CHAPTER 4. THE EARLY CHURCH WAS GUIDED BY CHRIST INTO BODY MINISTRY.

The Church is described as Christ's building and temple, Eph.2v21.; as Christ's beloved bride and wife, Eph.5v22,23. Rev.19v6,7. 21v2,9. 22v17.; as Christ's household. Eph.2v19. Gal.4v10. 1Tim.3v14. Heb.3v5. However, here I want to consider the Church as Christ's body. 1Cor.12v11-31. Rom.12v3-5. Eph.4v7-11. Christ desires all the members of His Church, from apostles to young converts, to act together as a body under His guidance. Under the inspiration of Christ every member has something to contribute to the spiritual ministry of the Church, this is what we mean by body ministry.

1. BODY MINISTRY TOOK PLACE IN FELLOWSHIP, WORSHIP, EVANGELISM AND MINISTRY.

Body ministry involves the participation of all believers in fellowship, worship, evangelism and ministry. There was no division between clergy and laity in the early Church, all believers are priests. 1Pet.2v5. Rev.1v6. Every child of God has the right to minister what they receive from God. "Everyone hath,"---"ye may all prophesy one by one." 1Cor.14v26,31. Paul said that the Corinthians had the right idea in desiring body ministry, but they selfishly wanted to do everything, and did not make way for other people's ministries. Paul said we need a Holy-Spirit co-ordinated body ministry, not all-ministry. All rights in the Church spring from Christ; the Quaker principle is correct, members have the right to minister only as Christ directs. The prophets and pastor-teachers in the local church should only act under the inspiration of Christ, like the rest of the believers. This is spiritually much more demanding than a program. It also demands real humility and gentleness in the pastor-elders, who may have to call a halt to unprofitable ministry, or correct wrong teaching and fanaticism.

In many churches, Christians are judged to be faithful and true by their ministers, if they sit passively in their church pews for years. Paul did not teach this kind of spiritual decadence, he certainly did not want Christians to be passive listeners, or "none-speaking babes," he desired them to develop ministries and grow spiritually. Eph.4v11-15. This shows the importance of having a fellowship meeting where Christians can develop their gifting and ministries. Paul taught that in these fellowships there was to be a real participation of all the local church members in body ministry. Today, many Christians fear body ministry, because of the demands that it will make upon them. Others feel that young Christians will make mistakes, and will not be as presentable to the world as a polished well-spoken minister. However, unless "everyone has" something from Jesus in our fellowships, they are not genuine New Testament church fellowships. Some modern Christians, who go regularly to church services, have never been to a New Testament fellowship meeting at all. In most churches a "minister" has replaced Christ-directed body ministry, and this has kept multitudes of Christians in spiritual infancy and immaturity.

The Greek word "kerusso," "to proclaim as a herald," obviously implies that there was a place for an uninterrupted discourse in preaching, teaching, and evangelism in the early Church. However, in both evangelistic and fellowship meetings, the more usual pattern was dialogue, discussion, reasoning, and question and answer in an informal conversational manner. There was far more participation and discussion in Paul's preaching hall, than there is in today's church services. "Dialogue," "dialegomai," is used in Acts.17v2,17. 18v4,19. 19v8,9. 20v7,9. 24v12,25.. "Peitho," to persuade, occurs in Acts.28v23,24., in connection with Paul's evangelism. "Suzeteo," to reason, is used of Paul's and Stephen's irresistible Scripture reasoning with those who opposed them. The arguments of these great Christians was unanswerable, so their opponents murdered Stephen, and planned to murder Paul. Acts.6v9,10. 9v29,30. Modern Christianity has cramped and straightened even the Gospel mission to a formal service, which it certainly was not in the early Church.

