The Battle is the LORD's

"Battle lines are being drawn." Are you wearing your spiritual armor? Is your sword in your hand?

There are some men in the faith who think that women should not use that part of the Ephesian 6 armor. They allow women to wear all the defensive armor, but not the one offensive piece of equipment: the Word of God. They would say that women can only quote the Bible to other women - but never in mixed company.
I'm not willing to be disarmed. The NRA can have their guns, but I want to hold onto my sword and wield it like a Samurai. 

That does not mean that I want to take a position of male leadership in the church. That does not mean I want to chop off my hair and act masculine. That does not mean I want to lead verse-by-verse Bible studies or teach a Doctrine class at seminary. What it does mean is that in my communication with everyone -- the world, the church, the devil -- I want to lift up what God has to say on every matter that comes up in any location. He just might have something to say through me.

I bow to Scripture. I see God's wisdom in putting spiritually strong Christian men in places of leadership in the church. All sword-wielding Christian women seek such leaders to serve the LORD with and follow their lead on the battlefield. In fact, they are in peril without such generals in God's army.

But some elders would rather suppress the truth in unrighteousness if it is a female speaking it. The ugly battle of the sexes in the world has come into the church. I would say to such men: "What? Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?"

The devil has pitted the men against the women in the church. There are two extremes and they both need to be shot down. Both are driven by our culture. One extreme wants female ordination and even places women as bishops in the church, a position to which no woman is called. The other extreme wants female subordination to men with unquestioning obedience. They don't allow a woman to even witness to an unsaved man. When the Bible tells believers to "submit one to another" they don't think that goes both ways.

Jesus said that His followers would not lord it over one another the way the gentiles do. But in this male/female wrestling match in the church, that is exactly what happens. The body of Christ will be splintered and powerless against the wiles of the enemy if half the LORD's army is not allowed on the field.

As long as women are muzzled in the church, the LORD's army is broken. We're in this together.

(Jackie discusses this with Susan Puzio - click here for an archive of that interview. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prophetic-news/2014/04/05/can-women-preach-the-gospel-with-jackie-alnor

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." - Eph 6:9-13

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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." - Gal 3:26-28