With Pastor Bertha Chunda

Women have been looked down by society for a milliard reason. Mostly, culture  has been used as a tool for oppressing and marginalising them. In communities where religion forms a larger base of values and norms, women have sadly been conditioned to accept that they were created lesser beings than their male counterparts.  

But a good understanding of scripture helps us to discover what women really are before God.  and His intent in creating them as female men. Let us look at a few scriptures objective pursues the point we are making.

God’s image
In Genesis 1:27 the Bibles says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created He them.

We can now establish our premise on the fact that both man and woman were created in the image of God. Upon this fact we make the conclusion that, if man is capable of acting in a way that shows God’s image, so too a woman because she is also created in the image of God.  It follows logically, therefore, a woman can reflecting God’s character and authority on earth in every area of her life.

Let us rise up women! Each one of us must walk and live in confidence.  We have the image of God and let us reflect this in our lifestyles.  It is my prayer before God that each woman should realise this fundamental fact that we are created in God’s image, just like our male counterparts, and live to fulfil that purpose and destiny for which each one of us was created.

Getting Started
We would be committing injustice if we do not tell each other the key areas of personal development and start implementing our realisation of who we are in the image and character of God. After creating both man and woman God did not stop there. In Genesis 1:28He blessed both man and woman with a variety of blessings:

“Then God blessed them, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

To be blessed means to be happy and have special joy and satisfaction. As women we are blessed of the Lord and God expects us to live a fulfilled life through Christ Jesus. In the above scripture, we see that God blesses us with the many special blessings which include:

Fruitfulness

God expects us to bear much fruit according to Galatians 5:22.  The fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control.   It is my hope that through the fruit of the Spirit, the character of ladies in the nations, and MCC in particular, will be shaped.

The desire of MCC Women of Excellence is that this fruit should be reflected in what ladies do. In order to emphasize and impart the importance of living a fruit-bearing lifestyle, our groups in the ladies ministry bear the names of each of the 8 segments of the fruit of the Spirit as listed above. As ladies continue to participate in these groups, they will be reminded of the need to bear fruit that will last in every area of their lives. Actually, the fruit of the spirit are qualities a successful leader should have. This brings out the true image and character of God to carry out our purposes.

Multiply
It is one of our strong values in MCC that ladies across the nations, from whatever religious or ethnic background, will release their expected potential in every area of their lives. The Holy Spirit makes a person successful in ministry, business, politics, and other social spheres.   No one should be stagnant! While women have a very important role of child bearing and supporting their husbands in ministries, God has also called them to a life of bearing spiritual children. Each woman is expected to participate in the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations by multiplying spiritual children too.  As each lady discovers her particular area of calling, MCC Women of Excellence will always gladly support that woman to realise her fullest God-given purpose.

Occupying
Through the presence of the Spirit filled woman, God’s presence should also be carried out and, in a positive way, felt everywhere she goes.  Our presence should provide solutions to problems. As ladies, we are supposed to touch lives of fellow ladies, communities and nations.  Through this presence, the hurting and hopeless should find comfort and hope in Jesus.

Subduing
As women created in the image and authority of God, we are to have control over every creation. Yes, that includes the devil as well since he is a mere created being though he may attempt to still our authority through deception. But we thank Jesus that he has given us the power to cast out devils and by no means shall we be hurt in the process as commissioned in Mark 16:17.

We don’t have to be intimidated! We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. He loved us even while we were still sinners as the Word of God says in Romans 8:37. No power or situation is greater than the blessings which God has given us from the beginning of creation.

Dominion
God has empowered us to have dominion over the earth and all creation.  Our empowerment was given back to us through our position in Christ Jesus.  We are created for dominance! Be it at our workplaces, areas of study, or indeed anywhere.  It does not matter what situation we are in today, we hope in God that our these circumstances will change as we cling to the truth of Christ Jesus.

Conclusion
It comes out clear in the discourse of creation that God created both men and women in His image to reflect His perfect kingdom here on earth. Whatever a man is capable of doing, a woman will be able to do. The biological difference should by no means make a woman feel less her male counterpart. This happens  as each one fulfils that purpose for which we were created.

MCC Women of Excellence will support any woman to reach their God given potential as planned from creation. Each woman has to live a complete and fulfilled life in whatever state they are in, whether married or single. God is ready to work with any woman who grasps the idea that she is created for a purpose.

It is our sincere prayer that God will help each woman to enjoy the blessings which were given to us from creation.

Arise woman, you can do it!