Women's Ministry

 

You know, I think it’s a privilege to be a woman. To be made in the image of God as a woman. To have the biology to produce children and nurture them. To be a supporter, nurturer, and encourager of any in my circle of influence. To live out my calling from God as a woman and to encourage other women to do the same (Titus 2:1-4).

I don’t find any ambiguity in womanhood – I see purpose. For our day and our time, we need to be clear about our purpose.

So, how can we encourage one another as women? What could women’s ministry look like?

I think we can find an example in Luke chapter 1. These passages may be very familiar – in them we are introduced to two women – one older and one younger.

You know the story – Zacharias is in the midst of an opportunity of a life time – as a priest he is chosen to enter the Holy of Holies and burn incense. While there the angel Gabriel appears and tells him his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son that will bring joy and turn the sons of Israel back to the Lord (Luke 1:5-24).

What does it say about Elizabeth – she was righteous in the sight of God, she was walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord, she was of advanced age, and she was barren (Luke 1:6-7).

The first thing we learn from Elizabeth - Living a life for the Lord that brings Him glory and gains us His approval does not have to be flashy, noticeable, or praised by the world. The mundane is holy – when whatever we do, we do for Him and His glory.

Here we have an older woman who has lived her whole life for the Lord – she’s a believer and she’s obedient.

She’s also barren and advanced in age - Being barren in that culture and time would have been a stigma and a disappointment – others would think something was wrong with Elizabeth to incur God’s disfavor and not be blessed with children.

But we know what other’s may have thought was not what God thought – He calls her righteous and blameless.

But what must have been a bitter disappointment for Elizabeth did not impede her faith in the Lord or her walk with Him.

The second thing we learn from Elizabeth - The burdens we bear, our disappointments, and suffering are not obstacles to our walk with God – they are instruments He uses to mature us into vessels He can use.

Elizabeth was such a vessel – when she became pregnant she kept herself in seclusion for 5 months - She was no doubt rejoicing, marveling, and praising God for what He was doing in her life.

The shame she had endured had been lifted.

The third thing we learn from Elizabeth - We should never use our age as an excuse to put ourselves on the shelf – to think okay God’s done with me – let someone else serve – what could I have to offer – service for God has no age restriction or retirement.

God wants a vessel He can use, one who will say yes – He wants all of us – including our weaknesses, our disappointments, and our burdens. He’s in the business of making beauty out of ashes – and it brings him glory.

Now when Elizabeth is in her sixth month of pregnancy, the angel Gabriel goes to visit Mary. The Scriptures tell us she was a virgin and engaged to be married. Mary was a young woman, maybe as young as sixteen with her whole life ahead of her. Gabriel calls her favored of God twice and tells her she will bear the Son of the Most High. Naturally Mary questions how that can be since she’s a virgin – and Gabriel tells her it would be through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38).

Mary believes him – pause and think about that.

The first thing we learn from Mary – Believe God – Commit yourself to learning His Word and take Him seriously – start young – and if it’s too late to start young, start now.

Listen to Mary’s response, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

That’s an interesting thing for her to say – a bondslave is a slave for life by choice – it harkens back to Deuteronomy 15 which talks about rules for slaves, specifically a fellow Hebrew, who could only be a slave for six years and then must be set free. However, if that slave refused to leave his master because he loved his master he would have his ear pierced and be his master’s slave forever – it was a sign of total devotion.

Mary did not make this kind of commitment to the Lord at the moment Gabriel announced she’d be the Savior’s mother – she must have already determined in her heart to be wholly devoted to the Lord.

Mary is asked to do something truly hard and life changing here – Joseph would surely know the baby was not his. She was facing likely shame, ridicule, and rejection – but she says ‘yes’ to the Lord without any hesitation – because her heart was prepared ahead of time to do so.

The second thing we learn from Mary - Youth is no excuse to delay – the Lord wants you now – not after high school, or college, or marriage, or establishing a career, or starting a family. He wants you wholly devoted to Him now – even if it’s not easy or culturally acceptable. He wants to be your number one priority.

Gabriel also tells Mary that Elizabeth – her relative, who was barren – is in her sixth month (Luke 1:36). What seems like an aside here is a divine appointment.

It is no accident or coincidence that Mary and Elizabeth are related – most likely on Mary’s mother’s side. God knows what He’s doing and He is orchestrating these two servants of His to minister to each other.

Mary hurried to Elizabeth - who else can she share this experience with? Who else would understand?

God knows they need each other.

When Mary arrives Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and blesses Mary and Mary praises God for His mercy toward her and His people, for His might, for His justice, for what He is about to do, and for allowing her to be part of it (Luke 1:39-56).

Then Mary stays with Elizabeth through her last trimester of pregnancy, which could not have been an easy time for a woman of her age, and likely through the delivery of John.

Two women – one older and one younger – blessing each other emotionally, spiritually, and practically in the midst of life and in the midst of their calling with the blessing and sanction of God.

I think that’s what women’s ministry looks like.