2. BODY MINISTRY ENCOURAGES AND DEVELOPS MINISTRIES IN GOD'S FLOCK.

The Holy Spirit is the overall superintendent of the whole Church of Christ, His aim is to produce ministry in each local church. The object of the New Testament leaders, therefore, was to produce ministries in the flock by informal body ministry. Eph.4v8-14. In Eph.4v14., Paul speaks of immature believers without the ability to minister; the word he uses for "children," is "neepios," which means literally, "none-speaking ones," or "without the power of speech," its literal meaning was lost in general use, but immaturity was always associated with it. "Neepios" occurs in Mt.11v25. 21v16. Lk.10v21. Rom.2v20. 1Cor.3v1. 13v11. Gal.4v1,3. Eph.4v14. Heb.5v13. Paul says in Eph.4v14., that those who remain children, and do not grow and minister, are at the mercy of false teachers, who though seeming to play the game, are really using loaded dice and trickery. "By the sleigh," is "en tei kubia," which means literally, "in the throw of a dice." By craft and trickery is "panourgia," and methodical deceit is "methodia." Crafty false teachers can fool God's babies as easily as a conjurer or trickster can deceive a young child. Paul's statement has been proved true again and again by the way that false cults have deceived many Christians, because they have been kept in doctrinal and spiritual infancy by the churches which they have attended.

We read in Heb.5v13,14., that the Hebrew Christians had been converted long enough to have grown into able teachers of God's Word, but most of them were still immature non-speaking babies, when they should have grown to maturity. Christians who are mature ("teleios," 5046, full grown, perfect), have "by constant use" ("hexis," 1838, habit), had their senses "exercised" ("gumnazo," to exercise vigorously) and are "able to discern ("diakrisis," 1253, judge thoroughly) between "good" ("kalos," 2570, properly beautiful, but also that which is good, virtuous, valuable and precious.) and "evil" ("kakos," 2556, worthless, depraved, injurious, pernicious, evil). Elders are to bring their flocks to maturity as soon as possible, this involves giving them moral example, doctrinal stability through correct teaching, and leading them into an experience of spiritual gifts. Elders are to make sure that the doctrine and experience of their charges is sound and healthy, "hugiaino." 1Tim.1v10. 6v3. 2Tim.1v13. 4v3. Titus.1v9,13. 2v1,2. The maturity of their flocks is the test of an elder's ministry.

Many Christians have been kept in spiritual infancy by their religious leaders for decades, and are "none speaking ones," they have been taught only to listen, and have not developed any ministries. This is very dangerous for the Christians concerned, and disastrous for the effectiveness of the Christian witness. Ministers who keep their members in spiritual immaturity, and don't allow God's babies to grow, frustrate God's longing desire for the spiritual and doctrinal growth of His children. Those who thwart the spiritual growth of God's children in this way, certainly cannot expect a, "Well done," when they meet Jesus. God gives a ministry of some kind to every Christian, but if people are not given a chance to develop their ministries, they will wither and die, instead of grow and develop. Happy, indeed, is the Christian fellowship, or church, that allows the Holy Spirit to give and develop ministries, it can be a veritable heaven upon earth.

Christians are stultified by passivity and formality in one-man ministry meetings. However, in the freedom of informal meetings, with sympathetic friends we know, love and trust, there is far less stress and strain, and we feel much more at ease and are less likely to be nervous, and we know that our friends don't mind if we do stutter, stammer or hesitate. The informality, sympathy and friendliness, enable and encourage even the most timid to discuss God's Word and manifest spiritual gifts. Informal, body ministry meetings bring greater interest, absorption and increase in Scripture knowledge. Christians can learn far more by dialogue and discussion, than they can by passively listening to one speaker, and if they get something from God's Word for themselves and minister it to others, it will mean far more to them than if they are just a passive listener. In Luke.11v5-13., Jesus said that God will abundantly bless with the Holy Spirit, those who earnestly seek Him for "bread for others." This determined seeking of God for something for others, brings greater dependence upon the Holy Spirit, which automatically brings greater movings of the Holy Spirit. In 1Cor.14v23-25., Paul says that the revelation of the secrets of peoples hearts will make them acknowledge that God is in the midst. This shows that we can manifest the same gifts that Jesus manifested when the Samaritan woman had the secrets of her life revealed by Jesus. This brought about her salvation and brought revival among the despised Samaritans, this can happen today, when we submit to the leadings and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I have found that informal meetings have a really beneficial effect upon children. When children associate Christianity with formal, dead services, they grow up not wanting it. However, when they see the liberty, freedom, fellowship, love and joy in genuine Christian meetings, and feel the presence of God, and see His acts and manifestations, they desire and enjoy Christian experience.

