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NEWSLETTERS
The New Testament Women
GWEA Monthly Message, May 2020
REVEREND GORDON WILLIAMS

Mother’s Day has become a significant time for many Christians to recognize the importance of Christian women and mothers. Too many people like to wander back into the Old Testament to use the “virtuous woman” or “good wife” (Proverbs 31:10-31) as the example for Christian women to follow. I believe that this is a terrible mistake. The Proverbs women was the best example of what “the law” expected of a godly woman to be at that time. She never benefited from the New Covenant; she never had the experience of being born-again (Jn. 3:3, 5, 7), or becoming a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17); she never had her “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 1:8) or became a “new wineskin” (Lk. 5: 37- 39) with the “signs following” (Mk. 15:17-18); and she never received the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 2 Cor. 12:8-10). 

The Old Testament woman’s personality couldn’t be remoulded with “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) so that she could have the character of Jesus to minister to others as an “ambassador for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). She had never “been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14). Her entire life was an unfulfilled drudgery of hard “works righteousness”, with no permanent assurance of her salvation. It was only when her family took sacrifices for sin to the Temple, could she even have temporary relief from the condemnation of sin. She was an oppressed woman, a slave to her husband and family, who didn’t experience God’s grace. 

Unlike the women on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 41), she was never the fulfilment of the prophecy of Joel when God said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy… yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days will I pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17). The “Proverbs lady” was at the mercy and whim of her husband, who could dissolve their marriage at any time if he wasn’t satisfied by simply writing out “a bill of divorcement” (Deut. 24:1-4). 

The New Testament describes a new kind of agape-love relationship between husband and wife that makes marriage a place of ministry (Eph. 5:21-33). Husband and wife minister to each other as well as their children and there is no room for any kind of abuse in a marriage in a union that God brings together where “Jesus is Lord”. The Holy Spirit develops the “fruit of the Holy Spirit” - “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23) in both men and women who are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The “new creation lady” is “aglow with the Spirit” (Rom. 12:11), and has ministry to do under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. She has the authority to cast out demons; speak and pray in tongues; lay hands on the sick that they may be healed, and have God’s protection as she does ministry. She follows no one who does not follow Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. She is a member of “the chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; God’s own people (who) declares the wonderful deeds of Him who called (her) out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). The “Day of Pentecost Woman” is the example we need to follow. They make the best kind of wives and friends. I know because I have been married to one for the past 58 years! “Happy Mother’s Day” to all the ladies!     

If you have not received the Gift of the Holy Spirit, I invite you come to one of our online meetings or contact me for prayer and guidance. You will discover that you can have an exciting Christian life and receive the Holy Spirit with His wonderful and exciting gifts! 

“Happy Mother’s Day” to all the ladies!

 
Copyright © 2020. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved.
 
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