Acts 2:1-4, 17-18 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them… “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
About 120 people experienced the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Acts 1:14 specifically says that women were part of this regular gathering of disciples. The women received the Holy Spirit in equal measure as predicted by the prophet Joel. This also implies that they also received the same empowering gifts of the Spirit – including the speaking gifts and positions. Yet, we have often gendered the gifts of the Spirit, limiting women to feminine gifts of hospitality, helping, healing and discernment, or limiting women’s use of their gifts to other women and children. What would you say to people who would want to limit the work of the Spirit in women?
Prayer: Empowering Spirit, you have blessed the church with gifted people—both women and men. Forgive us for assuming that your distribution of gifts follows our stereotypical gender roles, and forgive us for limiting those who receive your gifts due to our narrow-mindedness. The church can only function when each part is free to do its part. For too long, we have quenched your presence when we have kept over half of the world’s population silent. Break through the wall of gender that we have constructed so that we can all be free. Amen.
Tongue on Fire 