3. INFORMAL BODY MINISTRY MEETS DEEP SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN THE CHURCH.

There are important ministries of the Holy Spirit that rarely take place in many churches; such as the healing of memories and hurts, and a release from burdens and worries, by the gift of faith. This is not a kind of Christian psychology, which under the guise of spirituality is really an invasion into people's privacy. It is a sin to resurrect and demand the details of people's past sins and lives, they are buried with Jesus. Woe betide anyone who digs up what God has buried. Rom.6v1-4. The Christian who operates God's power and revelation gifts, often never needs to know what that need is; there is often simply the revelation of a burden and need, and the knowledge when God has met that need. The Holy Spirit is a perfect gentleman, He does not want to parade people's innermost secrets and problems before all. He will only show us specific needs, if He thinks that it is absolutely necessary, and many times this information will only be for the person praying to know, and it should not be spoken out to others. Many of the Holy Spirit's revelations are for secret prayer, not public utterance. It is also often very wise and necessary to seek God for the lifting of people's hurts and burdens without them even knowing it, or openly praying for them, just as our Lord did for people in need when He attended the synagogue services at Nazareth.

I have found, through over 50 years experience, that people come into formal meetings with burdens and time after time go out with the same burdens. Christians just don't get to know one another, or each others needs in formal meetings. In an informal meeting, or in a time of prayer after a formal meeting, these burdens can be met by the power and revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit. Formal meetings can have a definite place, but they need to be followed by informal fellowship and ministry, if we are to meet people's needs and experience the fullness of God's blessing.

4. INFORMAL BODY MINISTRY PRODUCES A REMARKABLE FELLOWSHIP OF "AGAPE" LOVE.

Body ministry makes Christians depend on one another instead of themselves, and this is not only a real antidote to pride, it also produces real love between Christians. 1Cor.12v20-26. Jn.13v35. We are to learn from, and help each other. 1Thes.2v4-9. In genuine body ministry, there is an exercise of mind over doctrine, and controlled emotion in worship and praise. There is also an exercise of spirit in contact with God and in ministry to others, and a remarkable fellowship of love between Christians and their God. It is this contact with God and love for each other that gives life to our doctrine and worship. Jesus said that we must worship God in spirit and in truth, and this involves loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jn.4v24. 13v35. Those who have experienced this remarkable love and fellowship of spirit with other Christians, know what Christ meant when He said, "I pray that they may be one, as we are one." Jn.17v20-22. When Christ ministers through the local church as a body, there develops a remarkable fellowship of saints, which is as real as their fellowship with God. It is this deep ministry of the Holy Spirit and real fellowship in Christ, that creates and constitutes the liberty Paul speaks of in 2Cor.3v17,18.. Freedom and liberty in the spirit, does not consist in the repetition of twenty lively choruses again and again, this can be the worst form of bondage, if it is not led by the Holy Spirit. True liberty comes from a God anointed worship, and a love impregnated body ministry, which produces real fellowship and friendship in Christ.

In many modern churches there is no fellowship of the saints, Christians just don't get to know one another. In the early Church there was the atmosphere of love and friendship, which enabled Christians, not only to share their blessings, but their burdens too. They could talk of their deep problems, and even their sins, knowing that they would be lovingly and thoughtfully prayed with, until their spiritual and physical needs were met through the power and love of Christ. James.5v14-20. When Jesus is in control, a friendship, fellowship and tender burden-bearing, can take place in an informal house fellowship, that can never take place in formal church meetings.

We can have fellowship without membership and membership without fellowship. Many Christians are looking to the wrong "ship" for blessing. In many churches fellowship takes place in loving conversations after the services, but often there is little or no fellowship during the services. This is certainly not a New Testament Christian fellowship, where all were of "one accord," "one soul" and "one mind." It says in Acts.4v32., "There was one heart and soul in the multitude of those who believed." This shows that there can be a real unity in a multitude of Christians, and Christians should gather together in these large groups for teaching and fellowship, but they should also break up into separate small meetings for closer fellowship and body ministry participation. Where numbers get large, there can, of necessity, only be a limited number of people taking part. This is why John Wesley divided a church into a number of class meetings, and limited the size of these class meetings. This deep and loving fellowship of saints with God and each other, will preserve us from backsliding in these evil last days. Heb.10v24,25.

