Rom: 12:5-8 So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. Yet, there are only very few churches that are operating these gifts mentioned above as per the scripture. What has happened to the churches? Why aren’t the churches growing? What is missing along the process of growth that is leaving our churches stagnant like a child whose growth has been affected?
As we look into these matters and construct a study we can identify that there is a discipline and craftsmanship to this process, that develops gifts which helps in the construction of the churches.
Today we can find only weak & struggling churches which function as the same features of a unhealthy person. The gifts were given in order to build the church or the body of Christ, not for self glorification. One of our dear Pastors once said “It is not necessary for a person with gifts to have an office, but it is very essential for every administrator that is in office to have the gift”. Some has become Pastors & shepherds without the gift of Pastorship. Some prophesy through there own understanding. The best way to discover what you have within you is to work under a person with the similar gift. For example, one can not simply follow his feelings but has to be initiated into a highly specialized skill like brain surgery or sculpting or spirituality, allowing them self and learning under the oversight of skilled practitioners.
I have a dear friend who was thinking about giving up on the church. Things did not seem to be getting any better where he was. Who needs the hassle, right? From his personal experience, he was dismayed over the disunity among people who claimed to be children of God. One person takes offense at what another says. There is periodic grumbling that seems to break out in every church. And there’s the isolation of whole congregations and even groups of churches from one another — complete with angry challenges, caustic remarks, questioning of motives, and judgments.
Oh, and there was the matter of hypocrites that bothered him. Where do they come from? People who say one thing and do another, people who pretend to be something they are not. People whose Sunday behavior speaks of pious devotion to God but whose weekday conduct is that of a reprobate. It confused him and angered him that he was always running into such folks. Maybe the worst thing for him was the sense of betrayal he was experiencing. On top of all these grievances, there were doctrinal issues that kept cropping up around him. Is the gospel that hard to grasp? Can’t people understand the difference between its core truth and their personal interpretations and hang-ups? They kept fighting over such petty things. All the while, the world around them was going to hell in a hand basket! So he was thinking about just giving up on the church.
You and I have known very closely some people like my friend who rejected the church for these very things. And it has been hard for us to be very critical of them, for we’ve all had our moments of discouragement that bordered on despair. However, have you and I ever given a thought about the body of Christ or even taking a human body in consideration. If the hand or a leg decides not to carry out its function what will be our condition. In the similar manner if we as a part of the body of our Christ decide not to do our functions and decide to leave or fall out, how will our churches grow and function properly. God has given us his Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit in order for the church to function well by severing one another. When they are exercised in the proper manner by a child of God it will help the body of Christ to grow in a healthy and nourished fashion.
On the other hand, if you are new to a church and you find that the work that God entrusted you with in your past church is being done by someone else in the new church, help them, encourage them if that is the will of God but do not distract, blaspheme, nor go and prove yourself that you are more experienced. Do not go to prove that your thought or your ways are better than the one who is currently and faithfully doing his part. This is a very cause of disputes my dear brothers and sister now a days among believers. Ask God to employ you in his kingdom where you belong, because if your talents and energy is not put in the right place where God wants it to be, there will definitely be a dispute and a heart of dissatisfaction with in you. But remember one thing God will pour out a new gift upon you other than the one that exists which will employ you in that local body.
So in conclusion, one has to seriously look into his own self and make a strong confession, and should understand that the church has been called with a vision of one body to serve one another in love and servant hood. As Christ expects his body, the church to be dynamic, not to be lukewarm, nor to get deceived by the words of the devil and stop operating there individual gifts.
And Oh yes, by the way I never told you what my friend decided about the church. What did my friend decide? Did he give up on the church? No, he didn’t and I know that you will be pleased to know that he didn’t. He went to Calvary and died for it.
As we look into these matters and construct a study we can identify that there is a discipline and craftsmanship to this process, that develops gifts which helps in the construction of the churches.
Today we can find only weak & struggling churches which function as the same features of a unhealthy person. The gifts were given in order to build the church or the body of Christ, not for self glorification. One of our dear Pastors once said “It is not necessary for a person with gifts to have an office, but it is very essential for every administrator that is in office to have the gift”. Some has become Pastors & shepherds without the gift of Pastorship. Some prophesy through there own understanding. The best way to discover what you have within you is to work under a person with the similar gift. For example, one can not simply follow his feelings but has to be initiated into a highly specialized skill like brain surgery or sculpting or spirituality, allowing them self and learning under the oversight of skilled practitioners.
I have a dear friend who was thinking about giving up on the church. Things did not seem to be getting any better where he was. Who needs the hassle, right? From his personal experience, he was dismayed over the disunity among people who claimed to be children of God. One person takes offense at what another says. There is periodic grumbling that seems to break out in every church. And there’s the isolation of whole congregations and even groups of churches from one another — complete with angry challenges, caustic remarks, questioning of motives, and judgments.
Oh, and there was the matter of hypocrites that bothered him. Where do they come from? People who say one thing and do another, people who pretend to be something they are not. People whose Sunday behavior speaks of pious devotion to God but whose weekday conduct is that of a reprobate. It confused him and angered him that he was always running into such folks. Maybe the worst thing for him was the sense of betrayal he was experiencing. On top of all these grievances, there were doctrinal issues that kept cropping up around him. Is the gospel that hard to grasp? Can’t people understand the difference between its core truth and their personal interpretations and hang-ups? They kept fighting over such petty things. All the while, the world around them was going to hell in a hand basket! So he was thinking about just giving up on the church.
You and I have known very closely some people like my friend who rejected the church for these very things. And it has been hard for us to be very critical of them, for we’ve all had our moments of discouragement that bordered on despair. However, have you and I ever given a thought about the body of Christ or even taking a human body in consideration. If the hand or a leg decides not to carry out its function what will be our condition. In the similar manner if we as a part of the body of our Christ decide not to do our functions and decide to leave or fall out, how will our churches grow and function properly. God has given us his Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit in order for the church to function well by severing one another. When they are exercised in the proper manner by a child of God it will help the body of Christ to grow in a healthy and nourished fashion.
On the other hand, if you are new to a church and you find that the work that God entrusted you with in your past church is being done by someone else in the new church, help them, encourage them if that is the will of God but do not distract, blaspheme, nor go and prove yourself that you are more experienced. Do not go to prove that your thought or your ways are better than the one who is currently and faithfully doing his part. This is a very cause of disputes my dear brothers and sister now a days among believers. Ask God to employ you in his kingdom where you belong, because if your talents and energy is not put in the right place where God wants it to be, there will definitely be a dispute and a heart of dissatisfaction with in you. But remember one thing God will pour out a new gift upon you other than the one that exists which will employ you in that local body.
So in conclusion, one has to seriously look into his own self and make a strong confession, and should understand that the church has been called with a vision of one body to serve one another in love and servant hood. As Christ expects his body, the church to be dynamic, not to be lukewarm, nor to get deceived by the words of the devil and stop operating there individual gifts.
And Oh yes, by the way I never told you what my friend decided about the church. What did my friend decide? Did he give up on the church? No, he didn’t and I know that you will be pleased to know that he didn’t. He went to Calvary and died for it.