1st Corinthians 12
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed by idols that cannot speak, and you got led astray. [a] 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Ruach Elohim says, “Yeshua be cursed,” and no one can say, “Yeshua is Lord,” except by the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Ruach. 5 There are various kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of working, but the same God who works all things in all people. 7 But to each person is given the manifestation of the Ruach for the benefit of all. 8 For to one is given through the Ruach a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge according to the same Ruach, 9 to another faith by the same Ruach, to another gifts of healings by the one Ruach, 10 to another workings of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Ruach activates all these things, distributing to each person individually as He wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body—though many—are one body, so also is Messiah. 13 For in one Ruach we were all immersed into one body—whether Jewish or Greek, slave or free—and all were made to drink of one Ruach. 14 For the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Since I’m not a hand, I’m not part of the body,” is it therefore not part of the body? 16 And if the ear says, “Since I’m not an eye, I’m not part of the body,” is it for this reason any less part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the parts—each one of them—in the body just as He desired. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot tell the hand, “I don’t need you!” or in turn the head to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be less important are indispensable. 23 Those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe with greater honor; and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty; 24 but our presentable parts have no such need. Rather God assembled the body, giving more honor to those who are lacking, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but so that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer together. If one part is honored, all the parts rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually. 28 God has put into His community first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then healings, helps, leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not emissaries, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All do not work miracles, do they? 30 All do not have gifts of healing, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And still I show you a far better way:
Do you desire to be the Hand, when you are a foot?
Weird way to start, sure. But the question stands.
Do you desire to be "WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE" ? Or "Whatever I set my heart on" ?
What folly to tell children that they can be whatever they want to be. That is false (remember people, this is my prayer blog and therefore my own opinions... if they offend you or you disagree that is your prerogative.)
We all have a specific and useful calling.
Each of us has a duty to be who God has called us to be so that we might operate in fullness, in healing, in spirit and truth.
More than that, by operating in selfishness and trying to be what you want to be rather than what God has designed you to be, you deprive those around you of the necessary gifts.
Your selfishness impacts more than just you just like mine impacts more than just me. What folly to think, in our selfishness, that our actions affect just us. It's the cherry on top of the selfish dessert.
So why heap importance and stature on those operating in only certain giftings? Is it because they are flashy? Why does everyone want to walk in the same power as Elijah but pay none of the price that he did?
Could you pay the price Ezekiel did? To have his wife taken by God and not be able to mourn or weep?
Really, I think it comes down to one simple thing. (speaking to myself here so don't get all offended on me)
You don't think you matter enough with your own gifting... This is selfishness.
More than that ... You don't think PEOPLE matter enough to operate in your gifting. So you strive to show people how much YOU matter or should matter to THEM rather than use your gifts to show people how much THEY matter to GOD.
Your gifts, talents, perspective and life experience are not for you.
They are for building YHVH's kingdom. So what does that look like?
Tending to those who are down trodden, broken, hurting and crying out!
Being a mouth crying out "Salvation has Come from the Holy Lamb who was Slain!"
Being the Eyes to see those who need clothing, shelter and food.
Being the Ears to hear the truth from YHVH and combat the lies the enemy spews.
Being the Foot that goes forward to help those in need.
So again I say to you:
WHO ARE YOU?
WHAT IS YOUR CALLING?
AND HOW ARE YOU USING IT FOR YHVH'S KINGDOM?
Matthew 25: 31-46
31 “Now when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [c] 33 And He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’[d] 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in? Or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ [e] 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Go away from Me, you cursed ones, into the everlasting fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they too will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ 46 These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”[f]
Today Repent.
Repent for walking in selfishness (be honest with yourself here. You are selfish in one way or another. Just repent of it. Don't harden your heart.)
Repent for not fully walking in your gifts and ask for wisdom on how to walk in more fullness.
Ask YHVH to give you wisdom on who to pray for today. Then Pray for them.
Ask for wisdom for who to serve with your gifts. Then make a note and start doing it.
Let your faithfulness to God be shown in action and deed. That you are a new creation with new habits and desires and motivations. Get rid of the worldly ways and take on YHVH's ways.
Walk forth in spirit and truth that healing might come for all those in the body of the Messiah.
We desperately need it.