. The more we are faithful with, the more we receive. And some of these women are working with a great measure. In our last lesson we saw Miriam, the prophetess, in the Old Testament, leading all of Israel. Now let’s look at some more examples of women working in the 5-fold ministry:

– Rom. 16:1-7 (NIV) –  I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me… 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Paul has just greeted: 1. Phoebe, a woman deacon, 2. Priscilla, one of his women co-workers, and 3. Junia, a female apostle! He commended them; he did not rebuke them.

– Acts 18:26 – And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Luke shows us here that it is okay for women to teach a man the ways of Christ. These women lovingly took this man aside to teach him the ways of God more accurately.

– Proverbs 31:26 – She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Solomon shows us that there is wisdom in the teaching of women. Later, Solomon shows us what a person, who wouldn’t listen, would be called:

Prov. 1:7 – fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov. 31:1 – The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Here we see that one of the most recited chapters in the Bible came from a woman. Lemuel was another name for King Solomon, who was the wisest man on earth; and he got his wisdom from God, through his mother Bathseba.

– Judges 4:4-5 – Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Here we see a woman as the judge over all of Israel! We might as well call her the queen, since she was the one ruling. Deborah prophesied over a man, calling him out to be the next person to rescue Israel. This man was too scared to go to battle! He practically said, hold my hand mommy; so she went and God gave the honor of the victory to Deborah. If a woman can judge, or pastor, all of Israel, why can’t a woman be the pastor of a church of 50 people?

– Judges 4:8-9 – Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” 9“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.”

Thank God for letting a woman step up to lead; if He hadn’t, and He instead said, ‘women submit to men, no matter how bad their decisions are’, then Israel wouldn’t have been free from their enemies.

– 2 Kings 22:11-20 – 11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest… saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah… 14 So Hilkiah the priest… went to Huldah the prophetess… And she said to them… “Thus says the Lord,… because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord,… your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.

Once again, we see a man, the king of Judah, go to a woman to seek God’s advise and instruction. This woman, a prophetess, advised the nation and the king. If this woman had not been in the ministry the Lord had appointed her to, would Israel have been saved from God’s punishment?

– Acts 21:8-9 – On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.

A daddy, in ministry, understood the word of God, and did not keep his daughters from working in the ministry.

– Luke 2:36 – And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

– Joel 2:28-29 (ESV) – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

John 4:39-41 – Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony… 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

According to Jewish law, Jesus wasn’t supposed to speak to a Samaritan. He not only spoke to one, he spoke to a woman. This woman became an evangelist who made many believe, and they believed even more once they saw Jesus for themselves.

So in these verses we see women as apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors. Plus, you remember Mary, the first evangelist of the risen Christ from Part 1. You also see examples of women being deacons, leaders, and warriors; they spoke and ministered to women, children, men, kings, and nations.

Q: So what are women called to today?

Heb. 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

A: If Christ doesn’t change, and Christ approved of women working in ministry in the Old and New Testaments, then He still approves today. You also saw multiple instances where women were instructing men, and submitting to Christ over their husbands, so lets look at that a little closer:

In 1 Samuel 25, Abigail’s husband was a fool. He, his family, and everything he had, was about to be destroyed because of his foolishness. Abigail, his wife, left without telling him, and said yes to what her husband had said no to. She went, and set the matter straight, and it saved the lives of many. David, the king, gave praise to God for her actions and called her blessed, even though she had not submitted to her husband. Later when Abigail’s husband died, David took her as his wife.

If submitting to everything your husband tells you is the right way, then 1. everyone would have been dead, and 2. David, the man after God’s heart, wouldn’t have wanted her as his wife.

1 Sam. 25:32-34 – David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”

As long as submitting to our husbands does not lead us into sin, then we should respectfully follow them. However, we cannot submit to a husband who is in sin; we cannot put our husbands above our submission to God. If we do, it’ll lead us to death. Likewise, we cannot hold up Christ’s blessing of leadership without respect for men either. Lot’s wife was a good example of a woman that should have respected her husband. Instead of listening to his wise words, she turned back to her sin and turned into a pillar of salt. This way, a man who is following God can save his wife, and a woman following God can save her husband.

Back to respecting women in leadership, Mary asked Jesus to make wine. Jesus said it wasn’t his time yet; but then, Jesus obeyed His mother and made the wine.

John 2:3-4, 7, 11 – When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”… Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”… 7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”… 11What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory

Since we know Christ never sinned, then what his mother asked was not sinful. Even though Christ had not yet performed any miracles, God used his mother to spur him into God’s timing, to start revealing himself. She did not ask in order to honor herself. She asked in order to protect the bride and groom from the shame of running out of wine. This example shows us that we can all respect each other, no matter what status, age, sex, or level of gifting we hold; even Christ respected his mother. We just can’t follow others into sin.

 Gal. 3:28 (NLT) – There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I’ll take this a step further since I was telling you about my girlfriend who was traveling and teaching, from the pulpit, from age 12. There is no young or old in Christ, for we are all one. If we are all one, then there is nothing that separates us in Christ. Christ gave the gift of His Holy Spirit to everyone who believes; and it is the Spirit that guides us into truth, not our age. No one should be leading if they don’t have respect for the other members of the body. If a man has no respect for women, they shouldn’t be leading. If a child has no respect for elders, they shouldn’t be leading. Otherwise, everyone should be working in their God given calling.

