Operating In The Prophetic, While Still Honoring God's Line Of Authority
Joel prophesied that when the army God arose in the end-times, both men and woman would prophesy, for as He stated,"Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... and upon My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." This means both will be recruited as soldiers in the end-time army of God, but should they still take literally the command to maintain the Biblical line of authority in the marriage, or should that now be regarded as an outdated product of ancient culture? If they are still applicable, what is the role of the Christian wife in the spiritual war? I believe God calls a Christian wife to be a prophetic voice to her husband, through visions, dreams and direct utterance, and as we shall see I believe this is supported by scripture.
The apostle Peter's teachings in our next passage apply today in my opinion, and for one simple reason: The Christian marriage is intended to reflect the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — 4 rather let it be the hidden woman of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:1-7)
A wife calling her husband "Lord" is almost abhorrent to 21st century ears. It seems so far removed from the way we conduct ourselves today that this passage simply gets discarded for seeming abusive on its face. But is it? If God created the husband and wife relationship to reflect our relationship with Jesus Christ, does the church still honor Him as Lord today? Do we still submit to Him as Lord in our daily lives? Maybe most relevant, do we still allow Him to teach us the things of God?
Peter taught that husbands were to "dwell with them with understanding," meaning they were to spend time teaching their wives everything God was showing them (see Ephesians 5:24-27), that both might arrive at full knowledge and full sanctification, and their prayers ascend to God in unity and love as if praying as one. But there was clearly a line of authority. The husband reflected Christ, so his wife was not to usurp authority over him during a church service by standing up and becoming his teacher. Paul added that even "the law" said wives should submit to their husbands.
11 Let a wife learn in silence with all submission. 12 But I do not permit a wife to teach nor usurp authority over her husband, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but his wife being deceived fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
34 Let your wives keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to be submissive, even as the law also says. 35 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. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
What law was Paul referring to here? He was likely referring to the judgement God pronounced in Genesis 3:
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this... 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception. In pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:13-16)
Women still experience pain during childbirth, so there seems little to suggest that a husband's headship over the wife in marriage has been done away with, especially given that Paul reiterated Genesis as the justification for why husbands should continue leading in the marriage. But what then was the role of the Christian wife? Simply to listen and submit, or to contribute supernaturally? Eve was Adam's helpmate, so how were Christian wives to be helpmates to their husbands in fulfilling the work of Christ, and the calling of God upon their marriages?
The Wife As A Prophetess
A husband and wife can be compared to two soldiers in the field. One is in charge by virtue of rank, but prophecy is like receiving communiques from headquarters, and though coming through the wife constitute orders they will act upon as a unit. In spiritual terms, should they be in combat in the field where decisions have to be made, he is the officer in charge and God's will is he be able to lead so they can act on his authority. But they are both to be receiving instructions from higher up, so as to know the Lord's command in any given situation. And in receiving such instruction, the wife was obviously intended function in it with him, given that wives were indeed prophesying during services during New Testament times, as well as in the home.
1 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every husband is Christ, the head of the wife is the husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every husband praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. (1 Corinthians 11:1-5)
The head covering Paul spoke of here served as a public declaration that she was submitted to her husband's authority in the marriage. Yet while she was not permitted to usurp authority over her husband in church, she WAS nevertheless permitted to prophesy both to and over him, as well as over other men in the congregation. She was to keep silent and ask her husband at home regarding Christian teaching, but during church she could prophesy as the Spirit alone led her.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Let your wives keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 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. (1 Corinthians 14:29-35)
Not only could wives prophesy in church, but Paul went on to describe prophecy as one of the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1); one that should be prayed for earnestly (1 Corinthians 12:31). And there were clearly women prophetesses in the early church, for they are mentioned several times. One was Anna, who prophesied to men and women alike that the Christ child had finally come. She was led by the Holy Spirit to speak about Jesus “to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). The masculine gender of the signifiers that described her intended audience suggest that Anna prophesied to both men and women.
