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Vol. 10 / Issue 14 / October 19 2006

Contents of this issue

Editorial

Women Preachers - A Perspective



News Items (Common to all issues) :

Standing in the Gap - Fasting prayer on 8th Dec.. 2015

Download Articles in Handheld Computers

Please Join us in "Peace Prayer Room"

Your Spam Folder

Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online

Through the Valley of Death

Free Tutorials for your Kids!

Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God? Book

Free E-Cards

Online Games for you!



Editorial

By Sherly Isaac

When I was young, we used to play with neighboring kids. One day we were playing cricket. Some of the big kids were in decision making. When one kid did batting others were fielding. I was also put in fielding. I never liked to do fielding, its the toughest job... you have to run a lot, search for the ball and throw it back to the baller. Anyway, I stood at one side of the field. A big girl was batting. She hit the ball very hard and it went really very far away from where I was standing. They told me to run after the ball. I ran and caught the ball. But it was too much for a six years old. I was determined to take confrontation next time. A few moments later the same girl hit the ball beyond anybody's reach. I was angry and not knowing the rules of game I said, "Look, you have hit the ball this far so you must bring it back." In my heart I thought, "I am an officer's daughter, how could anybody make me run to collect balls." My little proud heart completely refused to do that mean work.

That was my priority at that time. I was proud of those material blessings for which I did not earn. Being in high society, living in luxury was indeed a privilege. But my priorities changed when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I realized that those luxury, high position, money, big houses, servants and nice cars have no meaning without Jesus. It was completely an eye-opener. I was amazed how I was relying on small things which had no value in achieving eternal life.

We all set our priorities according to our standard. If others do not fit in that standard, often we esteem them lowly and make fun of them. Once I was working in a office where there were mostly young girls who came out of college freshly. One day a new girl joined in our office. She was different from the rest of us probably because of her village background where she completed her studies. Her dresses were not proper according to the standard of urban girls. One afternoon most of the girls started laughing at her and making fun of her. I don't know why, but she came straight to me and asked, "why these girls are laughing?" I was so shocked that I could not tell her plainly that they were laughing at her. I felt really sorry for her. I thought, "just because her dress was not up to their standard, it did not mean that she had any less ability than the rest of us."

Yes, this is the cruel world which did not even leave the creator and master of this world, our savior Jesus Christ. Why? Because of the evilness and pride of our hearts that could not handle the bright light which came among us. His standard did not match with the world's. Jesus Himself said in John 3:19-20, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." Also in John 7:7, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil."

Again in the next verse Jesus said, John 3:21, "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

My friend, today we can come to the cross and get salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul said in Heb 3:15, "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Yes, Set aside the pride and rebellion and turn to the living God. Humble yourself and cry out to God and He will give you salvation and eternal life.



Women Preachers - A Perspective

By Sheela Isaac

‘Women may preach or not to preach’ this debate has been going on for centuries. Some say that women can be allowed to preach while some say that women should not preach. The question is what is correct and what is not. Does Bible speak anything over this topic? Does Bible support women preachers? Let’s find out the answer in the light of the Bible.

Look at the life of Huldah. She was a woman as well as a prophetess. If you look at the life of Huldah you will find some interesting features.

1. Appointed by God Himself:
The Bible says that she was a prophetess and was appointed by God Himself. That is why the word of God came to her. The Bible speaks very clearly that in the time of Old Testament God’s voice’ was rare. There were few who were able to hear the voice of God. And Huldah was one of them. The Bible says that the word of God came to her. It means that God has no different opinion or objection regarding women preachers. Here God is speaking to a woman and His message came to a woman. If God had problem with women He would have definitely searched for a prophet (a man) to deliver His message. But here we do not see that. II King 22:15, “And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me.”

2. She got recognition as a Prophetess:
Not only did God appoint her as a prophetess over the nation, she was also recognized and revered by the high priest as well as by the king of that nation. If you read about Huldah it appears that God was not speaking to the High priest of her time. As the high priest was unable to hear the voice of God he had to seek the help of a woman prophetess. The Bible says that king Josiah gets the book of the law from the house of God and he reads it (2 king 22:8-13). When he reads the contents of the book he was terrified thinking what God proposed to do to the land because of ex-king Manasseh’s grievous sins. He calls the high priest, scribes and his ministers to find out the will of God. This was the time when the high priest and ministers seek the help of Huldah for receiving the word of God. 2 king 22:13, “Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found:..” 2 king 22:14, “So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess,…….”

The high priest and others might have realized that they could seek the will of God only through a woman who was a prophetess. So they had no hesitation to find the will of God through her.

