PENTECOST

Let us move now to the New Covenant and examine whether any women were ever used in the first church. We will start with the apostle Peter’s explanation for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.

Acts 1:12-14

12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath days journey.

13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes and Judas the brother of James.

14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren.”

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:16-17

16. But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel;

17. And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,…

I know much scrutiny has been given to these passages already, but I ask you to bear with me a while longer as we take an even closer look.

First of all, let us remember, women were indeed present in the upper room when the Holy Ghost was dispensed from heaven.

Secondly, they were all filled with the Spirit.

This word “filled” in Vine’s Expository Dictionary is “pleroo” and means to be made full and complete in Christ. In Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, it is to be made full of the presence, power, agency and riches of God’s glory. This is a most noteworthy definition of which we should look into even further.

The “presence of God” refers to the change in our nature. We have taken on the image of the Son of God.

Now, the Father and the Son dwell in us. The “power of God” makes reference to the operation of the Holy Ghost.

The agency of God refers to the office through which your work or service in the Kingdom is channelled.

Why didn’t he say preach, or pray, or teach or even evangelize? Why did he use the word prophesy?

I must submit to you this was the one word that was all inclusive of the 5-fold ministry. Let us go to Strong’s (index #’s 4396, 4395). Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Vines Expository Dictionary of Greek Words.

PROPHESY:

To be moved by the Spirit of God to foretell the Will of God whether with reference to the past, present or future - THE APOSTLE.

To render divine inspiration, the foretelling of events pertaining to the Kingdom of God - THE PROPHET.

To show the secrets of a man’s heart are known to God; convict of sin and constrain to worship - THE EVANGELIST.

To teach, refute, reprove, admonish and comfort - THE PASTOR.

To speak by divine inspiration that which is gathered from the completed revelation of the scriptures - THE TEACHER.

In one sentence the Lord summed up the administration of His church. They shall prophesy. Male and female shall once again be my messengers on earth. They

shall TEACH, REFUTE, REPROVE, ADMONISH, COMFORT and EDIFY my people (1 Cor 14:3).

Later, Paul picks up on this revelation and utters it to the church at Galatia.

Galatians 3:25-28

25. But after faith is come (the administration and inspiration of the Holy Ghost), we are no longer under a school master (the Law and all those ordinances that pertain to it).

26 For ye are all children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female for ye are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, this is powerful. Here, our understanding is further enlightened that if any be in Christ, there is no regard to nationality, social position or gender. It does not matter; we are all one gathered together in Christ Jesus. The curse has been reversed, and we are all one new man - Christ Jesus.

I hope you can now discern the heart of the Father in the bringing about of this dispensation of Grace. Strong’s, Thayer’s, Vines and most other authorities on Greek New Testament words define grace as: God’s influence on the heart that is reflected in the life. Paul also understood it to be the dispensing of that influence into the lives of others that they in turn would influence others. Beloved, grace is the reproductive power and responsibility of the Holy Ghost to beget more sons for

the Father. He is the Chief Administrator of this grace. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy (Acts 2:17). How thorough the Father is. They shall teach: Howbeit

when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth. . . (John 16:13)

THE TEACHER - THE EVANGELIST

They shall refute, reprove and admonish: ...And when He is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8)

THE PROPHET AND THE PASTOR

They shall edify and comfort: . . .He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. . . reveal the

hidden mysteries of the word.

THE APOSTLE

Look at the Father. Once again, He gives us the total ministry of the Holy Ghost for this dispensation. He is the Spirit by which we take on Christ Jesus. He is the administrator of the New Covenant. If any male or female prophesy, they do it in the power of the Holy Ghost.