Women have thought that because God’s Word says “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1st Ti 2:12) that they have no authority.  God’s Word stands forever. “ The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever.” (Is 40:8) It is true, and forever will be, that God forbids a woman to usurp authority over the man. But we, as women, have lost sight of the truth of God’s Word that clearly states that He has given authority to women. When a woman walks in the true authority that God has given to her she is NOT usurping authority over the man.

We must go back to the beginning to see God’s plan for women. “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.” (Ge 1:28) The word “subdue” as listed in this scripture means to make subservient, and the word “dominion” means 1) to rule, 2) to tread down. That was when God gave authority to the man and to the woman. There was nothing said to indicate any difference in the male and female – they were both given authority to rule. When men allow women to usurp authority they are not walking in their God given authority. Likewise, when women are usurping authority over men, they are not walking in their God given authority.

That God has different roles for men and women was never intended to rob women of their God given authority. Yes, women are to submit to their husbands because marriage is a picture of the church. The wives picture the bride and the husbands picture Jesus. And, of course, we know that the men are to submit to Jesus as women submit to their husbands, and as women do this they are also submitting to Jesus. The point I am making is this: Just as the man’s submission to Jesus did not rob him of his authority, neither does the woman’s submission to her husband rob her of authority. In fact, without submission as God requires it – there is no authority. The bride that Jesus is coming back for will include women, who have become sons, and men (sons) who have become the bride. In Christ Jesus “…there is neither male nor female for ye are all one…” (Ga 3:28)

Let’s consider the scripture that says  “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (Jo 1:11-12) Surely, we recognize that when Jesus came to “his own” that it included women. Those that qualify for sonship includes both male and female. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Ro 8:14) It is the men and women that walk after the Spirit that God will trust with authority. When God’s Spirit anoints and demons are cast out, the sick are healed and miracles happen, it is because the Spirit of the Lord is moving through a new creature.

The Word tells us that the heavens must receive Jesus until the restitution of all things. (Ac 3:21) This “all things” includes the restoring of women into their place of authority that was stolen from them by Satan. It didn’t “just happen” that Jesus spent so much time with women when he walked on the earth. He came to liberate them and to set them free from the bondage that Satan has kept them under. Satan hates women, and hated them from the beginning because he knew that the seed of the woman would bruise his head. It is important that women know this and submit themselves to God for his purpose to be fulfilled in their lives. The church will not come into the place of being “…fitly joined together…” (Ep 4:16) until women begin to function in the authority that God has purposed for them.

A man of God, that I appreciated very much for his knowledge and understanding of the Word, once said: “What a divine travesty it is to say, `There’s nothing more that I can do for Jesus paid it all.’ ”  As he made this statement he was referring to the chorus that was especially popular among charismatic believers at that time.

What is a “divine travesty”?  Consider the meanings of the words “divine” and “travesty.”

Divine = pertaining to God or proceeding from God. Travesty = A burlesque translation or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter. Simply put, it means a distortion of truth.  I immediately knew that this man’s statement was in no way intended to defame all that Jesus had accomplished when He died on the cross and said:  “ … it is finished …” (Joh 19:30)* Neither did he desire to crush the heart of love that these words came from. In fact, the Holy Spirit was burning in him to bring before the people a realization of what God requires of born again believers because of what Jesus accomplished. His desire was to wake up God’s people to the responsibility God has given us to obey Jesus. He was, in essence, saying: “…shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound.” (Ro 6:1)*

 A great weakness has occurred among born again Christians because there has not been an understanding of what God’s grace is all about.   God’s Grace was given to empower us to say no to sin.  Jesus came saying: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Mt 5:17-18)* It is through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is the law of the Kingdom, that the law and all that was spoken by the prophets will be fulfilled.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Ro 8:2-4)* The thought that “there’s nothing more that I can do for Jesus paid it all” has been too often taken to mean we have no responsibility to obey what God’s Word says He expects from us. 

The truth of God’s Word is that under grace God requires more from us than he did under the law.  Now we are without excuse.  “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?” (Heb 10:26-29)*

A beginning scripture to explain our responsibility is “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” (Heb 5:9)* To obey Jesus means we must become doers of the Word and not hearers only. To try to list, in this article, all the

Commandments and instructions that Jesus gave would be futile. However, let’s consider just a few more of them for a beginning:

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)* - We must deny ourselves the works of the flesh by putting off the old man and putting on the new man. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph 4:22-24)*

“… Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13)*  - The new birth is the prerequisite of this, and it is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that is done when we obey and cooperate.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Co 7:1)* - The cleansing agent God has provided is the blood of Jesus. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Re 12:11)*

 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” (Re 19:7)* - She does this as she, through a heart of love, desires His will more than her own and gives herself totally to Him.

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt 7:23)* - We must acknowledge the truth of God’s Word that says: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps 51:5)* and ask for God’s mercy to purge us. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” (Pr 16:6)*

Because of all that Jesus accomplished when he died on the cross and overcame death, he is saying that everything that my people need to empower them to overcome has been accomplished.   However, he says it is something that we must do through faith. Faith without works is dead. “But wilt thou know. O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:20)*

The apostle Paul knew this, and was convinced that in his own strength he could not deliver himself, but at the same time he said: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14)* He fully understood that it was only through faith in what Jesus had accomplished on the cross and that Jesus was the deliverer.  Yet he knew that to reap all that Jesus died to give him required total obedience.

