Fulfilling Your Role in The Body
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (Audio Only)
Message #11
Let’s start right away with our key text today, going beyond to verse 26 to get an overall view of what I believe the Lord would have us to see.
1 Corinthians 12:18-26 (NKJV)
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The title of the message today is “Fulfilling Your Role in The Body.” Let me start by asking you a question, which might be a moot point after that scripture. The question is, how many of us has God called to fill a role in the Body? All of us. We’ve all been called; we’ve all been placed in the Body, severally, meaning individually as God wills. He has a role for us. He has or will enable us to fulfill that role.
To give you some confidence of that, I’d like to run through a quick medley of verses. This is a great set of about eight verses.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:18 (NKJV)
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 7:7 (NKJV)
7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (NKJV)
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
The first six verses of Romans 12 are a critical preface to today’s message. For this medley, we’ll read just verse 3.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (in humility, humbly), as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV)
7 But to each one of us grace (the same word as gift) was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
10 As each one has received a gift (there is no doubt that we have), minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold (many folded) grace (gifts) of God.
Don’t minister it to the uttermost ends of the earth, although we are called to go and make disciples also, but the purpose of our role in the Body is to minister to the person we are sitting next to. That’s the purpose – to minister to each other, to one another.
And so, God pours these incredible, abundant gifts into the Body, for the good of the Body, and he has no choice but to pour them into you and I. And then, we, as good stewards, are called to minister back to the people that God gave the gifts for, which is one another. The Body ministering to itself. That is the miraculous function of the Body of Christ, that he puts all that the Body needs in the Body so that the Body can minister to itself, for the edification of itself, the shoring up, the strengthening for the health of the Body. That’s the purpose.
And guys, God has made the Body of Christ so vast and so diverse that we cannot put it in a mold. We can hardly describe it. Because the Body of Christ, the overall Body of Christ, is so incredibly diverse if you think about it around the world. And then if you come to this Body of Christ and say, “This Body of Christ is uniquely different than the other Body of Christ,” that each of us as individual Bodies of Christ develop our own personalities or characters by God.
And then, if you take that one step deeper, each of us that God has gifted, is uniquely diverse than the person sitting next to us. And yet, God called has called this incredible vast, diverseness to function perfectly together as one Body. That’s a miracle! And that is why it is one of the hardest things to happen in the Church because it takes supernatural power for the Body to minister to itself.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NKJV)
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
So, to each one of us, we’ve been given gifts by the Spirit, both manifestation gifts and ministry gifts. And there’re two things that we’ve got to understand before we move ahead in this message.
1). If Jesus is your Lord, you have a role in the Body
And if those eight verses or so didn’t convince you, I cut out four or five. If Jesus is your Lord, you have a role in the Body. Period.
2). The purpose for Jesus giving you a role in the Body is for the person’s good sitting next to you
That is the purpose that God has given you the gifts and that role in the Body – it’s to edify those in the Body so that the Body would strengthen itself. Minister to itself.
Last week, we looked at twelve ministry gifts. Some many weeks ago, we looked at twelve manifestation gifts, primarily. And so, we’ve in this series, looked at twenty-four separate gifts from God. Is it a complete list? No chance. Could it be a complete list? No chance. It can’t be a complete list because it’s not that God is outside the box; it’s that there is no box. We cannot say, “This is how God works. This is what it looks like. This is the mold. This is what you have to look like if you have a role or a place in the Body.” None of that is applicable. The only thing that is applicable is that God says if you are an adopted son or daughter of God, then you have a role in the Body. Each. One. Each one is given gifts and given a role. Why? To minister to the Body. To edify the Body.
So, accepting the Word of God, then the question is, how do we find and how do we fulfill the role that God has called us individually to? Remember, he knows our name. He knows every hair on your head. He knows every thought. He knows every tear that falls. He knows you. Immerse yourself in Psalm 139 to understand that this is a personal, individual relationship that you have with God.
So, how do you find out what your role in the Body is? Well, one method, you could go out and buy a glossy and slick Spiritual Gifts Test. Anybody ever taken a slick and glossy spiritual gifts test? Yes, we have. I don’t want to poke too much fun at it, but maybe a little. What’s wrong with the Spiritual Gift test? Maybe nothing, because it at least gets our minds thinking in that right area. But really, what the Spiritual Gift test is, is a personality test with scriptures attached. It’s the same personality test you would take to get a job, or whatever. And just appropriate scriptures are applied.
Now, is it all bad? No. There’s a place for it because your character, your nature, your personality is, to a great extent, a result of what we call Creation Gifts that God gave you in Psalm 139 when he created you, when he formed you in your mother’s womb. He chose you to be this way. And to some extent, that is true, and those personality tests find it, and you can connect it to gifts, and it gives you some thought direction.
Why don’t I like it? I’ll tell you why. The question is this: do you think that there were procedures and recipes around when God wrote the Bible? Do you think that when we come up with a slick, three-step process or recipe, God says, “Oh! That’s a great one! I wish I would have thought of that when I wrote the Bible”? Listen, there are no processes in the Bible, there are no recipes in the Bible, and there is a huge reason for that. Here’s why. The Bible is not about a process. It’s about a Person. It’s not about a recipe; it’s about a relationship. That’s why you don’t find processes or recipes in the Bible because the Bible is all about a relationship.
Here’s why I don’t like the quick personality test; attach a scripture to it and say this is what your spiritual gift is. This is the MIP of the day. The Most Important Point.
