Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
I know people who say, “I do not want to be in the front, I want to be in the back, I want to be in the prayer closet, that is all I want to do,” and they come out revitalized. God gave them the grace for those long hours in the prayer closet. A person who functions in the gift of service may head into the prayer closet for a few hours and come out exhausted. However, if they serve people for eight hours, they may be physically tired, but they feel exhilarated. Each is functioning in the capacity that God has created them to function.
A person who has been called to teach will get up and teach and both they, and those listening, know God has delivered a message to the people there. A person who has not been created to teach will be sick for hours before they even get up to the podium; the grace to do the work isn’t present. There are exceptions, of course, when God allows the anguish so that the dependence is upon Him rather than upon our own efforts.
Or, we will have people who speak at the Gathering because they have done research, but the delivery makes them so nervous leading up to it that when the session is complete, they are spent. Why? Because, they are researchers, not public speakers and as such, they have not been created for that type of work. They are doing it as a researcher in obedience and out of love to help the intercessors move to the next level and prepare for intercession. They do it because they are good researchers, but they do not have the grace to speak in public day-in and day-out.
When God has called you to be in a place that’s front and center, you take the blows for the people who work behind the scenes; God gives you the grace to take those blows. Why? Because God gives us the grace, as members of the Body of Christ, to function in the capacity He has created to function.
And finally, the gift of “ministry” is defined as “active service done with a willing attitude, empowered and guided by faith.” What does that mean? God has given each of us a gift. He hand-picked us to carry that gift. So, whether we are gifted in service, teaching, ministry, or signs and wonders, we must keep at the forefront of our minds His intention for those gifts, is for us to reach out across to others as His hand extended to them.
God gives us the grace to be in and function as a member of the Body of Christ, however, the grace is only sufficient for the capacity He has created us to function in at that time. Sometimes He will put us in a training position because He is needs to work some things out of us, grow us up a bit. He will put us in positions we never thought we would be in, but there is always a purpose for it. Embracing when and where He places us is part of the maturating process and it is crucial we allow Him to impart His purposes along the way.
Consider two kids mucking out animal stalls. One kid is trudging through it, complaining every moment. The other kid is happy as a lark. Why? He figures if there’s this much manure, there has got to be a horse around here somewhere! It is about our attitude, our heart, our purpose, and finding what God is doing in us today to prepare us to be the person He has created us to be. He always gives us the grace to endure the season we are in.
The refining has begun. The pressing is going to increase because He is calling us to higher standards. He wants us to put down the milk and start consuming the meat of His Word. We are mature enough, we have been walking with Him long enough, and we have received the teachings necessary to bring us here. We have had years of training under Mom on intimacy with God to fully understand what intimacy with Him is truly about. He longs to draw us into the bridal chamber and into a place of oneness with Him. It’s time we press in!
We have studied the book of Philippians, James, and Romans. We’ve covered The Covenant and today, we are in The Refining. God has given us significant time for our preparation and now He is calling us to account.
The Lord told me that 2018 was a year of refining that would bring forth a new breed of believers. These are the ones who will press into Him regardless of the cost; despite the odds, they are the ones who refuse to give in, and yes, they are the ones who will carry the Melchizedek Priesthood. God will impart enormous depth, understanding and revelation into their lives. They will walk in intimacy with Him like never before. Therefore, the refining must take place; it is out of His great love for us. Remember, He disciplines us because He loves us. He corrects us because He loves us. He knows what He has created us to be. He chose us to walk in this place, in this hour.
Our Father in Heaven hand-picked each of you. Whatever your function is in the Kingdom of God, I encourage you to embrace it. Embrace your purpose and let God use you because He hand-picked you. Let Him complete the deep work He began in you. I keep saying it because I see the potential here, each of us has been hand-picked and if we were to all embrace our gifting, press into Him and step into the call, the Body of Christ would arise and bring forth the glory of our Lord!
[Closing Prayer]
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your gifts. I thank You that You sent Your Holy Spirit to impart Divine gifts into Your children. I thank You that we can function in a capacity that we do not even understand yet. You said, “The things you have seen Me do, you shall do and greater” and this is where You are calling us to walk in the days ahead. You have something prepared, ready, and waiting for each of us. Help us be ready for it, Lord. Help us. The greatest tragedy is if we were not ready to receive of it. Prepare us. Give us the grace to endure the refining. Give us the grace, Lord God, that we need for the refining process.
We are many members of one body, the Body of Christ. Let us function the way You created us to function, Lord. Let us walk in the fullness You created us to walk in. That is my heart’s cry.
I thank You, Lord. I thank You for Your great love. I thank you, in Your precious Name, amen.
Blessings and Love,
Ricci Johnson-Wilson