The depth and beauty of true Christian fellowship can be seen in Phil.2v1., Paul speaks of "consolation in Christ," "parakleesis;" and "comfort of love," "paramuthion;" and "bowels of compassions," "tis splagchna," tender higher emotions; and "mercies," "oiktirmoi," pities. All these beautiful, heavenly emotions, spring from a "fellowship of the spirit," "koinonia," a partnership and sharing of the common fountain of their life in God. "Koinonia," means a common sharing, communion, joint participation and fellowship, occurs in Acts.2v42. Rom.15v26. 1Cor.1v9. 10v16. 2Cor.6v14. 8v4. 9v13. 13v14. Gal.2v9. Eph.3v9. Phil.1v5. 2v1. 3v10. Philemon.v6. Heb.13v16. 1Jn.1v3,6,7.

In Phil.2v2., Paul speaks of Christians being "one in soul," "sunpsuchoi;" and "of one mind," "to hen phronountes," we are to have harmony of desires and feelings, and unity of thought. The book of Acts is full of this unity; when Christian's enemies are of one accord, Acts.7v57. 18v12. 19v29., Christians certainly need to be united and of "one accord." See Acts.1v14. 2v1,46. 4v24. 5v12. 15v25. Rom.15v6., in every case the word is "homothumadon." See Acts.8v6. 12v20.

The early church at Jerusalem experienced a glorious unity, fellowship and love, and a joint participation in the Holy Spirit's ministries. It is true that Satan tried to spoil this unity, and succeeded in many churches, but in Acts.2 and 4. we certainly see this lovely fellowship in Christ. The fruit and influence of the Holy Spirit is love, and where He is in control, there is entreaty, tender consolation, tender higher emotion and pity, and a real sharing, trusting and binding together in Christ.

5. BODY MINISTRY EVEN TOOK PLACE IN NEWLY FORMED CHURCHES.

Infant churches depended upon their founders for the majority of their teaching and spiritual guidance, however, they were also encouraged to exercise body ministry. 1Cor.12v4-31. Indeed, body ministry participation in teaching was a normal part of synagogue services, so the Jews would be used to this. The Jewish synagogues were more conformed to the New Testament pattern of body ministry, than most of today's churches. Modern ministers would die of shock if their sermon was interrupted by a question, or their statement challenged, or someone else asked permission to comment or give a contribution, yet this was the normal procedure of the synagogue and early Church. The Jewish converts in Paul's churches already had a good knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, and already knew how to practice body ministry in relation to teaching, they just had to learn and practice body ministry in relation to spiritual gifts. The Jews in Paul's churches, knew the Old Testament Scriptures very well, but it was not just a question of learning the doctrines and teaching of the New Covenant, it was also essential for them to experience the powers of the age to come. It was not just a question of theology, but of spiritual dynamic as well. The rapid spiritual development of the churches through body ministry enabled Paul to appoint elders within two or three years of churches being founded.

Unlike Paul, many Christian leaders today, resent rather than encourage developing ministries in their churches, however, to keep God's children in an infantile state is a serious sin, for it frustrates God's purposes and ministrations. When ministries are not allowed to function, or are suppressed, there are only two alternatives, frustration or separation. The early Church members developed rapidly in spiritual strength in the informal meetings in believers homes, they got to know each other well, and shared each others burdens and joys.

6. BODY MINISTRY TOOK PLACE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER.

We see in 1Cor.11v21 to 14v31., what actually happened at a New Testament communion service, it consisted of spiritual ministry plus spiritual gifts. The Lord's supper was part of the fellowship that took place in the body ministry of the local church.

a. The Lord's supper nearly always took place in a home.