The road that we travel in order to find and fulfill our position in the Body is as important, if not more important, than the end result.
Let me re-phrase it. It’s the road that we take; it is the process that we go through that God is actually (in my opinion) more interested in than the ultimate position that we end up with. Why? Because it is traveling that road in which you come to know God. It is the process of getting to that place where you have found and are fulfilling your role in the Body. It’s during that process that you come to know God. It’s during that process that you come to experience God. You don’t experience hi so much there as in your moving towards there. And here’s most important, it is the road that you travel to find your place in the Body that causes you to be usable by God. It is the process that makes you usable.
And so, our focus is always the gold medal; it’s always the end result, to become something. But God is not that way. God is more interested in your relationship, in the process, it’s in your travel, it’s in the road less traveled. If we don’t travel that road with God, if we use that quick fix, kind of rapid-fire spiritual gift test, plug me in, get me working, what happens is (I’m telling you it’s the truth) you end up serving God in the flesh.
And so, if your flesh has this kind of personality, and you get plugged into the ministry, and all of a sudden, you’re serving God because of your personality, there needs to be a time out. Even if it’s good flesh, it’s still flesh. But this process that God takes us through to bring us to that point is what causes us to be wholly dependent, to be desperately dependent, to be more interested in knowing God than achieving something for him. To be more interested in seeing God work than accomplishing some goal. Do you understand the difference?
The goal is the process, not the end result. I’m going to show you that. I want to give you some guidelines today to follow on that road to fulfilling your role in the Body. But if you will watch, by the way, these guidelines will look very much like a recipe that I just poked fun at, closely, you will see that in these areas, following these guidelines on the road, you will come to know God. You will come to experience God, and God will make you usable. Not because of your personality, because of the process that he has taken you through to get you to this point.
In Romans 12, we see the pre-requisite to all ministry. The first six verses – if they are not understood and received, there is no future in ministry. You can’t fulfill your role. So this isn’t the message; this is the pre-requisite of the message.
Romans 12:1(a) (NKJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
That means that your will and your flesh are continually crucified. That you are continually crucifying your own will. That you are continually allowing God to crucify your flesh.
1(b) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2-6 (NKJV)
2(a) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Guys, nothing can happen in your role in the ministry until you are transformed by the renewing of your mind. It is a pre-requisite; you just can’t do it without it. You can’t because how much ministry comes from us? True ministry? How much do I do? Zero. True ministry comes from the Holy Spirit, one hundred percent of it. He might use me, but if ten percent of that is me, then I’m ministering ten percent in the flesh. And so, I have to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, by the continual filling of the Holy Spirit. Why?
2(b) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (humbly), as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (so critical – one hundred percent God, zero percent us – always)
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (That is how supernatural the body is made that we are members of one another in the Body)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
I would teach more in these verses, but then we wouldn’t get to the four areas. Just know that these verses are pre-requisites for the ministry – always, always, always.
Here are the four areas. If you are taking notes, write these down because if you were to come to me, at least today, and say, “Dave, how do I find and fulfill my role in the Body?” I will tell you this.
1). Be faithful where God has you
2). Be filled
3). Be flexible
4). Be focused
That outline comes from Jim Hesterly. Acts One Eight Ministries, a great Holy Spirit ministry out of Calvary Costa Mesa.
It’s not a spiritual gifts test because the end result is not that you get active so much as it in you know and experience and are able to be used by God. Be faithful.
In Acts Chapter 6, the Apostles are overwhelmed by the demands of the ministry. There arises a complaint from some of the widows who aren’t being ministered to. So, the Apostles are led to appoint seven men, not necessarily to do this ministry but to oversee it. We often say this is the appointing of the deacons, but these men were appointed to oversee the deacons, those who would serve the widows, etc. In verse 3, we see the things the Apostles are looking for in those who would fulfill this role in the ministry.
Acts 6:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And so, the Apostles, overwhelmed, but obviously feeling responsible (as they should be and as we should be), to minister to the widows and those in need, appoint seven men over a ministry. The word good reputation literally means “to be well testified of, to have a good testimony, to be well respected, to be in good standing.” We call it, be faithful. Be faithful in what God has given you.
Luke 16:10 (NKJV)
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
My first counsel to you is be faithful where you find yourself. I always tell people when they say, “How can I get in the ministry?” I always say, “Look up.” And I don’t mean so much at heaven; I mean just look up from the ground. Open your eyes because that’s your ministry. Wherever God has you, that’s where he wants you to minister. And so, my first encouragement is that you be faithful in what you’re doing now.
Why has God raised up so many men and women from obscurity in the Bible, King David not the least of which, to do great and powerful things for the Kingdom? It’s not because they are qualified. That’s what a personality test does, is find out how qualified you are. It’s because they are faithful. It’s because David had that deep and intimate and personal relationship with the Lord. It’s because he was faithful over sheep that God made him faithful over sheep. Be faithful in what God has called you to.
God is intimately involved in your ministry, no matter what it is. If we say that it is insignificant, we are wrong because there is no insignificant ministry to God. God is there. And I am so blessed by those here in this Body who serve faithfully as if Jesus Christ himself were standing next to them, which he is, by the way.
And so, faithful service – why is it good? Because it prepares your heart. You figure out at some point when you have no glory and no recognition and no reward; it’s not what you’re doing for the Lord; it’s how you’re doing it. God is really not looking for extraordinary production or performance. He’s looking for a faithful heart. And so, you can be just as faithful where you are at now as if you were somewhere else! Faithfulness comes as your heart is prepared to serve God.
