Since February, the women of Shekinah have met every Wednesday night for a Bible study on different women of faith found in the Bible, both familiar ones and obscure ones. Tonight, we studied a rather obscure woman, Huldah, 2 Chronicles 34:22-33. When Hilkiah speaks to the prophetess Huldah, she speaks boldly proclaiming exactly what the Lord says. Although the message is an unpopular one of destruction for the cleansing and purification of Israel, she does not shy away from the truth that God has given her. In Luke 2:36-40, Anna, also a prophetess, worshiped, fasted, and prayed night and day and spoke blessing and hope over baby Jesus. Both of these women shared an intimacy with God that privileged them to hear the voice of God clearly and the boldness to speak truth.
God anointed both of these women as a prophet, to speak His truth to His people. Prophets are called to shed light on the natural and the spiritual. Prophets desire to rebuild and restore the world and people to a right relationship with God; they are incredibly sensitive to justice and cannot tolerate people in bondage. Prophets are women and men of faith, who are intimately connected to God, His truth, and His vision for His people. Whether it be a message of God’s holiness or of His forgiveness, prophets are called to speak the truth in Spirit and in love.
Too often, we believe that prophecy only happened back then, or prophecy is a spiritual gift given to some and not to others, or prophecy is abused and misused. However, through prophecy, we are moving toward a deeper relationship with God, not just relaying information. Ted Hanson defined prophecy as “God speaks; life happens.” Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit for the common good to build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:1, 31). We are commanded to prophesy over our brothers and sisters – speaking words of life, encouragement, comfort, and strengthening (1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 12:7). God thinks countless thoughts about us and He yearns to speak to us (Psalm 139:17) Jesus describes himself as the Great Shepherd and we are His sheep, and His sheep hear His voice (John 10). With the authority of Jesus Christ, we are able to hear and discern the voice of God. Therefore, we also have the responsibility and joy of speaking out the truth of God with boldness just like Huldah and Anna in their respective generations. We, His children, have a unique privilege to speak God’s words to each other.
As we minister in the Red Light districts of Baguio City, Philippines, we are prophesying over the women, who are captive in this place, subservient to their pimps and managers. We are speaking God’s love over them, telling them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139), sharing with many for the first time that God loves them and He is love (John 3:16, 1 John 3:16), proclaiming the promises of God over their lives: “Never will I leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13). We are proclaiming God’s justice, loosing the strongholds that have held them, speaking truth to replace the lies they have been misled to believe, and setting their spirits free from bondage. The women of Team Shekinah will be hosting an event called RAHAB (Redemption, Anointing, Hope, Acceptance, Beauty) for GROs of multiple establishments. We are hoping to reach many for Christ, through speaking about purity, identity in Christ, and God’s love and plan for their lives. Please pray with us for God to be moving through RAHAB on Friday, April 24.
