The Battle of The Sexes!

[Adrienne Williams]

It is written, "4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 7 and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” 8 And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” 9 So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. (Judges 4:4-9 NKJV) This morning I was awakened with such a weight in my spirit concerning the division between men and women in the body of Christ. People of God, our work mandated by God to be completed in the earth realm is not to be mistaken as a "battle of the sexes." The day will come and NOW IS when men and women realize that we MUST work together and RESPECT the capacity that God has placed each of us in the body of Christ. We are many members but ONE body! I consistently encounter women (but not all) who continuously attempt to "prove" their spiritual authority, anointing, calling and positioning in the body of Christ to men when it is absolutely not necessary. And then on the other side, we have some men (not all) that are attempting to hold women in a certain dimension of captivity when it comes to functioning in ministry and serving God. People of God, this should not be! Do you not realize that when we allow ourselves to be "captured" in this area of argument we have just become entombed in a demonic system set up by the enemy? IT IS A DISTRACTION sent to keep all of us from functioning in the capacity that God would have us to function! In other words, when we are not being faithful stewards over the time God has given us by utilizing it to debate over who can do what, please be reminded that there is NOONE being added to the body of Christ, those currently in the body ARE NOT being edified and MOST IMPORTANTLY God IS NOT being glorified! I can share with you from personal experience that as an apostle (called by God), I have experienced what I am sharing with you today. God has even revealed to me recently that because of the administrative and organizational skills that HE has gifted me with, that many men (not all), that I encounter in ministry merely see me as a "paper pusher" or someone who can "get the job done." But they never see me as an apostle of God. (Just bare with me for a moment...I'm going somewhere with this!) I have also encountered the group of brothers who may verbally "acknowledge" the call of God on my life (by simply addressing me as "apostle") however, there movements when I am around them speak much differently than the words released from there mouth. Whether you know it or not, a person's movements will speakMUCH LOUDER than their words ever could. It is VERY possible for us to watch and "LISTEN" with our "EYES!" (Yes, I did say "eyes" and not "ears." But that's another whole note that I'll have to share with you all later!) At any rate, if God had not strengthened (and continues to strengthen) me as He has and if I was not resting in a place in God that grants me peace, these very things would allow me to become distracted concerning the work that God has called me to do. But because I do very well recognize my place in God as well as HIS strategic movements in placing me where I am presently, I have found peace in my walk with God! Today, I admonish you (whether male or female) to do the same. My point in this time of sharing is this....UNITY MUST COME IN THE BODY OF CHRIST! If you will pay close attention to the scripture referenced at the beginning of this note, Barak had ALREADY received instructions from the Lord to GO! However, He did not follow those instructions and Deborah was led to send for him to reiterate his instructions. Subsequently, Barak still said, "I won't go unless you go with me!" Ultimately, the scripture says that the nation was delivered over to the hand of the woman. People of God, although Sisera was sold into the hand of a woman, Barak and Deborah (man AND woman) worked TOGETHER to complete the task. Women of God, it is not necessary to prove yourself to anyone other than God. Remember, your gift WILL make room for you! However, it IS necessary for you to make your call and election sure (2 Peter 1:10 NKJV) as not to serve in a capacity in the body that has not been appointed by God. Men of God, it IS very necessary for you to walk worthy of the calling which you were called (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV) as well as promote unity among believers. As we all do this, it will promote UNITY among us all. As a result, we will all be able to advance God's plans and purposes for HIS church, the body of Christ and our lives! Grace and peace be unto you all, Apostle Adrienne Williams http://www.prophetsonline.org