1). Be faithful
2). Be filled
Acts 6:3 (NKJV)
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation (faithful men), full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (I think it is great the Holy Spirit through Luke here, uses wisdom because that is a manifestation gift. And certainly, those who are overseeing a ministry need that gift of wisdom. Wisdom is defined as “The right application of knowledge.")
Why? Because if we want to fulfill our role in God’s Body, we can’t do it in the flesh. I know that may sound a little too basic, until we realize how many of us try that because of religion, because we think we should, or whatever, we jump in and try to work for God, and what happens? If we are not continually being filled with the Holy Spirit, if we are serving God in the flesh, it is a matter of time until you are taken out. Not so much, maybe even by the enemy, although the enemy might. But by your own flesh because you can’t serve God in the flesh. You just can’t. You have to be continually be being filled with the Spirit. That is what transforms your mind.
Back in Romans 12, it says don’t be conformed to this world. What is our natural (as in nature) default? Be conformed to the world. Naturally, we are conformed to the world. That is why it is called a “sin nature.” Because the moment we are not continually filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, we naturally conform to the world. It’s our nature. And we can’t serve God there – we can go through the motions – we can’t fulfill his role unless we are continually filled. Why? It’s so that we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind. So that we can crucify that sin nature, and so that we can know, so that we can prove (Romans 12 says) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Here is the big question. What is the tool that the Holy Spirit uses primarily to transform you from being conformed to the world to having a renewed mind in the Spirit? There are tools (tools apply pressure) that the Holy Spirit uses in this transformation process. What do we call them? The Holy Spirit uses the process that you are going through to prepare you to be transformed. It is the trial that you’re in that the Holy Spirit is using to transform you to renew your mind so that you can be useable by God.
It is not you saying, “Well, as soon as this trial is over, maybe I can move on and be used by God.” Guys, that is God using that trial to mold you and shape you and transform you. The trial is not a time-out. It is the ministry. It is what God is doing in your life to bring you to this place where you really are used by him. I have not met, except maybe a time or two, but almost never have I met somebody who really is transformed by the Spirit of God and is truly ministering in the Spirit, who hasn’t gone through a long and difficult road to get there.
It’s true, guys. It is the process that causes us to be molded and shaped, and used by God. That “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” it would be great if we could just snap our fingers and say, “I’m transformed.” But the Holy Spirit says, “Hey. How about ten years of trial? That will transform you.” Sorry, but it’s true. We are transformed as we stay the course, as the Holy Spirit works us, works us, works us. And then we come out, and we say, “Man. I am so much more ready to minister, to fulfill my role now, than I was before that trial.”
God’s transforming you where you’re at. It’s not that you have to get out of where you’re at so that he can start using you. He is in the process of using you right where you’re at.
Be filled. In the message from two weeks ago called “Spirit or Flesh,” we say “be being filled.” (Ephesians 5:18) Constantly, continually be being filled with the Holy Spirit to transform your mind so that you can be used.
If you approach your role as a living sacrifice, which means your will is crucified, and your flesh is crucified on an ongoing basis; if you are faithful in where God has you (which means open your eyes and minister right where you’re at – God, how would you have me minister, right here?); and then you are continually be being filled, which means your mind is transformed, those enable you to: be flexible.
1). Be Faithful
2). Be filled
3) Be flexible
In Acts Chapter 8, there is a great story. Philip was one of those seven that was chosen, a man of good reputation, faithful, and full of the Spirit, to oversee the ministry. However, he was sent out on his first mission trip (if you will), he was an evangelist and a pastor, and we read this in verse 5. The point is be flexible. Watch the flexibility required in Philip’s role in the ministry.
Acts 8:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Guys, that is a successful ministry. That’s where we would say, “Wow! God is really using him.” The multitudes are heeding his words. As he speaks, the multitudes gather around, and not only do they listen, they do what he says! They’re heeding his words! He’s a great pastor, great evangelist, miracles following him, unclean spirits being cast out, paralyzed, lame healed, he’s doing a great job. Now, read in verse 14.
Acts 8:14 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,
Wait a minute, Philip didn’t even get an honorable mention here. Samaria had received the Word of God; they sent Peter and John to them. Now, do you think that Philip could have said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute – wait a minute! Why are you sending “the guns” down here? I think I got this under control. The multitudes are heeding my word. I’m the one performing the miracles here. Why in the world are you sending those guys here? Have you not heard about the ten-mile ministry franchise protection zone? You guys have to stay ten miles away from me. This is my ministry area.”
Philip was doing a great job. And God sent Peter and John down. Why? To lay hands on the people that they would receive the Holy Spirit, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Couldn’t Philip have done that? Of course, he could. He was full of the Holy Spirit; we know that from Acts 6:3. So, why did God send the guns, Peter and John down, when Philip was doing such a great job? Because God was about to make Philip flexible.
Acts 8:26 (NKJV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
Arise from this great and fantastic and successful and productive ministry that you have, and go into the desert. So, Philip could have said, “Oh, Lord, I think I need to find someone. We need to appoint somebody to that work because the multitudes are heeding my call.” No.
