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How does what we have learned apply to the congregation as a whole? G-d is always at work in and around a congregation. G-d pursues a loving relationship with the congregation that is real and personal. G-d invites us as a congregation to become involved in His work. When we see where He is at work and already doing something, that is our invitation to join Him then and there. G-d speaks by His Ruach HaKodesh, prayer, circumstances and through congregant members. We as a congregation may face a lack of faith when G-d asks us to join Him in a work that only He can accomplish. We will have to make major adjustments in order to join G-d in His work. A congregation is totally dependent on G-d for accomplishing tasks of Kingdom value. As our congregation obeys G-d, we will come to know Him by experience as He does wonderful things through us. However, there
is a difference in the way a congregation comes to know G-d’s will and
the way an individual knows G-d’s will The body-of-believers are to be one in Messiah, with Yeshua as the head, and every member placed in the body as it pleases G-d. 1 Corinthians 12:7-26 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire congregation. To one person the Ruach gives the ability to give wise advice; to another He gives the gift of special knowledge. The Ruach gives special faith to another, and to someone else He gives the power to heal the sick. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Ruach of G-d or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Ruach HaKodesh who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Messiah. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been immersed into Messiah's body by one Ruach, and we have all received the same Ruach. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? Suppose the whole body were an eye – then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything? But G-d made our bodies with many parts, and He has put each part just where He wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So G-d has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Just like individuals, many congregations are more interested in what G-d wants them to do than what He wants them to be. This may seem right, but is wrong. Being the kind of person or congregation that pleases G-d is FAR more important than doing something for Him. Each leader
has a responsibility to the body to equip the members, and the rabbi, pastor, or priest is responsible for the body
as well as to the body 64 |