The insistence that the Lord's supper should only take place in a church building under the control of a paid minister, is quite unscriptural. For well over 250 years, the Romans did not allow Christians to own church property, they met in homes, catacombs, the open air, or hired buildings. With so many believers in the churches, Christians had to celebrate the Lord's supper in many homes, and this they did. Acts.2v46. When our Lord instituted the communion service, He did so in a private house, and with close friends. Church leaders usually object taking place in homes, because they desire to uphold their power structure, and to have things firmly under their control. It was for this reason that the religious leaders of our Lord's day persecuted Jesus and His Church. Love is content to see others blessed and rejoices to see God's Word fulfilled. How often has clerical tyranny disguised itself as zeal for God and righteous indignation. We can celebrate communion and remember our Lord's death, whenever, or wheresoever it is desirable, in a church building, a home or in the open air. Only two or three believers are necessary, and any believer can administer and partake of the Lord's Supper.

b. The Lord's supper had the divine order of informality and spirituality.

The Passover feast was a family occasion, a social event, as well as a spiritual event, there was the divine order of informality and spirituality. The Lord's Supper was also an informal occasion, part of a Christians social fellowship with other Christians, part of an ordinary simple meal, and after a family meal, it was naturally supernatural. God intends Christians to ENJOY spiritual fellowship together, not to be formal, distant and restrained with each other. Notice the sweet, conversational, natural, informal nature of the Lord's last supper. We see the conversation between Christ and John, Christ and Peter, Christ and Judas, Peter and John, and separate conversations between other disciples. Jesus gave informal teaching, prophetic insights from the Scriptures, and prophetic warnings of His death and betrayal, mixed with encouraging promises, sublime praying, and a telling practical lesson in humility, when He washed their feet.

It is a striking fact that the early Church linked the Lord's supper and Christian fellowship with social fellowship. Their Christian fellowship was also a glorious free informal Holy Spirit anointed social fellowship, "And day by day continuing with one mind in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart." Acts.2v46. 1Cor.11v20,21,32-34. The idea that we should fast before taking the Lord's supper has no Scriptural basis, Jesus instituted it, "as they were eating in the Passover night." Mt.26v26. The whole aim of the Lord's supper in the early Church was not just listening, but the development of ministry and spirituality through sharing fellowship and experience in a conversational manner. The joy of the Lord that makes us strong is developed in this environment. Neh.8v10.

In many churches Christians gather for the Lord's supper, but there is little communion or fellowship of the saints. I am not saying that the formal communion services are wrong, or that Christians are not remembering their Lord's death, they certainly are. I am saying that if there is no informal, conversational sharing of experience and loving ministry to one another, we have not reached the New Testament ideal of a communion service. There can be no communion, where there is disagreement and division; deep love, trust and fellowship was the New Testament basis of fellowship. 1Cor.10v17. Mt.5v23,24. Paul warned the Galatians that if they did not walk in love to each other they would bite and devour one another. Gal.5v13-16. Fellowship is based on mutual love for each other. We are one body, united by one spirit, having one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one Father. Eph.4v1-6. Rom.8v9.

We see from Acts.20v7-12., that hours of fellowship, instruction and talk could take place both before and after the Lord's supper. There was prolonged informal fellowship, discussion, teaching and worship, as there was at the actual Last Supper. It is a sign of spiritual inertia and weakness, when a great deal of time is given to singing, and there is hardly any teaching and discussion of the Scriptures. At the actual last supper we only read of one hymn being sung, this obviously is not the rule, for we read in Eph.5v18,19., of Christians thanking God and admonishing one another in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." We read in Col.3v16., that these songs are to be based on the Scriptures, like the marvellous hymns of the Wesley's, their content being full of glorious doctrinal and experimental Christian truth. Beautiful church music may be elevating, but without the blessing of God it can degenerate to the level of mere entertainment. Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs are indeed very blessed, when we are filled with the spirit, and make melody in our hearts to the Lord.

c. The Lord's supper took place at any time, any number of times a week, anywhere, and by any believer.

The Lord's supper was instituted, not on the first day of the week, but on a week night, as a supper. We read in Acts.20v7., that Christians gathered on that occasion on the first day of the week, however, this is not the only day, for the Lord's supper can be celebrated on any day. Though the Passover meal was a supper, it does not mean that the communion service should only take place in the evening, for Acts.2v46., indicates that it can take place at any time during the day, though evening was probably the best time for most believers. The Passover feast was administered by the head of the house, however, all Christians are kings and priests and can administer the Lord's supper. Men have replaced the simplicity, beauty, and freedom of the communion service with their own forms, and have taken much of the blessing away, however, if we follow the pattern laid down by Jesus, we shall always find blessing, and God.