Acts 8:27 (NKJV)
27 So he arose and went. (Which means he walked away from the ministry) And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
Guys, Philip had a massively successful ministry, and God said, walk away to the south to the desert because I have one guy sitting in a chariot, reading the Book of Isaiah. I want you to leave the multitudes, and I want you to go minister to that guy. There is a massive lesson there. And Philip says, okay. Whatever. And so, Philip walks away. He goes towards Gaza, which is a difficult area (was then – is now), for a Eunuch sitting on the side of the road. Philip ministers to him. The Holy Spirit leads him to him. The eunuch is reading the Book of Isaiah in Isaiah 53. Philip explains Jesus Christ out of Isaiah 53. The eunuch is saved as they continue on. There’s water. The eunuch says, “Why don’t we get baptized?” Philip stops, says yeah. I’ll baptize you right here. And if Philip wasn’t flexible yet, he’s about to get flexible.
Acts 8:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Guys, Philip went from a big, large, successful, growing, productive ministry to looking for one guy in the desert to the first Star Trek episode. This is a “Beam me up, Scotty” event here. Philip is walking in the desert, he preaches Christ, the guy gets saved, he baptizes him, he comes up and vroom! Beam me up, Scotty. He’s gone.
He lands in an area we call Ashdod, from the Old Testament. It’s about twenty miles away from Gaza, north and on the coast. And what does Philip do – does he run back to his ministry at Samaria? No! He starts wandering around the coast up to Caesarea, which is another sixty miles away. So, he’s transported twenty miles by Scotty, and then he walks sixty preaching Christ. And we know that twenty years later, Philip is still in Caesarea ministering to who knows who or how many. There is never again a mention of the size or success of Philip’s ministry. That’s flexibility.
There is also not a mention of what happened to all the multitudes in Samaria. God took care of them. Philip was yanked out and used otherwise. The message is, be flexible.
1). Be faithful
2). Be filled
3). Be flexible
And if God wants to beam you up and drop you in Ashdod, then go minister there. But don’t hold on tightly because God just wants you to be faithful where you’re at.
So, the pre-requisite is to be a living sacrifice. And then, we are called to
1). Be faithful where we find ourselves, faithful in the role God puts us in now
2). Be filled continually filled with the Holy Spirit to be transformed so that we’re not operating in the flesh, conformed to the world, but we are transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove (which means “to recognize as genuine”) the will of God. The will of God seldom is our will. Have you found that out? Our will and God’s will seldom are the same. Now, when our will is God’s will, they’re in perfect alignment. Hence the need to sacrifice continually our will. To crucify our will so that his will becomes our will.
3). Be flexible
And the greatest, most needed, most overwhelmingly powerful thing we can do is
4). Be focused
It’s to be focused. Through it all, because of it all, if we are not wholly and completely focused on Jesus Christ and nothing else, we will get taken out. I can’t tell you how regularly this happens. As soon as we take our eyes of Jesus, there are a million reasons to quit. There’re a million reasons to seek after something else. There’re a million reasons why we should react or respond or do something else. But if we are wholly and completely set on Christ, then all of that is like white noise going out here.
The quickest way to be taken out of your role in the Body is to take your focus off of Jesus Christ. Set it on anything else, set it on yourself, set it on others in the ministry, set it on the world, set it on your own needs. Set your focus on anything but Christ, and the clock is ticking, and you are on your way out of your role in the ministry. I don’t mean to overstate that. Focus on Jesus Christ.
In Philippians 3, you will find my life’s verse. It is the first five words of verse 10. That I may know him. It is an appropriate response to every single situation you will ever find yourself in. That I may know him. The power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.
Here is Paul’s overriding focus. I want you to see here that it is not the end result that Paul is focused on. It’s the process. This road that I have talked about. This road less traveled by Christians, the road that we hate to be on because we don’t understand its value; this is Paul’s goal – it’s to be on the road, not to be at the end. Watch how that develops.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Guys, Jesus Christ has laid hold of you for something, for a purpose. You have a role, and you have a specific role in the Body. And Christ has laid hold of you for it, and your entire focus should be to lay hold on that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of you. That’s a good goal.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended (It’s not the reaching there, it’s the staying the course on the way); but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Guys, I’m telling you that Paul’s focus is pressing toward the goal. It’s not even achieving the goal because he never said he achieved the goal. In fact, the closer he got to Christ, the more of a sinner that he understood he was until he called himself the chief of sinners. I’m telling you his goal wasn’t achieving some gold medal, or status or whatever, his goal was to stay the course. Press on. No matter what. It was to press on, to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. That’s his goal. It’s the road. It’s the process. The road less traveled.
I believe Paul’s goal was staying the course. I’m positive of it. It was the pressing on that was his all-consuming purpose. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Single-minded focus to stay on the course that Christ has laid.
Okay. One other thing. Psalm 37. Please watch this because the whole message is wrapped up in this.
Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Trust in the Lord, and do (operative word) good; Dwell in the land (be at peace where God has you), and feed on His faithfulness (Be assured of his goodness).
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Why? Because they are really his desires that he has planted in your heart. If you are trusting him and delighting yourself in him, you crucify your own desire, he replaces them with his, and then he is more than happy to give them to you. But here’s the verse I really want you to see.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
What is the word it referring to? What does he mean, he shall bring it to pass? Your way. Read the beginning of the verse.
Commit your way The road. The process. The road you’re on and finding and fulfilling your role in the ministry. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him, and he will bring it (meaning your way) to pass.
