The gift of prophecy God does not distinguish based on gender. Women prophets were present in the Old Testament and the New Testament. A prophet means that someone proclaims a divine message from God. In the Old Testament, Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15-20) "Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron.... Sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the Sea!"
So to was Deborah in the Old Testament a prophetess (Judges 4:4). Deborah was a prophetess and judge and she led the children of Israel to peace for forty years by her prophesies she gave to Barak to go to battle against Sisera. Huldah was also a prophetess (2 Kings 22:14) (2 Chronicles 34:22). Huldah was sought out by King Josiah to authenticate the Book of Law. In the Old Testament Noadiah is also a female prophetess (Nehemiah 6:14). Herbert Lockyer in his book "All the Women of the Bible" (pg 41) describes prophets and prophetesses as being the media between God and his people Israel in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, Anna (Luke 2:36) was referred to as a prophetess. So to did Philip the evangelist have four daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21:3).
The gift of prophecy is one of the eight spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are differences in ministries and activities, but God works in all of these gifts (1 Corinthians 12-6). Through prophecy, the church becomes edified "But he who prophesies edifies the church"(1 14 Corinthians:3-4). Women today still can have this ministry gift although it seems to be less used today You can though open a blog online to support the church like I do and have a Divine Inspiration section like I created to edify the church and support others to with this gift or you can serve in the ministry where they do use this gift. "And God has appointed these in the church, first the apostles, second prophets, third teachers" (1 Corinthians 12 28). There are other roles we can peform in the church for both men and women like being a minister of faith, an apostle.
I think the main issue some people have today is that there was no women among the 12 disciples. Today women are supported in most church’s I would say and time has moved on somewhat and there are to women who have been called to this role of ministry and who have for centuries lived consecrated lives to like nuns praying for others and living life as intercessors. All women can be richly blessed in Holy Spirit gifts and that means that Jesus is supporting them. I have three women rectors at my Anglican church. These three women happen to be very good to at the fruits of the spirit to like love, peace and modesty. I like to highlight these as I have served in this role and to keep the history going on it and that more importantly that God has always had a space for women in ministry roles in the faith and many people do not realise this.
In Jesus’ time there were other women who turned out to be Holy women who supported the church like Joanna, Mary Magadalene, Priscilla and Phoebe.
Joanna Luke 8: 1-3 23:55 24:10
Priscilla Acts 18:2 18 26 Romans 16:3 1 Corinthians 16:19 2 Timothy 4:19
Phoebe Romans 16 1: 2
Mary Magadalene Matthew 27:56, 61, 28:1, Mark 15:40, 47; Mark 15:49, 16:1-19, Luke 8:2, 24:10; John 19:25; 20:1-18.
I am myself a non demontional Christian and just see myself as a follower of Christ. Jesus can walk with all of us and take us on our own journey.
There are all different types of feminism like liberation feminist theologies which is about gender justice for both women and men. I see myself as an egalitarian-someone who sees women and men as being equal. To take this further and to effect change they then need equalist treatment so this is put into practice in the community level. In (Galatians 3.28) says that there is no man or woman before God and that we are all equal before God.
In the book of Joel (Joel 2:28), it is written that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh in the last days.
Women clearly have had a long history serving God as prophetesses through the ages to the present day.
Embrace your ministry and faith in God as a Christian female. You are welcome.
