
All my life, growing up in the church, I have taken on the mindset of the religious leaders who so humbly point out that " We are but dust" ! That " We are nothing"..without Him. That "Our righteousness is as filthy rags". From the pulpit it is often pointed out to us that " God doesn't need us".
Right? I mean, am I the only one who has heard these things? Am I the only one who has believed this with a false humility??
I'm 31 years old now and have certainly come a long way in my understanding of my (God's) Papa Love's heart for us. But I must say, it's because Holy Spirit has taught me, not man. I understand,now, the context in which they were speaking.... sometimes. But, to me, a pastor pointing those things out doesn't show the Father's Heart towards us. It's almost like, through their personal struggle with pride, they overcompensate by making sure everyone checks their heart and "humbles" themselves before the Lord. Even if we aren't struggling with pride, but joyfully walking with Him.
I'm very visual. When I see a pastor leading the church in an almost shaming way, but stamping it with humility, I see God hovering over us, with our heads bowed down, and His nose turned up to us.
That's Not True!!!
That mindset keeps the church, body of Christ, sick and broken. Not whole. And how can we ever expect the lost to want to be part of that? If you want to heal and be a vessel for God to express His love to the world, you're first going to have to see yourself as He does and stop identifying yourself with your sin!
We were created in the image of God!
IN CHRIST...
We are Heirs with Christ! We are the apple of His Eye! We are His Beloved! He calls us friend! We are more precious that rubies! We are Redeemed! We were given dominion! All that is His is ours! We were created purposefully! And on and on and on...!
That is how significant YOU are to HIM! You living in your fullest potential in which He created you for is necessary for His Love to be expressed to this world and for the church, His body, to function as it ought to!
I began to have a revelation. He compared the physical body to the Church.
Christ is the Head, of course. He began to show me that when we aren't careful to feed ourselves nutritiously, then we naturally throw off certain functions of the body. Either parts overcompensate or shut down completely. And if an organ, for example, isn't able to function properly, neither is the rest of the body. It may take time to notice the negative effects throughout the rest of the body, but if it continues to be ignored then ailment will begin to take over.... and likely even death.
I feel the need to point out that food isn't the only factor. God SPOKE everything into existence. Which means, at the very beginning of everything is frequency. It's actually the frequency that affects us. That said, our words affect the body. Even our thoughts. You can really make a list of things and you will be fascinated by all that affects your physical body! Of course, I can really go into this on a deeper level, but I'd rather encourage you to ask Holy Spirit to take you on that journey of revelation.
How does this mirror the church? The body of Christ. We are the church. We make up the body of Christ. Can we all agree on that truth?
We need to start encouraging others within the body to optimally function in their true identity! We need to put aside our opinions, which aren't confirmed through Christ, and appreciate everyone's unique abilities! Let's not have all who make up the " Ears" only stay with their own kind. I mean, it's an example. Just because an Ear doesn't understand a foot, that doesn't mean the foot is operating wrong and needs to be corrected. What good is it, anyway, if an Ear hears direction, but has no foot to walk it out? (God, I hope my readers understand my thought process....)
Let me wrap this up and give you a starting point of discovering a new perspective on this matter. When you find yourself talking with a fellow believer, ask God to reveal to you their function in the Body so that you can edify them to optimal health! Whether or not you understand their process. Because, honestly, you NEED them to be who they are called to be so that YOU function optimally! We aren't individual bodies, unaffected by other believers. Even the believer living across the world, whom you may not even know, affects the Body! So PRAY for the Church! And pray for revelation and strategy!
Guys, this right here is life as we should know it! If you want to see the Church whole, detox yourself and "resonate" as you were created to!
I'm truly wanting to know, what part of the physical body describes your function in the church? Ask God and leave me a comment below! I KNOW that I am part of the "nervous system", so to speak. I look forward to hearing from you!!
Much Love,
Rachel Gray