He will bring your role in the Body to pass. He will bring to pass what he has laid hold of you for. If you will trust in him, delight yourself in him, and commit your way to him, he will bring your way to pass, and you will not only find – but you will fulfill – and by remaining focused on him, you will stay in the role that he has chosen you for in the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:18-26 (NKJV)
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The title of the message today is “Fulfilling Your Role in The Body.” Let me start by asking you a question, which might be a moot point after that scripture. The question is, how many of us has God called to fill a role in the Body? All of us. We’ve all been called; we’ve all been placed in the Body, severally, meaning individually as God wills. He has a role for us. He has or will enable us to fulfill that role.
To give you some confidence of that, I’d like to run through a quick medley of verses. This is a great set of about eight verses.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:18 (NKJV)
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 7:7 (NKJV)
7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (NKJV)
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
The first six verses of Romans 12 are a critical preface to today’s message. For this medley, we’ll read just verse 3.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (in humility, humbly), as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV)
7 But to each one of us grace (the same word as gift) was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
10 As each one has received a gift (there is no doubt that we have), minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold (many folded) grace (gifts) of God.
Don’t minister it to the uttermost ends of the earth, although we are called to go and make disciples also, but the purpose of our role in the Body is to minister to the person we are sitting next to. That’s the purpose – to minister to each other, to one another.
And so, God pours these incredible, abundant gifts into the Body, for the good of the Body, and he has no choice but to pour them into you and I. And then, we, as good stewards, are called to minister back to the people that God gave the gifts for, which is one another. The Body ministering to itself. That is the miraculous function of the Body of Christ, that he puts all that the Body needs in the Body so that the Body can minister to itself, for the edification of itself, the shoring up, the strengthening for the health of the Body. That’s the purpose.
And guys, God has made the Body of Christ so vast and so diverse that we cannot put it in a mold. We can hardly describe it. Because the Body of Christ, the overall Body of Christ, is so incredibly diverse if you think about it around the world. And then if you come to this Body of Christ and say, “This Body of Christ is uniquely different than the other Body of Christ,” that each of us as individual Bodies of Christ develop our own personalities or characters by God.
And then, if you take that one step deeper, each of us that God has gifted, is uniquely diverse than the person sitting next to us. And yet, God called has called this incredible vast, diverseness to function perfectly together as one Body. That’s a miracle! And that is why it is one of the hardest things to happen in the Church because it takes supernatural power for the Body to minister to itself.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NKJV)
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
So, to each one of us, we’ve been given gifts by the Spirit, both manifestation gifts and ministry gifts. And there’re two things that we’ve got to understand before we move ahead in this message.
1). If Jesus is your Lord, you have a role in the Body
And if those eight verses or so didn’t convince you, I cut out four or five. If Jesus is your Lord, you have a role in the Body. Period.
2). The purpose for Jesus giving you a role in the Body is for the person’s good sitting next to you
That is the purpose that God has given you the gifts and that role in the Body – it’s to edify those in the Body so that the Body would strengthen itself. Minister to itself.
Last week, we looked at twelve ministry gifts. Some many weeks ago, we looked at twelve manifestation gifts, primarily. And so, we’ve in this series, looked at twenty-four separate gifts from God. Is it a complete list? No chance. Could it be a complete list? No chance. It can’t be a complete list because it’s not that God is outside the box; it’s that there is no box. We cannot say, “This is how God works. This is what it looks like. This is the mold. This is what you have to look like if you have a role or a place in the Body.” None of that is applicable. The only thing that is applicable is that God says if you are an adopted son or daughter of God, then you have a role in the Body. Each. One. Each one is given gifts and given a role. Why? To minister to the Body. To edify the Body.
So, accepting the Word of God, then the question is, how do we find and how do we fulfill the role that God has called us individually to? Remember, he knows our name. He knows every hair on your head. He knows every thought. He knows every tear that falls. He knows you. Immerse yourself in Psalm 139 to understand that this is a personal, individual relationship that you have with God.
So, how do you find out what your role in the Body is? Well, one method, you could go out and buy a glossy and slick Spiritual Gifts Test. Anybody ever taken a slick and glossy spiritual gifts test? Yes, we have. I don’t want to poke too much fun at it, but maybe a little. What’s wrong with the Spiritual Gift test? Maybe nothing, because it at least gets our minds thinking in that right area. But really, what the Spiritual Gift test is, is a personality test with scriptures attached. It’s the same personality test you would take to get a job, or whatever. And just appropriate scriptures are applied.
Now, is it all bad? No. There’s a place for it because your character, your nature, your personality is, to a great extent, a result of what we call Creation Gifts that God gave you in Psalm 139 when he created you, when he formed you in your mother’s womb. He chose you to be this way. And to some extent, that is true, and those personality tests find it, and you can connect it to gifts, and it gives you some thought direction.
Why don’t I like it? I’ll tell you why. The question is this: do you think that there were procedures and recipes around when God wrote the Bible? Do you think that when we come up with a slick, three-step process or recipe, God says, “Oh! That’s a great one! I wish I would have thought of that when I wrote the Bible”? Listen, there are no processes in the Bible, there are no recipes in the Bible, and there is a huge reason for that. Here’s why. The Bible is not about a process. It’s about a Person. It’s not about a recipe; it’s about a relationship. That’s why you don’t find processes or recipes in the Bible because the Bible is all about a relationship.
Here’s why I don’t like the quick personality test; attach a scripture to it and say this is what your spiritual gift is. This is the MIP of the day. The Most Important Point.
The road that we travel in order to find and fulfill our position in the Body is as important, if not more important, than the end result.