1 Tim. 4:12 – Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Ps. 8:2 – You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

Matt. 21:15-16 – But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

That needs to be a whole separate study, so just chew on it for now and lets move back to the topic at hand.

Remember the language barrier from part 1? Let’s look at more of that:

– 1 Tim. 2:11-15 – A woman (wife) should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man (husband); she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women (wives) will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with self-restraint.

This is not saying that the act of having children brings a woman salvation from her sins. That would be a weird doctrine…

This was written to the Greek city of Ephesus; the head of polytheism. Women, from all around, came to this city to give birth, saying Artemis the goddess of the city would protect them during childbirth. Many of these women wouldn’t convert to Christianity for fear of dying during childbirth.

Paul is teaching the women that they don’t need Artemis to protect them during childbirth; that those who continue in the Christian faith will be ‘saved’, or not die, during childbirth.

– 1 Tim. 2:12 – I do not permit a woman (wife) to teach or to assume authority over a man (husband); she must be quiet.

There are over 40 words used for ‘authority’ in the bible, and this one is only used here. In this one instance, ‘authority’, means to murder with ones own hand. It meant, to slap with the back of the hand, or assume all power. If Paul had wanted to say women shouldn’t take any authority over a man, he would’ve used a different word that meant good and bad authority. Since he instead uses a word for castrating authority, then we have to see that women are still allowed to lead with good authority.

– 1 Tim. 2:13 – For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

Paul mentions that Adam was made before Eve, because this was a Greek city where they believed woman, the greek goddess Gaia, was created before man. Paul was trying to correct a specific issue where women were dominating over men. And yes, it is wrong for anyone to dominate over anyone; women over men, men over women – its wrong. Love and respect are what we are called to. Equal dominion, just like at creation. Both leading; both teaching. The whole bible empowers women, but this one writer, in 3 restrictive verses catered to specific locations and situations, we have taken out of context and formed a culture on for 2,000 years… infuriating. But we can already see our minds starting to align with Christ; and we can openly, and lovingly, share our views, inciting change in the minds of those around us.

Back to Genesis, we see how God made us in the beginning:

– Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

God gave both, man and woman, the right to rule. He didn’t put one over the other.

– Gen. 2:20 – The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

I don’t think the word ‘helper’ is supposed to mean Adam’s pin-up girl. Adam needed help with his work load; he needed a ‘helper’ to help him maintain Eden, and name all the animals.

1 Cor. 6:13 – The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Granted, within marriage, Adam and Eve’s sexual union would not have been sexually immoral, but this verse still says the body was made for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. We are the body of Christ, and He calls the WHOLE body to action. Men can’t carry the gospel on their own. The church needs women and their unique ability to bring life, comfort, and emotion. Maybe there are so many people who hate Christians right now, because there are a lack of women leading, showing the softness of God instead of the sternness that men bring by nature. Women are fashioned to share in dominion. Yes, there was a curse put over women, but remember part 1 and how that curse was broken? Moving on then…

 1 Cor. 11:2-16 – … I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head

We’ll cover what this passage is talking about with 3 bullets:

1. Ancient sources indicate that women, in the Greek religion, commonly participated in religious ceremonies without headcoverings, while male priests, in the Roman religion, normally covered their heads for ceremonies. Paul was telling them to come out from under those cultures, and make themselves separate and set apart to God. He told them to just go ahead and do the opposite so that people could see they were different and ask why. The covering was then symbolic of where your authority lay. If I’m a woman who came from the Greek religion, where women spoke without covering their head, I will now cover my head to show that I am under the authority of Christ. If I am a man coming from the Roman religion, where men spoke with covered heads, I will now speak with my head uncovered to show that I am under the authority of Christ.

Ps. 91:4 – He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

2. Furthermore, this verse from Psalms helps us see what a covering is for. A covering is for protection. A woman should cover her head, her husband, and protect him while she speaks. She can speak, but she should not do so in a way that is unloving toward her husband. A man should not cover, or hide, or protect Christ, his head. How can a person protect Christ? They can’t. Especially since the only way they could ‘protect’ Him would be through arguments, which Christ said not to do. Win people over in love. Show people what you believe and why, but do not argue with them. If they do not agree or want to hear you, then pray for them. Divisions, dissensions, and rivalries come from the flesh, not from the Spirit of God. So, we cannot protect Christ, and we certainly should not try to hide Him or His truth; That’s what 1 Corinthians 11 is about.

3. The people who do think this passage is about anti-women teaching, do not enforce their women to wear traditional Jewish head coverings, which is evidence that they are viewing scripture with a context as well. Everyone views scripture in the context of their own lives and cultures. The goal is to take our experiences, and our culture out of our minds, and renew our minds with the Word of God. We need to see the full story, not a pet scripture that is out of context with the rest of the Bible.

 Ps. 68:11-13 – The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil—13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds

These women heard the Lord, proclaimed His message, and received His reward, while the men stayed at home tending their own business. Let’s all make the Lords business our focus. Let’s all respect and empower each other. Let’s build the body up.