7. CHRIST INSPIRED WOMEN TO TAKE PART IN BODY MINISTRY.

The New Testament tells us that women were anointed by God to participate in the worship and ministry of the Church. Indeed, the Scriptures reveal that women sometimes led in God's work. Miriam, a notable prophetess, led the women in praise and prophecy, she is given the credit with Moses and Aaron for delivering Israel from Egypt. Exod.15v20,21. Micah.6v4. Deborah was not only a prophetess, she was also the leading judge of Israel; notice that she was not made the leader of Israel by men, God appointed her, and led her to victory over overwhelming foes. Through her spiritual power, Israel had victory for 40 years. Judges.4v1-5v31. The prophetess Huldah was the spiritual giant and spiritual leader of her day, when anyone wanted to have a word from God they went to Huldah. Jeremiah was alive at this time, but when good king Josiah needed a word from God, he sent the high priest to Huldah for God's guidance, she had a superior prophetic ministry, and could get the word of the Lord far quicker than Jeremiah. (See Jer.42v7., it took ten days for Jeremiah to get the word of the Lord.) Huldah's prophecy brought about Josiah's revival. 2Kings.22v13-23v25. Anna the prophetess was the person closest to God in Israel at the time of Christ's birth, Israel's male religious leaders were spiritually dead, and were spiritual babes compared to this godly prophetess. God used Anna to minister His love and life, and to meet the needs that they missed. God can, and often does, do the very same today. Lk.2v36-38. History reveals a vast army of godly women, like David's mother, "the handmaid of the Lord;" and Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Jochebed, the mother of Moses, and many others, who have been the channels of God's love and power to their children and their generation. They changed history by their prayers and spiritual ministries. When men have grown spiritually cold and formal, it has often been left to godly praying women to rekindle the fires of revival. Men nearly always monopolise the pulpits and positions of authority, women usually take the lead in love, spirituality, prayerfulness and faith.

The Devil and misguided men have tried to squash the ministry of women by misquoting certain texts.

An examination of these verses shows that both are concerned with domestic matters.

The first Scripture is 1Cor.14v34,35., "Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; --- it is a shame for women to speak in the church." In 1Cor.14v34,35., we see that the wife had to ask their husbands at home, this was certainly not over teaching, for in the informal house meetings of the early Church there was always liberty to do this. Paul had just stated in 1Cor.11v4,5., that women could pray and prophecy in the church, and you cannot do this and be silent, and an examination of 1Cor.11v16-20., proves that Paul had been considering church practice, not private prayer. 1Cor.14v4,5,22-24,29-33. Acts.2v16-18. Paul said they must not discuss domestic matters at church fellowship meetings. Paul had said in Gal.3v28., that in Christ there is neither male or female.

The word "speak," "laleo," in 1Cor.14v34., has been translated "chatter" by some scholars, because "laleo," literally means, to chatter like a bird, to talk much, to prattle. It is true that in the New Testament the word is more used in the sense, "to talk," "to speak," but who is to say that Paul was not using it in its basic meaning, which would make very good sense in the light of the Christian fellowship gatherings in the Middle East in Paul's time. The synagogues did not possess our modern order, propriety, formality and "reverence." While the synagogues did not have the drunken, uproarious and disgraceful revelry that accompanied heathen religions; they enjoyed a real freedom and informality. The word "silence" was spoken to the restless, emotional and talkative Orientals, Greeks and Latins in Corinth, who were not used to any discipline, routine and order, not even in the informality of the synagogue meeting. In the synagogues there was a very definite informality; extempore prayers were permitted, and those who desired to read the Scriptures and make comments upon them, could do so. Anyone who was thought to express wrong teaching in prayer or preaching was immediately stopped. Acts.13v45-47. 18v6.7. Dialogue freely took place in the synagogue meeting. Acts.17v2,17. 18v4,9. 24v12,23. "dialegomai," Mt.2v34. Jude.v9.