Let me re-phrase it. It’s the road that we take; it is the process that we go through that God is actually (in my opinion) more interested in than the ultimate position that we end up with. Why? Because it is traveling that road in which you come to know God. It is the process of getting to that place where you have found and are fulfilling your role in the Body. It’s during that process that you come to know God. It’s during that process that you come to experience God. You don’t experience hi so much there as in your moving towards there. And here’s most important, it is the road that you travel to find your place in the Body that causes you to be usable by God. It is the process that makes you usable.
And so, our focus is always the gold medal; it’s always the end result, to become something. But God is not that way. God is more interested in your relationship, in the process, it’s in your travel, it’s in the road less traveled. If we don’t travel that road with God, if we use that quick fix, kind of rapid-fire spiritual gift test, plug me in, get me working, what happens is (I’m telling you it’s the truth) you end up serving God in the flesh.
And so, if your flesh has this kind of personality, and you get plugged into the ministry, and all of a sudden, you’re serving God because of your personality, there needs to be a time out. Even if it’s good flesh, it’s still flesh. But this process that God takes us through to bring us to that point is what causes us to be wholly dependent, to be desperately dependent, to be more interested in knowing God than achieving something for him. To be more interested in seeing God work than accomplishing some goal. Do you understand the difference?
The goal is the process, not the end result. I’m going to show you that. I want to give you some guidelines today to follow on that road to fulfilling your role in the Body. But if you will watch, by the way, these guidelines will look very much like a recipe that I just poked fun at, closely, you will see that in these areas, following these guidelines on the road, you will come to know God. You will come to experience God, and God will make you usable. Not because of your personality, because of the process that he has taken you through to get you to this point.
In Romans 12, we see the pre-requisite to all ministry. The first six verses – if they are not understood and received, there is no future in ministry. You can’t fulfill your role. So this isn’t the message; this is the pre-requisite of the message.
Romans 12:1(a) (NKJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
That means that your will and your flesh are continually crucified. That you are continually crucifying your own will. That you are continually allowing God to crucify your flesh.
1(b) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2-6 (NKJV)
2(a) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Guys, nothing can happen in your role in the ministry until you are transformed by the renewing of your mind. It is a pre-requisite; you just can’t do it without it. You can’t because how much ministry comes from us? True ministry? How much do I do? Zero. True ministry comes from the Holy Spirit, one hundred percent of it. He might use me, but if ten percent of that is me, then I’m ministering ten percent in the flesh. And so, I have to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, by the continual filling of the Holy Spirit. Why?
2(b) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (humbly), as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (so critical – one hundred percent God, zero percent us – always)
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (That is how supernatural the body is made that we are members of one another in the Body)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
I would teach more in these verses, but then we wouldn’t get to the four areas. Just know that these verses are pre-requisites for the ministry – always, always, always.
Here are the four areas. If you are taking notes, write these down because if you were to come to me, at least today, and say, “Dave, how do I find and fulfill my role in the Body?” I will tell you this.
1). Be faithful where God has you
2). Be filled
3). Be flexible
4). Be focused
That outline comes from Jim Hesterly. Acts One Eight Ministries, a great Holy Spirit ministry out of Calvary Costa Mesa.
It’s not a spiritual gifts test because the end result is not that you get active so much as it in you know and experience and are able to be used by God. Be faithful.
In Acts Chapter 6, the Apostles are overwhelmed by the demands of the ministry. There arises a complaint from some of the widows who aren’t being ministered to. So, the Apostles are led to appoint seven men, not necessarily to do this ministry but to oversee it. We often say this is the appointing of the deacons, but these men were appointed to oversee the deacons, those who would serve the widows, etc. In verse 3, we see the things the Apostles are looking for in those who would fulfill this role in the ministry.
Acts 6:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And so, the Apostles, overwhelmed, but obviously feeling responsible (as they should be and as we should be), to minister to the widows and those in need, appoint seven men over a ministry. The word good reputation literally means “to be well testified of, to have a good testimony, to be well respected, to be in good standing.” We call it, be faithful. Be faithful in what God has given you.
Luke 16:10 (NKJV)
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
My first counsel to you is be faithful where you find yourself. I always tell people when they say, “How can I get in the ministry?” I always say, “Look up.” And I don’t mean so much at heaven; I mean just look up from the ground. Open your eyes because that’s your ministry. Wherever God has you, that’s where he wants you to minister. And so, my first encouragement is that you be faithful in what you’re doing now.
Why has God raised up so many men and women from obscurity in the Bible, King David not the least of which, to do great and powerful things for the Kingdom? It’s not because they are qualified. That’s what a personality test does, is find out how qualified you are. It’s because they are faithful. It’s because David had that deep and intimate and personal relationship with the Lord. It’s because he was faithful over sheep that God made him faithful over sheep. Be faithful in what God has called you to.
God is intimately involved in your ministry, no matter what it is. If we say that it is insignificant, we are wrong because there is no insignificant ministry to God. God is there. And I am so blessed by those here in this Body who serve faithfully as if Jesus Christ himself were standing next to them, which he is, by the way.
And so, faithful service – why is it good? Because it prepares your heart. You figure out at some point when you have no glory and no recognition and no reward; it’s not what you’re doing for the Lord; it’s how you’re doing it. God is really not looking for extraordinary production or performance. He’s looking for a faithful heart. And so, you can be just as faithful where you are at now as if you were somewhere else! Faithfulness comes as your heart is prepared to serve God.
