By Francis Frangipane
(En Español)
Before
I begin this message, let me provide a short disclaimer: although I do
encourage women to move freely within the order provided by God in their
local churches, my goal is to exalt and celebrate a primary grace that
God has placed specifically within women, which the Lord Himself has
used in past times to release revival.
The Genesis Distinctions
When
the Lord created humankind, He placed unique graces in man and separate
but equally unique graces in woman. He told Adam to name the species of
life on earth "and whatever the man called a living creature, that was
its name" (Gen. 2:19). This "naming" was much more than calling the dog
"Spot." Adam was created with an organizational, administrative capacity
that enabled him to identify and define the world around him. By naming
the living things, Adam not only brought them into his consciousness,
but he introduced order and structure to the human experience. Adam did
not create the world, of course, but by defining the things God brought
to him, he helped establish reality.
Within
the genetics of this original man, there also existed the powerful, but
dormant, qualities of the woman. While Adam slept the Spirit took from
the man a rib. Fashioning it into a woman, the Lord created for Adam a
companion. Not only was she suitable for him, but she powerfully
expanded man's creative capacities. Indeed, the woman brought many new
graces into Adam's world that did not formerly exist---the foremost of
which was the power to conceive and give birth.
It is
important to remember: God created male and female in His image,
according to His likeness (Gen 1:26). Of course, in certain ways, both
Adam and Eve as individuals possessed reflections of the divine nature.
They each could think, speak, dream and create. However, it was in the union
of Adam and Eve, in their mutual respect of one another's strengths and
graces, that mankind would possess a more perfect expression of the
fuller nature of God.
As Adam beheld this first
female, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Gen 2:23).
The term woman was a delineation used by Adam, identifying her
as a unique variation in the species of man. My wife says, "Think of her
as the upgrade." In some ways, she is right, for the nature of the
woman was twice refined. Adam was created of earth; the woman emerged
not from the earth but from the man. She is both more complex and
emotionally sophisticated.
Soon Adam began to
understand the greatest power of his counterpart: her ability to
conceive and bring life into the world. Recognizing this quality, Adam
named her Eve, which meant "life." Eve would play an integral
part in the unfolding of life's new beginnings. "She was the mother of
all the living" (Gen. 3:20).
The Power of a Woman's Prayer
The
Lord gave Adam a primary ability to name and establish reality; He gave
to woman the unique capacity to conceive and then birth reality. The
primary strength of each gender is that man establishes, woman births.
Remember, these qualities are not merely "human": they are reflections
of the divine. Man's ability to bring order to one's world, to take what
was random and give it definition and structure, is a divine facility.
Woman's ability to conceive and incubate life, and then deliver life
through birth, is also an aspect of the divine nature.
Note
also that Adam named the woman Eve (or "Life") before they had
children. God gave the woman an ability not just to have babies but to
release life in a variety of its expressions. In fact, one translation says that Eve
means to "enliven." Alone, Adam had been downcast; it was not good that
Adam was alone. Eve enlivened Adam in ways no other creature on earth
could. Adam could build a house; Eve made it a home. When Adam named Eve
"Life," he was not only speaking prophetically of the first mother, but
he was speaking out of his own experience: Eve brought life into the
structure of Adam's world.
We are speaking in
generalities here, but when we observe the spiritual realm, we see this
same divine encoding replicated in the ministries of men and women.
Jesus laid the foundation of the church with twelve men whom He called
to be apostles. This didn't mean there would never be women in
leadership, but that one of the better skills given man from God was the
ability to bring order and structure. By the same token, prior to
Christ's birth we find Anna, a prophetess, engaged in much prayer and
fasting. In my opinion, it is quite possible that this woman was not
alone in her intercession, but the leader of a prophetic prayer ministry
that lived in anticipation of her times. Women excel in intercession,
in spiritual sensitivity and the release of new beginnings. Note: this
does not excuse men from prayer! Actually, some of the Bible's best
examples of intercessors are men! We are speaking in generalities in
reference to the spiritual tendencies of both genders. Neither
distinction is more important than the other. Both are absolutely vital
for the unfolding of God's will upon the earth.
Today,
we are fighting the advance of Satan in many arenas. Whether the topic
is wars and terrorist attacks or the ever-increasing expansion of
iniquity in our world, we need revival. To possess a national awakening,
the "birthing" power God has placed in women must be released. All the
efforts of man to establish laws and govern righteously will not truly
transform our culture. We need something greater; we need the presence
of God poured out. I believe the Holy Spirit is raising up a prayer army
of women who are rising in power on behalf of their families and
nations.
My Mother's Prayers
I personally
know the power of a woman's prayer---my mother. In the late sixties, I
was a very lost young man living in sin and rebellion. Judging from my
appearance, I looked hopeless. Yet in spite of my outward condition, my
dear Catholic mother stood before God for me. Resist as I did, divine
power, uniquely born of her prayers, began to hunt me down. Her cries
were relentless and unceasing; often she would pray through the night
for me. She was pregnant with prayer for her son. In 1970 God finally
answered, and during the Jesus Movement revival, I came to Christ.
Years
later I asked the Lord about this revival. As you may know, it has been
part of my assignment to help engender citywide unity and establish
prayer, things that precede revival. Yet, to my knowledge, no citywide
unity or organized prayer fueled the Jesus Movement. So I asked the Lord
how revival could occur without a prayer movement at its source. The
Lord quickly corrected me, saying that there was a great prayer
movement: He had heard the prayers of a million praying mothers, each crying to Him for their children.
From
all denominations, in a "unity of desperation," God heard the cries of
believing mothers. His heart was touched, and as a result, multitudes of
sinful kids found repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ. This is the
army God desires to release again today, but now with more vision, more
power from the Holy Spirit, and with the support of men as well!
Women
of God, the fact is, Heaven needs you! You have been created by the
Almighty to birth breakthroughs on planet Earth! God has uniquely
designed you with a latent ability to release life through your
intercession. Together with you, we men can build and establish, and we
are learning to pray, but you have a special grace to release new
spiritual beginnings. Whether your prayer focus is for your husband or
church leadership, whether you are interceding for your children, city
or nation, you possess in your spirit the seed-realities that, through
prayer, can release God's life into the world.
Yes,
indeed, there is a battle; there still exists "enmity between [the
serpent] and the woman" (Gen. 3:15). Satan especially hates you because
it was your seed that bruised the serpent's head. It is amazing to me
that God chose to bring His Son into the world, not through the heavens
nor even through a woman impregnated by man, but through a woman made
pregnant by God! God Himself came to earth through the woman's power to give birth!
Today
the Lord is giving women a new grace, a new confidence against the
powers of hell. Out of their oneness with Christ, these godly women will
prayer-birth powerful ministries on earth, both male and female. They
will release new beginnings to the body of Christ.
I
also want to commend and personally thank the many women's ministries
and prayer groups that have stood with me, interceding for my life, my
family and my ministry. Many, many times I have suddenly experienced
divine protection or unexpected spiritual breakthroughs. When I
questioned the Lord, He's said, I'm answering the prayers of [such-and-such] ministry. To
each of you, I say a special thank-you. In a unique way, you have been a
mother to me. May the Lord multiply His grace toward you and give you
the desires of your hearts!
Finally, Revelation 12
speaks of a "woman clothed with the sun." This word is not only talking
about Israel or the church. It also reveals how the Most High sees
spiritual women: They are honored and crowned with distinction; pure and
clothed with the glory of God. With confidence, they tread upon the
powers of night. Dear army of praying women, it is your inherent destiny
to birth that which shall rule the nations.
Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, "This Day We Fight" available at www.arrowbookstore.com.
