SPIRITUAL WOMEN

I am ever amazed at the rebellion of some women who think they are doing “the Lord’s work” because they “feel” they should be doing something for God. Wake up and smell the brimstone sister. If you are married, your husband and family is your ministry. Some of these rebellious women run all over the world dragging their husbands along while exalting themselves spiritually over them. I can quickly think of four such relationships. While other rebellious women blatantly just abandon their families thinking God has called them to something greater than serving their husband and children. These so called “spiritual” women are in open rebellion to their husband and to God, by taking the “spiritual” lead thus emasculating their husbands. Oh they may submit in some areas feeling good about themselves and manipulating their husbands, but not in their heart. To help us understand this point let us look at two women in the Bible. The first is the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 and Jezebel. When we think of Jezebel we think of a painted face of seduction, but the Bible portrays Jezebel in a different light. “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Revelation 2:20) Men received her as a teacher, showing she was apart of the structured church ministry to the members. Any woman who defies the Scripture’s prohibition against women teachers in the church collectively is following in the grave tradition of Jezebel. If you go back and read 1 Kings to see what the Bible says about Jezebel you will see she was more spiritual and religiously devoted than her husband. We see this today when the wife becomes the Senior Pastor of a church and takes the spiritual lead over her husband. The next thing you notice Ahab was emotionally unstable. When a woman takes the lead in marriage by assuming of the masculine role it makes a weak man weaker, even to the point of sending him to bed as did Jezebel to Ahab. In every case I know of where the wife (became a Pastor) or a woman took the spiritual lead in a church or ministry it miserably failed. It could not stand in God for it was not birthed by the Sprit, but by the flesh. God takes a strong view at this relationship. We also notice she used his emotional stress to endear herself to him, a strange way of lording over her husband. If you read the story you will see how Jezebel manipulated and accused an innocent man then had the man murdered so that Ahab could obtain his vineyard. Today if women are willing to play their husband’s role in directing the family, their husband will lose his natural drive to bear responsibility. He like Ahab will turn his face to the wall. Lastly we notice Ahab was easily manipulated by Jezebel to suit her purpose. She stirred his passive spirit, provoking him to react in anger. When a woman steps outside her divinely ordained nature and assumes the dominant role, in a home or church ministry, she will soon become emotionally and physically exhausted, and very dangerous to her self and the local body of Believers. Her foundation and authority is not the word of God, but a self-exalting projection to possess something in God that has not been ordained for her by God. It is a projection of the flesh and a self-seeking desire to possess things God strictly forbids. We see this same spirit in Eve in the garden. And times have not changed. Here is a good side-by-side picture of the two women:

Jezebel Profile
1. Prophetess

2. Teacher
3. One who pities
4. Religious
5. Controller

Virtuous Woman Profile

1. Help Meet

2. Silent

3. Encourager

4. Prudent Worker

5. Submissive

Another woman we must look at is Deborah. Now Deborah was a judge and used by God, but if you actually read the story in Judges you will know the text makes much of the fact that the men were ashamed by allowing a woman to take the place of prominence. There is no question Deborah performed well, that she saved Israel, and that God used her, but that is just the point. When men allow women to take their role and assume their responsibility it results in shame to the nation and to God. Even Deborah knew this to be true. Women can do as good a job as men, maybe even better in some areas, but God’s direction for women not to take the lead in spiritual matters is not an indictment about women being inferior or not capable as men, but it is a command by God whereby a woman’s authority and nature must never take the leadership over a man; to teach them or to gain a place of prominence among them. Women are capable and qualified to teach and teach well, but it is not a question of qualification, it is a question of authorization and yes obedience. Women may be qualified, but they are not authorized by God. And if they do move in spiritual authority over men they will be in direct rebellion and disobedience to God and His word.

Ladies if your husband is at level seven you should be at level five. If your husband is at level five you should be at level three. Your strength can become your husbands weakness. We must always be in a place of submission to our husband’s authority and God will speak to Him regarding things going on in the family. The course that your family is set on is to be charted by your husband as God leads him. If God is not leading your husband it is not your job to lead. We must submit even further by shutting up and being quiet while NOT taking the lead. By taking the spiritual lead in our family we are in direct rebellion to our husband’s authority. Twist or spiritualize it any way you want, but it is still the truth. Whenever I see a “strong spiritual” woman not too far off I know is an emasculated husband. Not exactly a crown of glory for the husband. What folly and foolishness. Let us submit ourselves under our husband’s rule and God will deal with them, as we are poured out from vessel to vessel by serving our husbands and family. Let us do the real spiritual and humble thing submit. Written by Karen Stahl