The students who attended our college group gathered as usual on a Thursday night, but for a different reason. This time, they would be receiving personal words from the Lord as our prophetic team ministered to them. A few of us shared what we sensed God wanted to say to one young man who was clearly a man of integrity. The messages which the Holy Spirit gave the team for him were personal, specific, and highly commending of his character. However, "Chandler" held a cessationist view (the belief supernatural gifts like prophecy ceased after the canon of Scripture was Continue Reading
What Shall We Make of Paul’s Teachings on Head Coverings? (Part 1)
Did you know only a handful of Scripture passages can be used to argue against the full inclusion of women in ministry leadership—and all of them are disputed by scholars? The first one we’ll examine is a mysterious passage about head coverings. Some Christians believe 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 affirms male headship as grounded in the created order rather than a changeable principle dependent on circumstance.[i] They believe it teaches male headship and women’s subordination as a timeless principle.[ii] They think Paul wanted women who prayed and prophesied publicly to dress in a manner Continue Reading
How the Myth of a “Jezebel Spirit” Hurts Women
It’s making the rounds on social media again. If you’ve been around Charismatic/Pentecostal circles long enough, you’ve no doubt heard of an evil spiritual entity called the "Jezebel spirit.” Stories circulate about the damage this demon has done to churches and individuals. Numerous books and sermons pontificate about it. Formerly disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll rebuked what he called the "Jezebel spirit" at a recent men's conference. Not coincidentally, Driscoll is marketing a book on the topic. The notion of a Jezebel spirit has circulated for decades. It began as a means for Continue Reading
How Prophetic Gatherings Offer Insight and Guidance for Followers of Christ
Years ago, my husband Scott and I flew to a city fifteen hundred miles from home to experience a special prophetic gathering for the first time. Three people recognized as prophets would be ministering to the candidates chosen by the pastor and elders of the church. All of us had prepared with prayer and fasting. I approached the platform nervously, Scott at my side. We took our seats facing the rest of the congregation. The prophets stood to the side of the platform. As the Holy Spirit prompted them, they took turns sharing what God was giving them, mic in hand. I’d resisted the Continue Reading