USING YOUR GIFTS WITH DISCERNMENT

Jim's Mom has been struggling with heart and artery trouble which is currently under control. But she has had a severe bout of bleeding ulcers and now scar tissue has formed blocking the valve where her stomach empties. She cannot eat and is scheduled for very serious surgery June 12. Meanwhile, she is resting, giving blood for the surgery, and trying to digest liquid nutrition. The surgery could involve removal of part of her stomach as well as the acid producing glands and some resectioning of her intestines. Her heart problems add to the risk. Please pray God will intervene for He is the Great Physician. We will keep you informed.

Last month I shared from my experience how not being submitted to God could hurt us personally. I planned to share this month of the dangers of not being submitted to God in our place as part of the body of Christ. Mom's condition is like a parable in the physical realm of this truth. God designed the stomach to produce acid to digest food that nourishes the body. Acting apart from the discernment and control of God's design, the very same function destroys the stomach and keeps nourishment from the body. In the same way in our spiritual life, it is the very area God designed us to operate that we can cause the most harm if we are not submitted to Him. As a watchman and intercessor, I often see into the spiritual realm the shortcomings and problems in the Body of Christ. Often these are areas which God has already identified and cleansed in my own life. In prayer, I can step into the breaches, cover the failings with God's love, seal off the enemy's access and extend God's forgiveness. Prayer thus becomes a channel through which God's healing power can flow to His Body. But if I use this gift of sight apart from God's love I become critical, judgmental and take the side of the accuser of the brethren and begin to devour the Body itself. And that will always be the result of the flesh. Not only does it profit nothing it breeds death. I have been through a real breaking over this in my life as an intercessor. The Body of Christ has suffered much damage because we often use His gifts apart from His Spirit. Our failure to allow the Spirit of God to deal with the motivations of our hearts affects us personally, as I described last month, and also as a body. Let us not remain in darkness in these things.

Lord we pray for Your body to be healed of all willfulness in its parts. Start with us. We ask You, Spirit of God, to search our hearts and help us to submit fully to You that we might use Your gifts according to Your direction and for Your purpose only. May we be built together and grow in stature to the full measure of Christ for the sake of Your kingdom in Jesus' Name. Amen.