So we have just finished talking about how Religion, or Man-made Traditions, although may seem Holy, and right, is not Salvation. That to have true Salvation, you must have a one on one relationship with God. Allow Him, His Word, and the Holy Spirit, to teach you all things.However, I do not want you to misunderstand, it is important to gather with fellow Children of God. I was in Columbus Ohio, spending some time with a Pastor over there named Rod Parsely. I was sanding in World Harvest Bible College Lobby, when I heard, as clear as day, "My people are a family." My response? "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Now I'm trying to pay attention here." I heard it again. "My people are a family." "Yeah I know. I get it. I understand. Now let me get back to this." One more time, "My people are a family." That was it. "OK, I'm listening. What are you trying to tell me. I mean really God. I got it. I understand that if we are all children of yours, then we are all in your family." What am I missing here?
So I started looking around the lobby. I saw people from all walks of life. Different Races, different "classes," different skills and knowledge. Different levels of compassion. All together. Then I remembered this passage from:
Luke 8
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Now we have talked quite a bit about Romans 8. It is important to fully understand what that teaches us. It is, an extremely condensed version of Salvation itself. Remember Romans 8 tells us...
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
So we are a family. Lets look at a family. You sleep with, wake with, talk with, spend time with, your family. You share your day's events, seek to help those in need of comfort, encouragement, or celebration together. God's family? One hour a week, maybe, if you feel like going to Church.
If you have a need, you have a challenge in your life, you can always turn to your family. Your Mom or Dad, can help you. Your older siblings may have already been through what you are facing. They can help you. When you are sad, they try to comfort you. When they are sad, you comfort them. If you are the oldest, YOU may be the one that others look up to. Again, God's family? One hour a week, maybe, if you feel like going to Church.
Now look at God's family. First, a building is a building. A Church is the people. You can have Church in the middle of a field. You can have Church in the middle of the street. The Church, that the Word talks about is always the people. A family.
Just like your earthly family, in God's family you have babies. Those that just heard the Truth and have allowed the Truth to set them free. They know next to nothing, and are in need of being fed, taught, ETC. You have teenagers. Those that are more knowledgeable, not yet ready to go out on their own. They can certainly help in the raising of the young. Then you have the Moms and Dads. Those that have grew up, put away childish things, and are in a position to teach, encourage, love, and guide in the way both the Teenagers and children should go. These are the elders of the Church. Of course, you have the earthly Father, who is the head of the Church. The Pastor. The one that should be guiding the rest of the family. The one that is responsible for communicating whatsoever the Spirit, Jesus, or God himself tells him.
I have faults. No doubt about it. I have a temper. No question about it. At times, I find it difficult to suffer fools. Others in the Church have far more compassion than I. Others in the Church have far more patients than I. Others in the Church have different gifts than I. I differ than them. My weaknesses are their strengths. Just like in your earthly family, we can lean on each other and strengthen each other. Learn from each other. Teach each other. In...
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.We are all different. God knows each and every one of our hearts. He knows our personalities. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows what gifts will serve His plan and purpose best. That is what we have. However, we all work together for the kingdom sake. As one family.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;In other words, be you. Don't try to be something you are not. It is really cool, to see someone with certain gifts work. You may feel "Hey that's cool. I want to do that." However, if that is not the gift YOU have, it will not work for you. "Do not convent" is not only about material things. It is also about Spiritual things. Be happy and practice whatever God has blessed you with. Work together for the Kingdom sake. Do not allow envy to creep into the Church.
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Be the family you are. What would happen if you got a phone call that one of your Siblings or Parent, were in trouble. You would drop everything and go to them. God wants you to feel the same way toward your God Family.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.Folks, THAT is one hundred percent true. When you do that, just watch. I had two occasions in my life were I was very wronged. Treated badly. I gave them to God, and found three of the most devastating and powerful words you can say to your enemy, I forgive you. And MEAN it. Both were taken care of without me, and in ways I could never do. One was publicly humiliated. The other? The enter business shut down after I left. God is good.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.No doubt about it. Worry about the Family. Let God worry about the enemy. Just do what He wants you to do. We are not all the same. We are not all equal. Even in God's family. Be you. In,,,,
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.Again realize what the Word is tell us. "According to Him. As HE will" Now Peter had the gift of Healing. He had many gifts. But one was healing. He did not even have to touch you. His SHADOW would heal you. If you had sickness or disease, and Peter walked by you, and his shadow touched you, you were healed.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Now that is cool. But if the Spirit does not impart in you that gift, you can walk around slapping people in the head all day, and the only thing you will get is a restraining order. Yeah, Peter is cool. But if that is not God's plan or purpose for you, you can not do the things that Peter did. Others worked Miracles. If that is not your gift, then you will not be able to do the same. That does not mean you are any less important than Peter. That does not mean you are any less important than the Pastor. Or any one else in the Family. Just be you.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.There is neither Jew nor Gentile, Black or White, Rich or Poor, We are all ONE in the Family of God. That alone goes against the World view of things. That goes against Religious views of things. If we are a Child of God, we are all one. It doesn't matter what you are, it matters who you are.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.Please do not think of yourself as unimportant. Please do not say to yourself, I have no gifts. I cannot heal. I can not work miracles. I have no idea what a vision or a prophecy is. I do not belong in a Church. You know, there is an old saying. "I would rather push a broom in Heaven, than rule in Hell."
You may be an Armor Bearer. A Helper. You may be a Prophet and not know it. Let the Spirit give you the gift, or gifts, HE knows you should have, and let HIM show you the way to use them. Do you cook well? Do you feed the Family? Without you, who would feed them? How would they even have the ability to go out into the field and sow, or reap. Do you like talking to people? How would others know what the Family is doing if not for you telling them? Leading them in? Remember, Jesus Himself washed the feet of His Disciples. What do you think that place would look like if someone did not keep it clean? Do you have a gift? Yet you chose not to use it because of fear of what others may say? Just be you.
There is NOTHING done in the Family of God that is unimportant or useless. No part of the Body of Christ is less important than any other. You are very important and you DO have gifts given to you by God. Pray to God His Will for you. His plan and purpose for you. Pray that He leads you to the Church you will best serve Him in. Welcome to the Family. Allow God to be God, Jesus to be Jesus, and the Spirit to be the Spirit. You? Just BE you.
Until next time. Be Blessed, and Jesus IS Lord!
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