We've spent the week talking about ordinary women in the book of Acts who led extraordinary lives of service, hospitality, and leadership. Let me wrap up this week by telling you about a special lady in our own holiness tradition. Her name was Phoebe Palmer.
A Life Surrendered to Holiness
In the mid-1800s she began to sense God's call to holiness - to live a truly holy and consecrated life. She committed her all to God, and her life was transformed.
She became a Lydia by opening her home and starting a weekly gathering for the women in the area - and before long, men were coming too to hear her teach about holiness.
She became a Priscilla too - teaching with authority and grace about God's call to holiness. She published a very popular newspaper called Guide to Holiness and also published various books on the subject - using her abilities to serve like Dorcas.
The holiness movement began to flourish. Before long, whole denominations were forming, inspired by her service, her hospitality, her leadership.
The Legacy of Faithful Women
The Church of the Nazarene, my own tribe, is one such denomination.
Thank God that we didn't shush Phoebe Palmer! Thank God that we allowed her to serve, to create spaces for God's work, and to lead and teach.
I wouldn't be where I am now if we hadn't let this ordinary woman live that extraordinary life.
Allow me to say a big thank you to all the Dorcases who serve in God's kingdom, all the Lydias who create spaces in God's kingdom, and all the Priscillas who lead and teach in God's kingdom, and all the Phoebe Palmers who serve God with such passion.
But may we all – male or female – be people of service, hospitality, and leadership in God’s Kingdom.
The town clerk of Ephesus used his influence to calm an angry mob, though his silence came at a cost to the gospel. Ask God for wisdom today to know when to speak up boldly and when to bring calm.