The Importance of Each Member of the Church

The Bible explains the importance of each member of the Church.

I'm sorry this has been posted late.  Thanks for waiting for this entry, my friends.

  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?   --1 Corinthians 12:20-30 King James Version    For the month of October, I focused mostly on 1 Corinthians 12.  The body of Christ, the Church, has important members.  Everyone is vital to the Church.  Each person, who helps to make up the Church, does his/her essential job within the body of Christ.  It might seem that one job in the church is more important than another.  The Bible says that every member has value.  There isn't one person who has been blessed with all of the special talents.  God has given abilities to whomever He wishes.   Let's appreciate one another more fully.  Let us not boast of our abilities.  One church member should not tell another that He/She is not as important as others.  It would be a shame if the one who brags says to another church member that cleaning the toilets in the church is not as important as a church planter.  Each function of the church is necessary for the whole body of Christ to run smoothly.      I thank God for any abilities He's given me.  I pray that I never boast about anything but that God has decided to bless me with talents and skills which are useful for the Church.  I pray that He helps me do the best with those talents and skills.  I am also thankful for those church members who have used their abilities to teach me and/or blessed me in some way.  Thanks for reading this blog entry about the body of Christ, the Church.  I appreciate you taking the time to read it.

 How about you, my readers?  As Christians, do you understand the concept of the church being the body of Christ?  What part do you have within the body of Christ?  Do you truly know what it means to be an integral part of the Church?  I encourage you to read different versions of 1 Corinthians 12:20-30 to understand what the Bible says about the Church being the body of Christ.    May the only true God of all gods bless us, my dear friends, with His wisdom and peace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!  

This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

To view past, related blog entries, read:

 

The Holy Spirit's Blessings

God-Given Abilities to Christians

The Body of Christ

 

God-Given Abilities to Christians

The Bible explains about the gifts from God to Christians.

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. 

--1 Corinthians 12:4-11 King James Version

Two weeks ago, I began discussion on the beginning of chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians in The Holy Spirit's Blessings.  In it, I explained how Paul was dispelling some myths about the Holy Spirit.  He wanted to teach the people of Corinth that only the Spirit of God can help one to utter that Jesus is Lord.  This week, I want to present the idea of gifts, or abilities, that God has given to Christians.

God has seen to it that He gives abilities to each Christian.  The potential for each Christian to spread blessings to others is up to each person.  If we live to our potential, we stand the chance to bless others by what God gives to us.  It is not to be squandered or exploited.  These gifts are for the mutual benefit of the Christian family.

Here is a list of gifts that God gives:

1. The ability to give good advice
2. The gift of special knowledge
3. The ability of extra belief
4. The power to heal those who are ill
5. The ability to create miracles
6. The ability to prophesy
7. The ability to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and other spirits
8. The ability to speak in other languages
9. The ability to interpret what is said in other languages

The Holy Spirit is the One who distributes the gifts of God.

God truly wants to reveal Himself to us.  We have to be willing to accept and use the abilities that God blesses us with.  His Holy Spirit makes it possible for us, who are Christians, to do any or some of the special gifts.  It is quite possible that a Christian could possess more than one of these abilities.  I think that's awesome.

Thanks for reading today's blog entry about the God-given abilities to mankind.  I appreciate you taking the time to read it.

 How about you, my readers?  Do you understand the Holy Spirit's place in your life?  Do you have any of the God-given abilities?  Do you truly know what it means to be blessed with the Holy Ghost's gifts?  I encourage you to read different versions of 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 to understand what the Bible says about the God-given abilities to Christians.    May the only true God of all gods bless us, my dear friends, with His wisdom and peace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!  

This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

Embracing Your Nature: My Contemplation of Verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am embracing verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

If you conform to the Way,

its power flows through you.

Your actions become those of nature,

your ways those of heaven.

Open yourself to the Tao

and trust your natural responses...

then everything will fall into place.

I think it's important to understand that we are part of nature.  We, who are part of nature, were created by a magnificent creator.  We have our ups and downs.  Nature around us has its ups and downs.  Weather is part of nature.

The wind is part of nature.  It blows, and it subsides.  In our lives, we have happy times.  We also have sad times.  Stuff happens!

I can tell you about all the negative events in my life.  I could sing you a song like the Blues.  My daddy, he died, duh, duh, duh, duh.  I lived in a rat-infested house, duh, duh, duh, duh.  My roof did leak, duh, duh, duh, duh.

The reality is that I have also had positive life points.  I had a loving mother.  She didn't give up my four siblings and me to foster care.  I finished high school and even got a Bachelor's degree.  I'm  married with four wonderful children.

Listen, we all have chaotic times.  We all have peaceful times.  There is an important question we must ask ourselves.  Are we going to let the bad experiences strike us so strongly?  Yes or no.

Will we keep depending on our abilities?  Will we keep pushing and pulling our way to what we think is success?  Will we keep trying to control all of the conditions in our lives?  When are we going to realize that we are limited beings?  Why fight the natural aspects of our lives?

How about depending on God?  He is the Tao--the Way and the Source of everything.  He is our Creator.  He loves us.  He wants what is best for us, and that includes trusting in Him.

God's ways are not our ways.

He is the One we should turn to when we are troubled.

Let's turn to Him.

Let's thank Him when the good things happen.

How about it, my readers?  Are you depending on your abilities to get you through the tough times?  Or are you turning to God?  I recommend going with the flow of your given situation.  For example, if someone is bad-mouthing you, keep quiet and let that person's nature run its course.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.