Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, Anointing

In this Women in Ministry Series I have as much as possible stayed away from opinions, feelings and looking at this topic in a subjective manner. Instead I have focused on letting Scripture interpret Scripture in an objective manner. I have made sure that Scripture is interpreted within context. At times I have included what was taking place historically and culturally at the time of the writing of Scripture. At times I have shared the Complementarian and Egalitarianian perspective on certain Bible passages. Overall I have tried to bring a balanced and biblical approach towards the topic of Women and Ministry.

Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, Anointing
There may be a difference in opinion how a woman is used and operates in her calling, gifting, and anointing, but every Christ Follower should be able to agree that God calls, gifts, and anoints women for the work of the ministry. Some believe it is cut and dry, others believe there is a gray area, I believe there is a balanced approach. I believe the Extremes on both sides have muddied the water. Lets take a look at the subject of calling, gifting, anointing.

Calling, Gifting, Anointing-Objectivity
When it comes to the topic of Calling, Gifting, and Anointing it is much harder to be objective because Scripture overall does not define or address this subject matter in a definitive way. But this we know:
A. When it comes to Calling, Gifting, and Anointing it is God who Calls, Gifts, and Anoints followers of Christ, not mankind, or oneself.

B. That God Almighty has the final say so who is Called, Gifted, and Anointed.

C. That God does not contradict His Word, but man can misinterpret His Word or may not have a full understanding of His Word.

D. God’s ways are higher than ours.

Calling, Gifting, Anointing-Safe Subjective Assumptions
A. If there is ongoing fruit, there is an anointing from the Holy Spirit. The anointing is God initiated, not man.

B. If there is anointing there must be a gifting. Spiritual gifting is much different than skill or talent. Spiritual gifting is not based just upon skills or abilities. The Holy Spirit bestows gifts upon Christ Followers, not man.

C. If there is an anointing and a gifting, then it only makes sense that there is a calling from God. God calls, sets apart individuals to do the work of the ministry. The calling is confirmed by the gifting and anointing. God calls, not man.

D. If there is no fruit, no anointing, no gifting, then most likely there is no calling at least in the realm the person is operating in at the time.

Calling, Gifting, Anointing-Obedience
If a person, child, youth, adult, male, female are clearly gifted and anointed in a certain realm, then they must have a calling of God on their life. They will be in sin if they do not operate in the calling that God has bestowed upon them. Can they be possibly operating outside the realm God may have them operate in? Absolutely! May they be in the permissible will of God vs the perfect will of God? Absolutely! Principles found in Scripture will help define what is the perfect will of God, but remember God is Sovereign.

There certainly are examples in Scripture of individuals who God called, that were used by God, even though they were not in His perfect will. Out of His sovereignty He still gifted and anointed them.Why? Because they were called.

Calling, Gifting, Anointing-Disobedience
If individuals are operating outside the perfect will of God there normally will be some evidence they are outside the will of God. It can be there is no fruit (but out of His sovereignty God can allow fruit to exist). Most likely there will be evidence of sin in the person’s life. It may be hidden sin, but ultimately it will be exposed if not repented of. The person’s walk with the Lord may be very shaky, up and down, no consistency.

God is the Judge, not Man
It is God who judges the heart and motives of a person. It is God who judges if a person is outside the will of God. If a person has a clear gifting that is blessed with anointing, there is fruit in their ministry, and they are walking in holiness and sanctification, that person is most likely walking in the calling, the will of God. Can it be they are walking in the permisable will of God, than the perfect will of God? Possibley, but that is for God alone to judge, not man. If God is blessing a ministry, we should not be cursing a ministry. Of course blessing is subjective, but most Christians should be able to agree on rather a ministry is being blessed or cursed by God.

Warnings
A. If you are woman make sure you are operating in the perfect will of God regarding your calling, gifting, anointing. Be led by the Holy Spirit, not the opinion of others. Remember the Word of God is your standard.

B. If the Soverign L:ord has called, gifted, and anointed a woman in various realms of ministry, be warned. Calling what is of God as being of the devil is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

C. Unless you have thorughly studied out the topic of Women in Ministry you may be making judgments about women in ministry based upon man-made doctrines, feelings, opinions, misunderstandings of Scripture.

D. You must live by your own convictions, not the convictions of others.Be ruled by the Spirit and the Word of God, not others.

Summary
It is God who calls, gifts, anoints. There will be fruit if it is God. There will be some form of evidence that God’ hand is upon a ministry. If it is not God, there normally is evidence that it is not God’s will. All of us need to make sure we are in the perfect will of God, not the permisable will of God. Our misunderstanding or misintepretation of Scripture can lead us to make judgment calls not of God.

So can women teach, preach. If so, can they preach and teach men. Some say adamntly not, some say yes. both groups use Scriptures. I believe when ALL scripture is studied, along with hostorical/cultural context, the answer is YES and NO! In our next few articles I will be addressing women teaching, preaching, being elders. I will covering 1 Timothy 2:8-15, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. Is there a Scriptural biblical Balance? I believe there is.

Women in Ministry Series
Women in Ministry, Introduction-Why the Topic?
Part One-Women in Ministry-Complementarianism, Egalitarianism, And?
Part Two-Women in Ministry-Isorropiaism-HUH??? Balance
Part Three-Women in Ministry-Bible Passages
Part Four-Women in Ministry, Extremism
Part Five-Women in Ministry-No Speak
Part Six-Women in Ministry, Prophecy
Part Seven-Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Part Eight-Women in Ministry-Examples
Part Nine-Women in Ministry-Headship
Part Ten-Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, and Anointing