Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

17 February 2025

Reading From Matthew 28

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

–Matthew 28:5-10

     Joanna, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary mother of James and Joseph, Mary wife of Clopas, and Salome were the women at the tomb.  These women became the very first evangelists who brought to Good News of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the other disciples who were in hiding at the time.  God created both male and female in His image and in every age of human history He has challenged the sinful notion of male superiority.  Chauvinism is a result of the fall of mankind and the curse that came with it.[1]

     It is important for our understanding of the early Church to remember that the followers of Jesus were not limited to the Twelve men.  The Church included women and children from its inception.  An excellent example of this is when the Holy Spirit fell upon them on the Day of Pentecost.  Acts 1:14-16a tells us, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters…” In chapter two we discover that  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”[2]  It does not say that some of them were gathered or that only the men were gathered.  Scripture says that they were ALL together in one place. This has a powerful implication.  It means that the Spirit empowered both the brothers and the sisters of the early Church.

     God prophetically affirms this empowerment of both male and female believers.  Hundreds of years before Pentecost, Yahweh spoke through the Prophet Joel.  This prophecy is recorded in Joel 2:28-29, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”  To prophesy is to speak forth the Word of the Lord with authority.  Therefore, women as well as men, have the ability to speak for God with authority. 

     All through the Old and New Testaments we see God using women in this way.  Deborah was anointed Judge of Israel and functioned as what we would call in modern days a prime minister with Yahweh as King.  She led the armies of Israel, which consisted of men, into battle and they were victorious.  The prophetess Hulda helped bring about the religious reforms during the reign of King Josiah.  She is one of seven prophetesses mentioned in the Hebrew Tanach. 

     In the New Testament, not only do we find these six original evangelists who happened to be female, we also see Priscilla always mentioned before her husband Aquila which most likely denotes that she was the more prominent minister of the couple.  Together they mentored and discipled Apollos, a man who became a successful evangelist in the first century.  The nature of mentorship and discipleship necessitates a measure of authority.  Priscilla functioned in the Lord’s authority as she taught Apollos.  Scripture needs to be understood and interpreted with balance.  We need to seek the whole counsel of the Word of God in every matter.  Women reflect the image of God every bit as much as men do and our spiritual experience is richer when we embrace their role in our walks with the Lord.

“Lord God, thank You for empowering Your daughters to do Your will upon the Earth.  Anoint them with Your Holy Spirit.  I pray that they would lead with courage and humility and that those around them would work with them to build Zion.  We want to see Your Kingdom of Light expand and grow.  Thank You Lord for the movement of Your Holy Spirit among us.  We give You praise and glory and honor.  In the strong and mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.”

–Acts 2:17-18

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[1] Genesis 3:16

[2] Acts 2:1