In "A New Testament Commentary," Howley, Bruce and Ellison, state with commendable honesty, that the verb "lalein," translated as "speak" in 1Cor.14v34., is used to generally to refer to any specific kind of speaking. They say that the suggestion cannot be ruled out, that Paul is merely speaking of irregular talking, in the form of soothing or rebuking babies, shouting out a remark or query, or just plain chattering. There can be no doubt that Paul is referring to unedifying abuses of their freedom to speak, pray and prophecy in church gatherings, which Paul says is their right in 1Cor.11v5,6.. Since two or three Christians could make up a New Testament fellowship, Mt.18v20., when two or three Christian women meet and pray together, they make up a church meeting, must they be silent? of course not! The New Testament meetings were nearly always informal meetings in a home, and it was certainly not disgraceful for women to talk in this social fellowship which accompanied Christian fellowship. Satan is delighted over the restrictions that men have placed on the ministries of the Holy Spirit through God's handmaids, he knows that the Church has lost a great deal through these restrictions.

The ordinance in 1Cor.14v34., is said to be based on the law, "but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law," however, no Scripture states that a woman could not pray, prophesy or preach. In Gen.3v16., God warns women that men would ruthlessly dominate them; however, this was a warning of bad home relationships, not church practice. In Gen.3v16., God did not curse women, it is a bad translation. See Appendix. In Eph.5v21-33., Paul instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loves His Church, there is to be no bossing or hardness, there is to be the fellowship of love. In 1Pet.3v7., Peter warns that God will cut off and not listen to the prayers of a bad or inconsiderate husband. Ill-treatment of wives or women will have to be answered for on judgement day.

The second Scripture is, 1Tim.2v11., "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man," should be viewed strictly in the context of which they are spoken. In 1Tim.2v11,12., Paul is also referring to domestic matters, as the context clearly shows, for in v 13,14., Paul speaks of Eve's relation to Adam and to child-bearing. Paul said that women should not usurp a man's place, and this is certainly true in the home; however, if God gives a woman a ministry, she is not usurping a man's place, she is taking her Christ-appointed place, she is only usurping a man's place if God has given her no ministry. The trouble with the Church today, is not that women are usurping men's authority in the Church, but rather because men are usurping the God's authority over the Church, by their traditions and practices. It is true that Miriam tried to usurp Moses place and authority and suffered a very necessary chastisement from God for it. Numbers.12v1-16., However, there are far more cases in Scripture of men resisting and usurping God-appointed ministries, than there ever are of women. It is a fact that women have manifested apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, and pastor-teaching ministries. Women are ideally suited to a prophetic ministry, for God has given women a love and gentleness of spirit to care for their children and husbands, which is really the basic essential for a prophetic ministry. As Paul said, love towards others is the best and most powerful channel of spiritual gifts, and so women, who have developed love, by loving and caring, are often able to manifest the higher gifts of revelation, power and comfort, with great blessing. The women that do this are certainly not usurping men's authority, they are fulfilling the ministry that God has given to them.

Women certainly did not keep silent in the early Church, God told them to speak and minister.

Women were included in the great commission, they can proclaim the Gospel, and be used in healing the sick. Women first announced that Jesus was risen from the dead. Mt.28v5-10,18,20. Mk.16v16,17. They also spoke out in tongues in the upper room, on the day of Pentecost. Acts.1v8,12-14. Women are looked upon in the same way as men regarding worship and ministry by the apostle Paul. Gal.3v28. We read in the New Testament of women who were recommended for their spirituality and ministry. There were the women without whose help Christ's ministry could not have continued in the way that it did. Lk.8v1-4. There was godly Priscilla, helper of Apollos, she had a church in her home. Acts.18v24-26. Rom.16v3-5,19. 2Tim.4v19. We see Paul's women fellow labourers, Junia, Rom.16v6,7.; Phebe, Rom.16v1,2.; and other women. Phil.4v3. Luke was impressed by the prophetic gifts of Philip's four daughters. Acts.21v8,9. Dorcas had a spiritual as well as a practical ministry, she was loved by all for her practical godliness. Acts.9v32-42. We read of the "elect woman" of 2Jn.v1., another notable spiritual woman. Besides these there were a multitude of women who prayed, prophesied and preached, as the Hebrew of Ps.68v11. states, "The Lord gave the word, and great was the multitude of women who published it." Blessed are those who publish the good tidings of Christ's Gospel. Is.52v7. I feel that it is dishonest and hypocritical to give a woman a place in the ministry in difficult mission fields, and refuse them the same place in much easier conditions at home.

