Raised to Raise Others
Author: Andrew Comiskey
May 15, 2023
‘The Advocate, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name—He will teach you everything…’
(Jn. 14:26)
What were they thinking?
Why did they ask me to address the women of the Kansas City Kansas Diocese at
their annual conference? ‘Just another old white guy telling women about things
he knows nothing about,’ I mused.
Chuckling, I ran through the
early dark morning before I spoke. When I turned to head home, my foot caught a
3-inch slab of concrete which flung me onto a road roughed up for repaving. A
different fall this time (I trip often with finesse): I was body slammed, got
knocked out for a moment, shattered my cell phone case and cover, and just lay
there, thinking: ‘Ok God, You want this? Raise me up.’
Limping home, I recounted little
truths the Holy Spirit had shown me over the last couple months:
--the way women are
inclined to internalize beauty in their depths as well as brokenness, the vulnerability
of being subject to masculine dishonor (Gen. 3:16).
--the way that Jesus’ deep
cleansing dissolves her ‘anchors’ of dishonor then raises her up to take cues
from Him.
--the Holy Spirit raised up
the likes of Mary Mother of God, Carol Wimber, Joanie Gulliksen, St. Catherine of Siena, Leanne Payne, St. Teresa of Avila—women
who changed everything. Why not a billion more?
--‘Andrew, talk less and
minister more in the Spirit’s power. And enlist all the women you can from Living
Waters in Kansas City to raise up new female saints.’
My talk was ok, brief and
clear, but the power that raised Jesus from the dead fell on the large crowd of
women when these luminous women of Living Waters rose from their seats to pray
for women seeking freedom from dishonor, for God’s call. Each prayer minister’s
shame had become her glory though Jesus: they were humble yet confident as they
laid hands on dozens of women for whom this type of service was rare.
The women of KCK wanted
freedom more than convention. Jesus raised them up. Holy Spirit teaches us what
to do when we are slammed down and listening. He raises us up when our goal is
not about ourselves but ‘preparing God’s people for works of service so that
the whole body might be built up…’ (Eph. 4:12)
BACK