Doris Jones

jonesdblue@aol.com

We will consider the weakness in Adam that caused him to listen to the woman’s voice. Since the Word clearly states that Adam was not deceived, (1^st Ti. 2:14 KJV) it is obvious that there was a very strong desire in him that caused him to disobey God. As a result of this he died spiritually, lost his fellowship with God, and he also became deceived. Pr. 14:12 (KJV) states: ”There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Just as a shift of affection happened to Eve when she disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, it also happened to Adam. God was no longer Adam’s first love. He had chosen Eve as his first love and she became his comfort and security. He was willing to lose his intimacy with God in order to keep his wife. As a result, Adam could not fulfill the place God had intended for him. God’s Word tells us that in God’s order the husband is the head of the wife. This includes being the leader, provider, protector and loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.

Recently, I watched a segment of the series by Dr James Dobson on “Bringing up Boys.” In this particular part Dr Dobson had included some clips from TV programs and advertisements that put men in very embarrassing situations. In all cases they were portrayed as being “a laughing matter.” The women were portrayed as “having it all together,” intelligent and making remarks to the men as if they were stupid. Dr. Dobson had named this particular segment

Men are Fools.”This reminded me of a song that I heard Phil Driscoll sing several years ago and have never forgotten. The words in the song that I remember so clearly are: “Don’t dance with the devil, he’ll make a fool out of you.”

When Adam took the forbidden fruit from Eve a dance with the devil started that has been passed down to all men. As long as men continue to listen to women rather than God they will be open prey for the devil to make a fool out of them. As such, they become less than the men God intended them to be. Women do not respect them; because these men do not really respect themselves. What has caused men to be looked upon as “fools” can only be changed one way.

Their only answer is to choose to give up listening to the woman’s voice and hear and obey God.

When the man allows the woman to usurp authority she places herself over him and this covers his head. “Any man who prays or prophesies – that is, teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes and comforts – with his head covered dishonors his head (Christ). “ 1^st Co. 11:4 (Amp.Bible)

Jesus said:“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or Lo there! For, behold the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17: 20-21 KJV) There are many promises to those that overcome in the book of “The Revelation.”

For the Kingdom of God to come within men they must overcome the need to draw comfort and security from their wife. They must repent before God and ask Him to forgive and change them.

They are then on the way to becoming sons of God who are walking after the Spirit, and are now able to return to the rightful place that God intended as leader, provider, protector and loving their wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.

Doris Jones
jonesdblue@bellsouth.net

God, who knows the end from the beginning, already had a plan to bring his people back into His Kingdom.  A painful plan, requiring the sacrificing of His only son, so pure and holy, born of a virgin and without sin.  Only the righteous blood of Jesus, the Son of God, could satisfy the heart of God and pay the debt of sin.  When we are born again the spirit is regenerated by the breathe of God (John 3:3 and Titus 3:5 KJV).  This is when we must "...put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24 KJV).  In order that this process can begin we must make choices for life.

Jesus gave the invitation to the church to choose life when he spoke these words: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matt. 16:24 KJV).  When we make this choice the Holy Spirit begins his work to restore the Kingdom of God within us.  The ways of the carnal nature spoken of in Gal. 5:19-21 as works of the flesh, which are a result of our independent action, must be put to death so that the words of Jesus which bring life can produce the fruit of the spirit.  Jesus said " ...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63 KJV).  To become doers of the words of Jesus, which are words of life, we must deny our old carnal ways by taking up our cross daily.  Jesus wants to give us "... righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Rom 14:17 KJV) to replace "... Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19-21 KJV).

God has given us responsibility to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work within us.  "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil 2:12- 13 KJV).   It is this cooperation with the Holy Spirit that causes his kingdom to come within us and is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.  Jesus said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8 KJV).

TO BE CONTINUED — KINGDOM OF GOD PART III

jonesdblue@aol.com

Just as the dispensation of the law/prophets, that we sometimes call the old covenant, had to come to an end so that the dispensation of grace could be ushered in; so must the church age come to an end to usher in the kingdom age.  The prayer of  Jesus, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt.6:10 The Amplified Bible), must be answered.  And most certainly, all the prayers of Jesus will be fulfilled because he prayed in the perfect will of God, the Father. The church age continues during this transition, in that Jesus said "... when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... And ye shall know the truth and the truth will make you free. (John 16:13 and 8:32 "KJV).  For this purpose, Jesus said I must go back to the Father so that the Holy Spirit can come.  We are in the church (Grace) age and the dispensation of the Holy Spirit simultaneously as we proceed toward the kingdom age.   The kingdom age will bring the fulfillment of the words of Jesus to his sheep  "...the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father." (John 14:12 KJV)  The kingdom age will shine with the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached with signs and wonders following, that will display the mighty power of God.  The millennial reign of Christ upon the earth will be the culmination of the kingdom age.   Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen

Doris Jones JONESDBLUE@aol.com