Women can make their homes a ministry, and men should co-operate with them in this. Paul said that older women should teach younger women sound doctrine and wise practice in the home. Titus.2v1-5. 1Thes.4v11. It is often better for Christian women to minister to women's needs for prayer, where this is possible, to save from criticism. It is certainly very unwise and dangerous for men to pray with women on their own, if a man does have to pray with a woman, others should be present if it is at all possible. If we practice this it will save from appearance of evil, and will in particular save young people from emotional involvement, which can injure their feelings and spiritual growth, and cause even greater problems. Women, who have children, already have a congregation in their home, and they can minister love, faith and teaching to their children, which will never leave them. I owe an incalculable debt to my own dear departed mother for her constant love, concern, and support, and the inspiration of her prophetic ministry. God has often changed history through the ministries of godly mothers, think of godly Hannah, the prophetess, the mother of Samuel; Elizabeth the prophetess, the mother of John the Baptist; godly Mary the prophetess, the mother of our Lord. 1Sam.2v1-11. Lk.2v1-16. We thank God for women, like Hannah, who have made their grief, problems and frustrations, an incentive to seek God, and as a result have blessed whole communities and nations. Mary of Bethany was the one above all others, even more than John, to minister to Jesus in His hour of need. Mary's faith, genuine affection, concerned love, and fellowship of spirit, strengthened and sustained Jesus, and her name is recorded in the Gospel for all time because of it. Lk.10v38-42. Jn.12v3-8. Mt.26v6-13. Jn.11v1,2,5,6. Godly praying women are the spiritual backbone of most churches.

There are millions of Christian women today who are winning souls, blessing saints, preaching, prophesying, teaching, comforting the needy, and labouring on very difficult mission fields, with a ministry from Christ, out of a pure love for Him and mankind. May God richly bless every one of His handmaids! God puts His Spirit upon those He commissions, and Spirit-filled women have the right to minister as God directs. Numbers.11v29. God has poured His Spirit, not only upon His menservants, but upon His handmaids as well, and given them a very definite ministry and place in His Church, therefore, those who resist women's ministry, resist God. Acts.2v15-20. Sister, obey God, not men's traditions. You must pray, prophecy, and preach as God leads and enables you, and do not allow anyone to make you bury your God-given talents, in the soil of silence.

8. BODY MINISTRY TOOK PLACE IN CHURCH DECISIONS AND CHURCH DISCIPLINE.

We have already seen under pastor-elders, how the local churches put forward those Christians who had a definite ministry from Christ, to be their pastors. We see from Acts.6v2,3., that all the Christians in Jerusalem gathered to discuss the problem of looking after poor widows, "then the apostles called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, 'Look ye out, seven men'--- and the saying pleased the multitude." There was leadership, but not exclusive leadership or exclusive authority, not even by the twelve apostles; all the believers were consulted, and they put forward the men they knew would do the job the best. It was a family matter decided by all. There seems to have been no disagreement at all in the choice of the seven deacons. This is Divine wisdom; there is nothing more divisive than clergy or councils making decisions regardless of the feelings of "the multitude of the disciples." The regular meeting in the Scandinavian Pentecostal churches, at which policy is discussed and problems ironed out, where all can take part, is an essential part of New Testament Christianity. This means that problems in the churches are not allowed to carry on without being dealt with, so undercurrents of criticism or frustration of ideas do not occur. Important decisions should not be imposed on the local churches by the leadership of the churches with a "take it or leave it" attitude, they should be tested to see if they "please the multitude" of the disciples. Acts.6v5. 15v28.

In the church at Antioch, prophets and teachers gathered for fellowship and prayer together. Acts.13v1-4. However, they were not deciding church policies, they were "ministering to the Lord," and waiting upon Him, for His blessing, guidance, and a deepening of their ministries. It was God who sent Barnabus and Paul on their apostolic mission, the church at Antioch recognised this call and stood behind them in it.

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