Joel prophesied that when the army God arose in the end-times, both men and woman would prophesy, for as He stated,"Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... and upon My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." This means both will be recruited as soldiers in the end-time army of God, but should they still take literally the command to maintain the Biblical line of authority in the marriage, or should that now be regarded as an outdated product of ancient culture? If they are still applicable, what is the role of the Christian wife in the spiritual war? I believe God calls a Christian wife to be a prophetic voice to her husband, through visions, dreams and direct utterance, and as we shall see I believe this is supported by scripture.
The apostle Peter's teachings in our next passage apply today in my opinion, and for one simple reason: The Christian marriage is intended to reflect the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — 4 rather let it be the hidden woman of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:1-7)
A wife calling her husband "Lord" is almost abhorrent to 21st century ears. It seems so far removed from the way we conduct ourselves today that this passage simply gets discarded for seeming abusive on its face. But is it? If God created the husband and wife relationship to reflect our relationship with Jesus Christ, does the church still honor Him as Lord today? Do we still submit to Him as Lord in our daily lives? Maybe most relevant, do we still allow Him to teach us the things of God?
Peter taught that husbands were to "dwell with them with understanding," meaning they were to spend time teaching their wives everything God was showing them (see Ephesians 5:24-27), that both might arrive at full knowledge and full sanctification, and their prayers ascend to God in unity and love as if praying as one. But there was clearly a line of authority. The husband reflected Christ, so his wife was not to usurp authority over him during a church service by standing up and becoming his teacher. Paul added that even "the law" said wives should submit to their husbands.
11 Let a wife learn in silence with all submission. 12 But I do not permit a wife to teach nor usurp authority over her husband, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but his wife being deceived fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
34 Let your wives keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to be submissive, even as the law also says. 35 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. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
What law was Paul referring to here? He was likely referring to the judgement God pronounced in Genesis 3:
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this... 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception. In pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:13-16)
Women still experience pain during childbirth, so there seems little to suggest that a husband's headship over the wife in marriage has been done away with, especially given that Paul reiterated Genesis as the justification for why husbands should continue leading in the marriage. But what then was the role of the Christian wife? Simply to listen and submit, or to contribute supernaturally? Eve was Adam's helpmate, so how were Christian wives to be helpmates to their husbands in fulfilling the work of Christ, and the calling of God upon their marriages?
The Wife As A Prophetess
A husband and wife can be compared to two soldiers in the field. One is in charge by virtue of rank, but prophecy is like receiving communiques from headquarters, and though coming through the wife constitute orders they will act upon as a unit. In spiritual terms, should they be in combat in the field where decisions have to be made, he is the officer in charge and God's will is he be able to lead so they can act on his authority. But they are both to be receiving instructions from higher up, so as to know the Lord's command in any given situation. And in receiving such instruction, the wife was obviously intended function in it with him, given that wives were indeed prophesying during services during New Testament times, as well as in the home.
1 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every husband is Christ, the head of the wife is the husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every husband praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. (1 Corinthians 11:1-5)
The head covering Paul spoke of here served as a public declaration that she was submitted to her husband's authority in the marriage. Yet while she was not permitted to usurp authority over her husband in church, she WAS nevertheless permitted to prophesy both to and over him, as well as over other men in the congregation. She was to keep silent and ask her husband at home regarding Christian teaching, but during church she could prophesy as the Spirit alone led her.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Let your wives keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 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. (1 Corinthians 14:29-35)
Not only could wives prophesy in church, but Paul went on to describe prophecy as one of the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1); one that should be prayed for earnestly (1 Corinthians 12:31). And there were clearly women prophetesses in the early church, for they are mentioned several times. One was Anna, who prophesied to men and women alike that the Christ child had finally come. She was led by the Holy Spirit to speak about Jesus “to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). The masculine gender of the signifiers that described her intended audience suggest that Anna prophesied to both men and women.