1). Be faithful
2). Be filled
Acts 6:3 (NKJV)
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation (faithful men), full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (I think it is great the Holy Spirit through Luke here, uses wisdom because that is a manifestation gift. And certainly, those who are overseeing a ministry need that gift of wisdom. Wisdom is defined as “The right application of knowledge.")
Why? Because if we want to fulfill our role in God’s Body, we can’t do it in the flesh. I know that may sound a little too basic, until we realize how many of us try that because of religion, because we think we should, or whatever, we jump in and try to work for God, and what happens? If we are not continually being filled with the Holy Spirit, if we are serving God in the flesh, it is a matter of time until you are taken out. Not so much, maybe even by the enemy, although the enemy might. But by your own flesh because you can’t serve God in the flesh. You just can’t. You have to be continually be being filled with the Spirit. That is what transforms your mind.
Back in Romans 12, it says don’t be conformed to this world. What is our natural (as in nature) default? Be conformed to the world. Naturally, we are conformed to the world. That is why it is called a “sin nature.” Because the moment we are not continually filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, we naturally conform to the world. It’s our nature. And we can’t serve God there – we can go through the motions – we can’t fulfill his role unless we are continually filled. Why? It’s so that we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind. So that we can crucify that sin nature, and so that we can know, so that we can prove (Romans 12 says) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Here is the big question. What is the tool that the Holy Spirit uses primarily to transform you from being conformed to the world to having a renewed mind in the Spirit? There are tools (tools apply pressure) that the Holy Spirit uses in this transformation process. What do we call them? The Holy Spirit uses the process that you are going through to prepare you to be transformed. It is the trial that you’re in that the Holy Spirit is using to transform you to renew your mind so that you can be useable by God.
It is not you saying, “Well, as soon as this trial is over, maybe I can move on and be used by God.” Guys, that is God using that trial to mold you and shape you and transform you. The trial is not a time-out. It is the ministry. It is what God is doing in your life to bring you to this place where you really are used by him. I have not met, except maybe a time or two, but almost never have I met somebody who really is transformed by the Spirit of God and is truly ministering in the Spirit, who hasn’t gone through a long and difficult road to get there.
It’s true, guys. It is the process that causes us to be molded and shaped, and used by God. That “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” it would be great if we could just snap our fingers and say, “I’m transformed.” But the Holy Spirit says, “Hey. How about ten years of trial? That will transform you.” Sorry, but it’s true. We are transformed as we stay the course, as the Holy Spirit works us, works us, works us. And then we come out, and we say, “Man. I am so much more ready to minister, to fulfill my role now, than I was before that trial.”
God’s transforming you where you’re at. It’s not that you have to get out of where you’re at so that he can start using you. He is in the process of using you right where you’re at.
Be filled. In the message from two weeks ago called “Spirit or Flesh,” we say “be being filled.” (Ephesians 5:18) Constantly, continually be being filled with the Holy Spirit to transform your mind so that you can be used.
If you approach your role as a living sacrifice, which means your will is crucified, and your flesh is crucified on an ongoing basis; if you are faithful in where God has you (which means open your eyes and minister right where you’re at – God, how would you have me minister, right here?); and then you are continually be being filled, which means your mind is transformed, those enable you to: be flexible.
1). Be Faithful
2). Be filled
3) Be flexible
In Acts Chapter 8, there is a great story. Philip was one of those seven that was chosen, a man of good reputation, faithful, and full of the Spirit, to oversee the ministry. However, he was sent out on his first mission trip (if you will), he was an evangelist and a pastor, and we read this in verse 5. The point is be flexible. Watch the flexibility required in Philip’s role in the ministry.
Acts 8:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Guys, that is a successful ministry. That’s where we would say, “Wow! God is really using him.” The multitudes are heeding his words. As he speaks, the multitudes gather around, and not only do they listen, they do what he says! They’re heeding his words! He’s a great pastor, great evangelist, miracles following him, unclean spirits being cast out, paralyzed, lame healed, he’s doing a great job. Now, read in verse 14.
Acts 8:14 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,
Wait a minute, Philip didn’t even get an honorable mention here. Samaria had received the Word of God; they sent Peter and John to them. Now, do you think that Philip could have said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute – wait a minute! Why are you sending “the guns” down here? I think I got this under control. The multitudes are heeding my word. I’m the one performing the miracles here. Why in the world are you sending those guys here? Have you not heard about the ten-mile ministry franchise protection zone? You guys have to stay ten miles away from me. This is my ministry area.”
Philip was doing a great job. And God sent Peter and John down. Why? To lay hands on the people that they would receive the Holy Spirit, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Couldn’t Philip have done that? Of course, he could. He was full of the Holy Spirit; we know that from Acts 6:3. So, why did God send the guns, Peter and John down, when Philip was doing such a great job? Because God was about to make Philip flexible.
Acts 8:26 (NKJV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
Arise from this great and fantastic and successful and productive ministry that you have, and go into the desert. So, Philip could have said, “Oh, Lord, I think I need to find someone. We need to appoint somebody to that work because the multitudes are heeding my call.” No.
