Who is Christ?

Who is Christ? We are! 

1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it." If we look at verses 12-26 we see how vital each part of the body is, "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it".

You have a function in Christ's body, you were created to operate in a way that only you can. Salvation isn't just about accepting Jesus as lord of your life, it's about you accepting your role in Christ body through Gods word living and abiding in you. 1 Peter 1:23 says, " For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,through the living and enduring word of God.Not only is God's word alive in you it is enduring or permanent. 1 John 4:17 says, "...as He is, so are we in this world." Whoever Jesus is, we are. We can perform miracles, speak life, teach, heal, and transform the world around us! According to 1 Corinthians 6:15 our bodies are members of Christ it states, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!" We seem to have this idea that when we do something wrong God is right there with us looking over our shoulder watching us when in fact he is in us we are using Christ to commit our sin! Verse 17 of the same chapter says, "But He who unites himself with The Lord is one with him in sprint." When you are saved you become one with Jesus in spirit, you cannot choose to separate from Jesus when you want to appease the flesh. 1 Corinthians 12:15 says, " If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?" You cannot choose to no longer be apart of the body of Christ because you want to do or be something that is not in agreement with the rest of the body of Christ. Nothing you do effects just you and your Christian walk, it effects the body of Christ as a whole.Which is why its very important to have unity. Recognizing that though we may look and function differently we are apart of the same body operating toward the same goal. 

John 17:20-23 says, "20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." Unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole its an agreement between people or groups. It is important for us as the body of Christ to be unified because it shows the world that God sent Jesus. Satan will do all he can to disrupt unity and he does this by drawing our attention to surface issues so we cannot address the root of the issue. For example, gay, lesbian and transgender rights. The church is focusing on how a change in laws may effect their environment rather than changing their environment by addressing the deeper issue. 

There is a group of people out there who believe the church does not love them but the church is a reflection of Gods love which means there is a group of people feeling unloved by God. Imagine a head saying I love you, come to me, I have so many things to show you and teach you. I know you are hurting and I can heal you, but the body is pushing these people away,hitting and turning away from these people. I am not saying that laws are not important they are and you should vote however God leads you. Imagine opening your arms and seeing these people and any others that are not in the body of Christ the way God does; broken, hurt, sick just like all of us were. Laws aren't going to change peoples actions and feelings but the love of God can.Jesus did not come to change man, He came to redeem man. Through that love, that redemption, man could not help but change. He came to give us life not to point out that we were dead. 

Gossip is another thing that comes in the way of unity. It is so easy to see someones faults. We, especially women, watch others and address their surface issues by spreading our irrelevant opinions instead of addressing the root issue which is and always will be a hurt or offense. Luke 17:1 says, "Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!" We will be offended and when offenses come we need to forgive quickly but we need to be very mindful of the offenses that come through us and be as quick to rectify them. We have heard many times about people leaving the church because of an offense or people not wanting to turn their hearts to God because they believe Christians are hypocrites. We need to ignore the surface and address the root because that's what Jesus did when he died for us. Again, complete unity is how we show the world that God sent Jesus. The only way to become unified is to function within the purpose. 

Isaiah 61:1-4 tells us exactly what Jesus came to do. As the body of Christ we are now responsible for these task until He returns. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives,and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn,to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning,the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;that they may be called trees of righteousness,the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations,and they shall repair the ruined cities,the desolations of many generations." 

This is a lot for one person, auxiliary, or church to do so why do we try to do it all? God's intended this be done by the body of Christ, by all of us collectively.  God has given us each as individuals, auxiliaries, and churches a specific function within the body and it is so important that we operate in our gifts. This is the only way we will fulfill our collective purpose, and in operating at our highest capacity not only will lives be changed but souls will be saved! The eye cannot function as an ear and the foot will never be a neck so we need to stop comparing people by their functions. Now some things do not function as they should, for example there may be something in the eye, the hand many need to hold up a mirror in order to remove the obstruction. This should only be done in love and in an attempt to get the eye to function at its highest potential. 

You may wonder, how do I know a person, auxiliary or church is really in the body of Christ? This is where you pray for discernment. Your prayer should not be that God bring to your attention all that is wrong but that He allows you to see His children according to their function in the ultimate purpose of executing God's will. If you are praying for discernment and still aren't sure then act in love. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 "[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Father,

Thank you so much for creating us for a specific function within the body of Christ. Thank you for sending Jesus to die so we may become one with you. Forgive us for not always operating in our function, for trying to change our role or the roles of those around us. Forgive us for not always recognizing you in others and seeing the surface issues rather than the root issues. Reveal to us father the roots of the issues we face on a daily basis so we may handle them with love. Replace our judgement with compassion and give us a deep seeded desire for unity among your people. Help us to see through your eyes and to be purposeful about being your hands and feet we love you. Amen

If you want to become a part of the body of Christ or you are a part of the body but are unsure of your function; even if you just have a prayer request please email me at leeanahjames@yahoo.com. 

Say What?

Gen 1:27 "So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Romans 4:17 "(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."

Gen 1:3 "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

Good Morning, my message today is simple and sweet. The bible says that we were made in Gods likeness and image, it also says that greater works than Jesus did we would do. The bible tells us to speak things that are not as though they were, so we have the power to call things into manifestation in our lives. I used the first verse because God spake things into exsistance. Now people say easier said than done, well saying is the first step. The bible says in you confess with your mouth, than believe in your heart. You need to speak and continue to speak until your heart is moved and when your heart is moved you will be unstoppable because the enemy will not be able to stand you. He wont be able to come against you, when you can speak his demise. Start changing the way you speak and be blessed.

The Way We Speak

This is something that my friend and I have been talking about for a long time. Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all [fn] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." "So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Four times in these two verses God says He created three of those times He said he created us in His likeness. How does God create? Genesis 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." God creates by speaking.

Mark 11:22-23 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

God has given us the power and authority to move mountains. There is a fresh anointing that is falling and there are too many people on the sidelines watching. It is time to be apart of, it is time to get in the game. It is time to get things right with God and start speaking into the life of yourself and others. What I have started doing with my co-workers and friends is have them check the way I speak, because I speak things into existence. I need not say, I am so stressed I have to much to do, I replace that with All things work together for good for those who love God. It may seem petty and small but if you take the time out to start that habit not only does it build face but you will see the things you speak manifested in your life.

John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do, because I go to My Father." There is freedom in Christ from worry, sickness, and disease. We preach that, we sing it but it is time we start living it in our lives. I hope this provoked thought. Be blessed.