Pray for the Body
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
What do I contend for? God has been revealing to me that I have a "low view" of church. I have a low view of what is possible, permissible, and desirable for myself, and the group of people I chase after Him with. In my mind, I have convinced myself that change takes a long time, people are given specific and mostly vaguely powerful gifts, and someday He is going to wave His hand and everything will change. God says this is a sadly low view of church. He has promised me that if I will ask Him, He can make my view agree with His.
There is currently some terrible teaching on spiritual gifts in the church body. Spiritual gift assessments are one example. Paul was clear that you don't just get a gift when you are born. It isn't true you are given a gift you have to feel your way to and hope you find out how to use before you die! He said "earnestly desire what is most helpful" to your local body! You have a choice in what you contend for. You can go after all of it, if you desire!
Is there some weak teaching in your church, earnestly desire...go after with zeal...a teaching gift from God. You can earnestly desire it for yourself...you can earnestly desire it for your pastor...but whatever you do, contend for it!
Are people getting healed when you pray for them? If not, earnestly desire it! Prophetic words, understanding, insight revelation? The Holy Spirit has these ready to give to my church in full measure, but will I contend for it?! Yes, from here on out, I will!
Jesus COULD wave His hand, pour out His Spirit, get rid of evil, and renew the earth in a minute. If He said the word, everything would change instantly. But, He has chosen to bring you and I into this amazing plan. The whole point of the trouble we face is to get us to open our hearts, believe without seeing, put on faith, and share in HIS inheritance. The door of my heart only opens from the inside. When I open my heart to cry out to Him, it leaves the door open for Him to pour back into me. If we open our hearts a crack, that is all the space He will use to pour back in. If we swing wide the gate of our heart, He has a lot more room to fill our heart!
Every morning, Jesus, who is God and was with God, went out by Himself to contend for what He desired. He was fully led by the Holy Spirit, doing only what the Father said and saying only what the Father was wanting to say. For my sake and your sake, Jesus chose to become a man forever and live by the Spirit's leading. He said, "Father, I desire..."
We are called to this same lifestyle. He is the firstborn of many. We are the many. Our cry should be the same, and our daily practice should reflect His: Father, I desire.
Father, I desire to pray for the sick and see them get better. Father, I desire to know the secret counsel of God, words of wisdom and revelation to fuel myself and others in their pursuit of you. Father, I desire to teach like Jesus taught, feeding myself and others on solid food and not baby food. Father, I desire supernatural ability to write songs, books, articles, notes to grandma. Father I desire to see your glory descend on the Sunday school time. Father I desire...!
What are we contending for as sons and daughters of the Most High God? Jesus wants us to contend for, at a minimum, the experience recorded in the Bible as normal for the church: the Book of Acts. The same Holy Spirit, the same Father, and the same Savior are ours. We are chasing after the same Jesus as were Peter, Paul, Timothy, Silas, Priscilla, and John. The first disciples and apostles were contending for the Joel 2 promise that God would "pour out His spirit on all flesh." The minimum we should contend for is to live like them!
John 14: 12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
John 15:16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
What do I contend for? God has been revealing to me that I have a "low view" of church. I have a low view of what is possible, permissible, and desirable for myself, and the group of people I chase after Him with. In my mind, I have convinced myself that change takes a long time, people are given specific and mostly vaguely powerful gifts, and someday He is going to wave His hand and everything will change. God says this is a sadly low view of church. He has promised me that if I will ask Him, He can make my view agree with His.
There is currently some terrible teaching on spiritual gifts in the church body. Spiritual gift assessments are one example. Paul was clear that you don't just get a gift when you are born. It isn't true you are given a gift you have to feel your way to and hope you find out how to use before you die! He said "earnestly desire what is most helpful" to your local body! You have a choice in what you contend for. You can go after all of it, if you desire!
Is there some weak teaching in your church, earnestly desire...go after with zeal...a teaching gift from God. You can earnestly desire it for yourself...you can earnestly desire it for your pastor...but whatever you do, contend for it!
Are people getting healed when you pray for them? If not, earnestly desire it! Prophetic words, understanding, insight revelation? The Holy Spirit has these ready to give to my church in full measure, but will I contend for it?! Yes, from here on out, I will!
Jesus COULD wave His hand, pour out His Spirit, get rid of evil, and renew the earth in a minute. If He said the word, everything would change instantly. But, He has chosen to bring you and I into this amazing plan. The whole point of the trouble we face is to get us to open our hearts, believe without seeing, put on faith, and share in HIS inheritance. The door of my heart only opens from the inside. When I open my heart to cry out to Him, it leaves the door open for Him to pour back into me. If we open our hearts a crack, that is all the space He will use to pour back in. If we swing wide the gate of our heart, He has a lot more room to fill our heart!
Every morning, Jesus, who is God and was with God, went out by Himself to contend for what He desired. He was fully led by the Holy Spirit, doing only what the Father said and saying only what the Father was wanting to say. For my sake and your sake, Jesus chose to become a man forever and live by the Spirit's leading. He said, "Father, I desire..."
We are called to this same lifestyle. He is the firstborn of many. We are the many. Our cry should be the same, and our daily practice should reflect His: Father, I desire.
Father, I desire to pray for the sick and see them get better. Father, I desire to know the secret counsel of God, words of wisdom and revelation to fuel myself and others in their pursuit of you. Father, I desire to teach like Jesus taught, feeding myself and others on solid food and not baby food. Father, I desire supernatural ability to write songs, books, articles, notes to grandma. Father I desire to see your glory descend on the Sunday school time. Father I desire...!
What are we contending for as sons and daughters of the Most High God? Jesus wants us to contend for, at a minimum, the experience recorded in the Bible as normal for the church: the Book of Acts. The same Holy Spirit, the same Father, and the same Savior are ours. We are chasing after the same Jesus as were Peter, Paul, Timothy, Silas, Priscilla, and John. The first disciples and apostles were contending for the Joel 2 promise that God would "pour out His spirit on all flesh." The minimum we should contend for is to live like them!
John 14: 12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
John 15:16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
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