Acts 8:27 (NKJV)
27 So he arose and went. (Which means he walked away from the ministry) And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
Guys, Philip had a massively successful ministry, and God said, walk away to the south to the desert because I have one guy sitting in a chariot, reading the Book of Isaiah. I want you to leave the multitudes, and I want you to go minister to that guy. There is a massive lesson there. And Philip says, okay. Whatever. And so, Philip walks away. He goes towards Gaza, which is a difficult area (was then – is now), for a Eunuch sitting on the side of the road. Philip ministers to him. The Holy Spirit leads him to him. The eunuch is reading the Book of Isaiah in Isaiah 53. Philip explains Jesus Christ out of Isaiah 53. The eunuch is saved as they continue on. There’s water. The eunuch says, “Why don’t we get baptized?” Philip stops, says yeah. I’ll baptize you right here. And if Philip wasn’t flexible yet, he’s about to get flexible.
Acts 8:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Guys, Philip went from a big, large, successful, growing, productive ministry to looking for one guy in the desert to the first Star Trek episode. This is a “Beam me up, Scotty” event here. Philip is walking in the desert, he preaches Christ, the guy gets saved, he baptizes him, he comes up and vroom! Beam me up, Scotty. He’s gone.
He lands in an area we call Ashdod, from the Old Testament. It’s about twenty miles away from Gaza, north and on the coast. And what does Philip do – does he run back to his ministry at Samaria? No! He starts wandering around the coast up to Caesarea, which is another sixty miles away. So, he’s transported twenty miles by Scotty, and then he walks sixty preaching Christ. And we know that twenty years later, Philip is still in Caesarea ministering to who knows who or how many. There is never again a mention of the size or success of Philip’s ministry. That’s flexibility.
There is also not a mention of what happened to all the multitudes in Samaria. God took care of them. Philip was yanked out and used otherwise. The message is, be flexible.
1). Be faithful
2). Be filled
3). Be flexible
And if God wants to beam you up and drop you in Ashdod, then go minister there. But don’t hold on tightly because God just wants you to be faithful where you’re at.
So, the pre-requisite is to be a living sacrifice. And then, we are called to
1). Be faithful where we find ourselves, faithful in the role God puts us in now
2). Be filled continually filled with the Holy Spirit to be transformed so that we’re not operating in the flesh, conformed to the world, but we are transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove (which means “to recognize as genuine”) the will of God. The will of God seldom is our will. Have you found that out? Our will and God’s will seldom are the same. Now, when our will is God’s will, they’re in perfect alignment. Hence the need to sacrifice continually our will. To crucify our will so that his will becomes our will.
3). Be flexible
And the greatest, most needed, most overwhelmingly powerful thing we can do is
4). Be focused
It’s to be focused. Through it all, because of it all, if we are not wholly and completely focused on Jesus Christ and nothing else, we will get taken out. I can’t tell you how regularly this happens. As soon as we take our eyes of Jesus, there are a million reasons to quit. There’re a million reasons to seek after something else. There’re a million reasons why we should react or respond or do something else. But if we are wholly and completely set on Christ, then all of that is like white noise going out here.
The quickest way to be taken out of your role in the Body is to take your focus off of Jesus Christ. Set it on anything else, set it on yourself, set it on others in the ministry, set it on the world, set it on your own needs. Set your focus on anything but Christ, and the clock is ticking, and you are on your way out of your role in the ministry. I don’t mean to overstate that. Focus on Jesus Christ.
In Philippians 3, you will find my life’s verse. It is the first five words of verse 10. That I may know him. It is an appropriate response to every single situation you will ever find yourself in. That I may know him. The power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.
Here is Paul’s overriding focus. I want you to see here that it is not the end result that Paul is focused on. It’s the process. This road that I have talked about. This road less traveled by Christians, the road that we hate to be on because we don’t understand its value; this is Paul’s goal – it’s to be on the road, not to be at the end. Watch how that develops.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Guys, Jesus Christ has laid hold of you for something, for a purpose. You have a role, and you have a specific role in the Body. And Christ has laid hold of you for it, and your entire focus should be to lay hold on that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of you. That’s a good goal.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended (It’s not the reaching there, it’s the staying the course on the way); but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Guys, I’m telling you that Paul’s focus is pressing toward the goal. It’s not even achieving the goal because he never said he achieved the goal. In fact, the closer he got to Christ, the more of a sinner that he understood he was until he called himself the chief of sinners. I’m telling you his goal wasn’t achieving some gold medal, or status or whatever, his goal was to stay the course. Press on. No matter what. It was to press on, to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. That’s his goal. It’s the road. It’s the process. The road less traveled.
I believe Paul’s goal was staying the course. I’m positive of it. It was the pressing on that was his all-consuming purpose. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Single-minded focus to stay on the course that Christ has laid.
Okay. One other thing. Psalm 37. Please watch this because the whole message is wrapped up in this.
Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Trust in the Lord, and do (operative word) good; Dwell in the land (be at peace where God has you), and feed on His faithfulness (Be assured of his goodness).
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Why? Because they are really his desires that he has planted in your heart. If you are trusting him and delighting yourself in him, you crucify your own desire, he replaces them with his, and then he is more than happy to give them to you. But here’s the verse I really want you to see.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
What is the word it referring to? What does he mean, he shall bring it to pass? Your way. Read the beginning of the verse.
Commit your way The road. The process. The road you’re on and finding and fulfilling your role in the ministry. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him, and he will bring it (meaning your way) to pass.
He will bring your role in the Body to pass. He will bring to pass what he has laid hold of you for. If you will trust in him, delight yourself in him, and commit your way to him, he will bring your way to pass, and you will not only find – but you will fulfill – and by remaining focused on him, you will stay in the role that he has chosen you for in the Body.