In Romans chapter 11, Paul is instructing this young church to not to fight over whether they are Jews or Gentiles, circumcised or uncircumcised but instead, to remember they are grafted together in Christ. In Romans 12, Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit; these are the gifts used in ministry, intended to edify the Body of Christ. 

Let’s compare this with 1 Corinthians 12. Here, Paul teaches that we are each member of one Body, we have diverse gifts to use for the express purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. Our gifts are not ours; they are not to be used to control or harm others nor are they to be used to benefit us personally. Our gifts should not bring division; they are not something we flaunt. Our gifts—whatever gifts He gives each of us—need to be held onto, treasured, refined, and used with the understanding that that gift was given to us to edify the Body of Christ. Consider whether it builds, encourages, or strengthens the body of Christ. 

 
In I Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul discusses the members of the Body and how important each member is to the Body of Christ as a whole – no matter how big or how small it is. The significance of each individual part to the Body of Christ is beyond measure. Paul’s example: “Do the eyes say, I have no need for the foot?” Of course not! No member is more important or less important than another. Even those parts that we see as insignificant, God sees as crucial enough to compel Paul to use it as an example to teach the Corinthians their individual significance to the Body as a whole. Why do I have this ear lobe? So I can tug on it when I’m nervous? What about my pinky? So I can grab hold of and hang onto things with a much tighter grip? Each member has a purpose. 

In Romans 12, Paul explains further why each person has the gift that they have:

The Chapter continues with instructions on how to live a life wherein we would be able “to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) This is our call. 

In Romans 12:6 Paul says: “Having then, gifts differing according to the grace given us…” That word “grace” is such a beautiful word. “Grace” is the same word used in Romans 12:3 and it means “the divine ability and capacity due to the grace of God.” A divine ability and capacity to accomplish His will, according to the grace of God. Even the gifts He gave us to edify the Body were given with the grace to function in the capacity the gift requires. If we are to be a prophet, He has given us the grace to function in that capacity. If we are to be a teacher, He has given us the grace—the ability to function—as a teacher. If it is the gift of service, He has given us precisely the amount of grace we need to function in that capacity. This is how God works. 

When we have someone gifted in the realm of “service,” but if they suddenly decide they want to be a prophet and step out into that role, they are going to fall on their face time and time again. Why? Because there is a specific training process we must go through to function at full capacity under the gift God bestows upon us. Depending upon where we’ve walked in the past and where God plans for us to walk in the future, we will need a deep refining to prepare us to operate in the capacity we’ve been created to walk in. Why? So we can function as the particular member within the Body of Christ that we’ve been created to function in. The heart cannot just jump out of our chest and say, “I think I am going to become a liver.” If they did a transplant and moved the heart into the place of our liver, it’s simply not going to work. The heart has been created to function as a heart, to pump our blood through our body and to pump oxygen through our body and all the way out to our toes and finger tips. 

We are created to function as a particular member within the Body of Christ; this is by God’s design. If we step outside that function, not only will we step outside of our abilities but we will incur frustration, resentment, and most importantly, we will go against the will of God for our lives and not succeed.

For example, there are those who are natural born leaders and wherever they go—it is not as though they take charge, they simply function as a leader—there is a gifting as a leader. People are drawn to them for direction; people are drawn to them for leadership and when a crisis arises, they arise equipped to make those hard, quick decisions. Why? Because, they can see the big picture. They can assess situations and bring resolutions. There is something about a leader that draws people to them, to help them function in the capacity that they have been created to function. If someone with a gift of a serving attempts to step into the role of leadership, they will sense the struggle within because their gifting focuses on the smaller details involving the people of the organization. They often don’t want to give out orders. Instead, they feel a sense of safety in the boundaries set forth on their behalf by the delegated leader. 

God creates within each of us a certain ability and we are to function in that capacity. There are certain people that are very analytical; they make very good researchers, because they can process information and apply it accordingly. They are detail-oriented, so zeroing in on a topic comes easy for them. There are certain people that have been created to encourage. They tend to be very empathetic and are sensing people who can easily transition into the role of a comforter, encourager, and their presence offers strength to others without wearing on them. 

Which is the best intercessor? Today, anyone can be an intercessor. Why? Because the season of the intercessor is NOW. God is raising up intercessors within every office and every talent because we are birthing something in the nations that must come forth now. Intercessors can feel the Holy Spirit and the move of God in a very unique way. All can pursue this office.

God has given to each a measure of grace, the ability or capacity to function within the Body of Christ. When we step outside those boundaries we end up in chaos and it effects the body as a whole. We are living in a time where God is refining us; He is preparing us for a powerful release. He is preparing us to rise up out of this year a new breed of believers. If we cannot come to a place where we can function in the capacity that God has created us to function, we are going to be stumbling around at the end of this year. I encourage you to press in and find your place. 

To be continued next week…

Blessings and Love,

Ricci Johnson-Wilson