3. What she advised was considered authentic as ‘word from God’:
Later we find out that the words spoken by Huldah was revered by the king also. He had no problem obeying those words. He had no problem recognizing it as God given word. He was not feeling humiliated since he was hearing the voice and suggestion from a woman. But he was willing to obey God any way no matter what or who brought the word of God. The Bible says that he tore down the high places and removed the idolatrous priests. He repented from his sin and turned to the living God. 2 Ki 23:3 – 6, Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves of the common people.”

Here it is clear that the king and the High Priest had no problem in listening to a woman’s advice and considering it as God’s voice. Then why should we have problem today? God had no problem in the women prophetesses and preachers. The king and the High Priest had no problem with the prophetess. Then why should we have problem today with women preachers? Why should we have problem in recognizing women as preachers and pastors? The reason is clear. Those who do not read Bible and do not know what is in the Bible have problem with women preachers.

The Bible does not stop there with Huldah’s story, but throughout the Bible we find women who served the Lord. Another great woman of Old Testament was ‘Deborah’. She was a prophetess and a judge in Israel. Judg 4:4, “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.” She was holding a very special position in the land. She was not only a prophetess but was a judge over Israel. Judg 4:5, “And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Here we find that the whole of Israel was coming to listen to this woman. Further the Bible says that Barak was not ready to go alone to fight the battle and so she had to go with him.

Bible does not deny women as prophets and preachers. God does not deny women either. God does not count women as second-class citizens or unworthy to preach the Gospel. I believe that it was all created by men for their own selfish gain.

You might think, “well, it is all Old Testament matter, but what about New Testament?” Some people quote Paul’s words saying, “Paul forbids women from preaching.” 1 Cor 14:34 -35, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.” I believe that the verse does not say anything about women preaching but it looks that it speaks about some disorderly discussions. If you look at the previous verse, Paul says that when a person is speaking others should keep quiet till one finishes. 1 Cor 14:30, “But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.” If Paul is referring about women not to speak and keep silent in the church then according to Paul they can not do anything in the church including reading the word of God and singing.

In the New Testament we find Priscilla and aquila as preachers of the Gospel. They had ministered with Paul and went with him for missionary trips. Acts 18:18, “So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him.” If Paul had problem with women preachers he would have plainly told Priscilla that it is not her business but it is men’s job. But he was not saying that but instead he calls them ‘my fellow workers in Christ’. Rom 16:3, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,..”

Bible nowhere forbids women from preaching the Gospel. Well If God had called you to preach the Gospel, I would say, go ahead and preach any way. I am glad that my family had encouraged me to preach the Gospel and they never forbade me from preaching. If you are a woman and have a clear call from God, I would say, come out of your closet and preach the Good News. Who knows you might save few souls from hell fire. And they will be eternally grateful to you when you get in to heaven.




Standing in the Gap - Fasting prayer on 8th Dec.. 2015

As the Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it." And also the Bible says in Numbers 16:48, "And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." We have fasting prayer every second Tuesday of each month. Our next fasting prayer meeting will be conducted on 16th Nov. 2015

Download Articles in Handheld Computers

You can now download articles in Palm Doc format for your palm handheld computer. It will work with any devise that has Palm OS and Palm Doc Reader installed. To download click on the link named "Palm Doc Format" i.e. at the top of this page by the side of each articles.

Please Join us in "Peace Prayer Room"

If you have any prayer request please join us any time at our New Chat Room at http://insearchofpeace.org/prayer If any of us available in prayer room, we will be praying online otherwise you can email your prayer request to feedback@insearchofpeace.org

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Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online

Now you can read Bible in Hindi online at http://www.hindibible.org
in Malayalam online at http://www.malayalambible.org
in Tamil online at http://www.hindibible.org?ver=tamil

Through the Valley of Death

As many of you know that in the year 2005, our dad was very sick even unto death. God miraculously healed him. We have compiled it in a book form. I sure believe that it will inspire you and encourage you greatly.

This book is available for purchase at JasmineCorp Store

Free Tutorials for your Kids!

Now you can learn Graphics and web designing online. These tutorials are free but you may need to get login ID by registering yourslef. Currently tutorials for Paint Shop Pro, HTML and Dreamweaver/Fireworks are available but in future more tutorials will be added.

Check the tutorials at:http://jasminecorp.net/tutorial

Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God? Book

Now available "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" Available at JasmineCorp Store, and "Is Jesus God?" Available at JasmineCorp Store,

Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this.

Also read:
Book Title: Is Jesus God?
Author: Sherly Isaac
ISBN: 0759628092
http://insearchofpeace.org/books.htm

Free E-Cards

Send free E-Cards (Greeting Cards) to your friends and family. Its an easy way to stay in touch with friends and family. The website address is:
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Online Games for you!

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