The Lord is piecing together a new revelation for me. You know those verses that you read at least 20 times and practically know by heart, but you read again and receive a whole new wild revelation (I’ve been asking the Lord for revelations). Well, I have a couple of those to share with y’all. (also please read through all this scripture on your own so that you can better understand the collective body of Christ!)
OneRace, a racial reconciliation organization, came and talked to us here on base. They are huge advocates for the universal church. They also support that all races and ethnicities have a place and important role in the formation of the church and the kingdom in general. During our last day, we dove into Ephesians 2.
19-22 That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
And then it hit me, a single brick cannot build a temple. All the bricks, all the various peoples from various ethnicities, are needed to construct the whole temple where God makes His home. The body, against popular individualistic beliefs, needs every member globally so that she can come into her proper glory and fullness.
Also, 1 Peter 2:4-8, here’s some of it.
4-8 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
I read this scripture this morning. And my revelation and understanding about the construction of the Lord’s temple deepened. We, each of us, present ourselves as a stone. We are one part of the whole sanctuary. If we were missing, there would be a hole. If we were standing alone, there wouldn’t be a building. Yes, our body is the temple in which Christ dwells (amazing), but we, as Christ followers, also are building a complete sancturary for Christ to dwell in.
The body is crucial. Spirit-filled people that follow Jesus Christ are called to collectivism. We are a knitted tapestry and a strong and beautiful temple. We are the body of Christ. We each bring something unique. We each bring necessary giftings to exhort the body. We cannot operate as an individual, as a race, as a gender, or as a country. We need and are called to operate as the worldwide body of Christ (Revelation 7:9).
Through our Jesus, we are no longer foreigner; we are no longer orphan. We are free to call out “Abba” as we accept the gift of son-ship. After all, we are members of His Kingdom (Romans 8:15). This right and gift has been extended globally to all humanity. He invites everyone to come build their lives on the Cornerstone. And in all mystery, a wonderful, complete home is built. To all the Glory and Honor- Jesus Christ.
So, who are we to say who can and cannot be a brick in this temple?
We need everyone to bring God’s plan into completion. His vision was birthed before the world began and it will come to completion. He wants everyone saved (1 Timothy 2:4-7). That includes Asian people, Black people, Hispanic people, and White people to name a few. We are called to live in unity under a bond of peace. We each bring unique attributes and designs, if you will. Let’s see the beauty in all humanity, all color, all personality, and all culture. Leaving anyone out of this end picture due to our security issues would taint the glorious moment- a possibility I am sure the Lord will avoid. We get to either join in on His Biblical plan or miss out.
Come on people of God! It is promised that we will be unified by the Spirit. Any disunity is from the enemy. I urge you today, that if your perspective isn’t already expanded, dare to believe that God wants to save all of humanity and unify one bride under our Savior and Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
Did your view shift?
A side-note. You know the 5-fold ministry giftings that the Holy Spirit gives? Teacher, Pastor, Prophet, Apostle, and Evangelist? Well, I thought that I operated in these gifts sometimes (when it was needed or prompted), but I didn’t think I had a specific gifting in any of these areas. Well, my friend Bob Mudd described Pastor in a whole new way today. He said that the pastor encompasses what Isaiah 61 talks about. They are shepherds called to the well-being of the body, called to “bind up the broken hearted and set the captives free”. Now, you see, the Lord said that I have the anointing of Isaiah 61, the mantle. Then it hit me, maybe just maybe I have the gifting of Pastor graciously given by the Father. How cool, huh?
Colossians 3
Acts 2
