In Acts chapter two, we read the first sermon delivered after Christ’s resurrection. Peter told the people that Jesus had been sent by God and they were the ones who killed Him; however, God had raised Jesus from the dead. Peter then wrapped up his sermon by acknowledging that Jesus (whom they had killed but God has raised) was “both Lord and Christ” Acts 2:36 (NKJ).
The effect of this sermon shows us what the appropriate response should be to the truth. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” Acts 2:37
Peter responded to the people listening to him by saying they needed to “repent” and “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” and went on to say that they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Peter further told them that the gift of the Holy Spirit was a promise given “to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” Acts 2:38-39.
Just think of how Peter’s audience must have felt. After hearing of the heinous part they played in assassinating God’s chosen One, there was nothing left to do except lay themselves at the mercy of the God against whom they had sinned. To their amazement, they then heard not only that God would forgive them, but also had already supplied them with a wonderful gift designed to help them move on from guilt to live in His glory. The obvious response followed. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” Acts 2:41.
Whenever we hear the truth of God’s word, our response should be one of instantaneous action too. In other words, when God says, “Jump,” our reaction should immediately be to start jumping as we ask, “How high?” If we hear a word and don’t know what we should do, ask the preacher or a mature Christian to lead you to the Bible’s answer. Let’s worship God today for being the illuminator and forgiver of our failures, as well as the supplier of the power to overcome them.
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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),
at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Who’s Preaching?
Ever since the Day of Pentecost spoken of in Acts chapter two, God has been dealing with His people through the organism of the Church – the Bride of Christ. On the morning of that day, God endued His followers (the 120 in the upper room) with power from on high “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:4 (NKJ). Not accidentally, representatives from all over the world—“from every nation under heaven”—were in town at that precise moment, and God used the timing and the tongues so that “everyone heard… in his own language… the wonderful works of God” Acts 2:6 and 11.
Then Peter took center stage and delivered the Church’s first sermon. Interestingly, to introduce his message, he chose to quote a passage from the book of Joel that should have immediately cleared up an issue that has plagued and even divided the Church for centuries: women preachers. The Joel passage Peter quoted says:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18, for the cross reference, see Joel 2:27-28.)

Obviously, “daughters” and “maidservants” are women. The word “prophesy” here comes from the Greek word that means not only to predict, but to speak or write by divine inspiration. So in a very real sense, a woman in tune with the Spirit of God today who has been given and is exhibiting the gift of interpretation of Scripture, can technically be known as a “prophetess.”
There is no need to shy away from the titles God has no problem conferring on His gifted children. Throughout the Old Testament, and as we now see here at the beginning of the Church age, prophetesses are mentioned unapologetically. Sadly, churches that refuse to allow women to preach are missing out on hearing the Word of God from these gifted vessels just because the mouthpiece is wearing lipstick.
This is not an argument defending women taking up the role of pastor of a church because that’s a separate issue. A woman need not be the pastor of the local church body to deliver God’s word to God’s people. However, we can look at the above-mentioned passages and others throughout Scripture that affirm the gift of prophecy being bestowed upon women. And since by definition, prophecy is a speaking gift, there should be audiences to hear the messages that are written or spoken. Let’s worship God today for being the equal-opportunity bestower of gifts that He has shown Himself to be.
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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),
at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)