Temples of God

 

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Bible tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God himself lives inside of us. When we pray, we don't need to pray to some distant God. He lives inside of us and is right there with us, even in the midst of our pain, discomfort, trials, and tribulations.

God bless fam!

- J.W.

Each According To His Ability (Part 7)

As we close out this series, I just want to encourage you to not live in isolation (Hebrews 10:25). You were not meant to do everything yourself. Find what you are good at and partner with others who have complementary gifts.

God gives each of us according to our ability (Matthew 25:15). But it's always His will for us to use what He's given us to its fullest potential (John 10:10). That can only happen in community. We were made to be one of a larger whole (Romans 12:4-5).

Find who complements you and live life to the fullest!

Have a great rest of your week!

God bless,
J.W.

Series Recap - Each According to His Ability

• Part 1: Operate In Your Function
• Part 2: Be Content With Where You Are
• Part 3: Manage The Small Stuff Well
• Part 4: The Power To Produce Wealth
• Part 5: Avoid Comparisons With Others
• Part 6: Do Not Live In Isolation

Each According to His Ability (Part 6)

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..." ~ Romans 12:4‭-‬6 NKJV

There's a reason we all have different gifts.

Because God doesn't intend for us to live in isolation.

Rather, man is designed to live interdependently. That is, that while each of us is responsible for managing our own individual gifts and talents, we also have a responsibility to use our gifts for the good of the whole.

Don't believe me? Check Romans 12!

In it, the Bible says that we are members of one body. While we all have different functions, the body is designed to work in concert with itself. In order words, each of us make up a part of a body that ultimately works together as one.

That is why I encourage folks to find what they're good at and partner with others in the areas they are not.

We weren't designed to do everything on our own. God gives us a function so that we might edify the body, not just ourselves. But when we function in isolation, we actually operate in dysfunction.

So, how are you functioning today?

God bless,
J.W. 

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 8)

As we close out this series on "Why Bad Things Happen To Good People," let's recap what we've discussed.

In short, we’ve seen that bad things happen to good people because:

1. God desires a relationship with us (Part 1), and therefore, He’s given us free will (Part 2). 
2. Free will necessarily limits God's power here on earth (Part 3).
3. He's transferred at least some of His power to us, as earthly images, or copies, of Him (Part 3). 
4. We are in a battle between good and evil (Part 5 and Part 7).
5. God has called us to be His eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc. in that battle (Part 4). 
6. People mismanage the power and influence that God has given us (Part 6)

Hopefully, this series has transformed your view of why evil exists in the world, and God’s role, or lack thereof, in it. Despite what you've heard, it's not that God allows bad things to happen. Rather, we live in a fallen world - one that's turned away from Him - and because of free will, God allows us to experience the natural consequence of our fallenness.

Moreover, I hope this series has opened your eyes to the great power you have to stop bad things from happening. God has called us to be change agents here on earth. We have power to stop bad things from happening - through our faith, through our prayers, and through our actions. God holds the Body of Christ responsible for what it does or does not do here on earth.

Are you doing your part? Are you upholding your end? If not, it’s time to step up and get to it!

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 4)

The question "why do bad things happen to good people" inherently implies that God is somehow responsible for everything that happens on the earth - that is, that God somehow owes people who are "good" protection from bad things. But again, that mentality is based on a faulty premise.

God is a God of principles. In the beginning, he set principles in motion by which the world would operate. One of those principles is that man would have free will. God allows us to make choices and experience the consequences. Why? Because God wants relationship, not servitude. He forces us to do nothing. He invites and encourages but then it’s up to us to accept.

Another principle that God set in motion at the foundation of the earth is that God needs us to perform His work and will on the earth. Think about it. In the beginning, God told man to name the animals and take care of the garden (Genesis 2:15, 19). He told us to have dominion over the birds of the air and the fish in the sea (Genesis 1:26). He told us that whatever we bind on earth would be bound in Heaven (Matthew 16:19). God places authority on earth with man.

That’s why we are called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) – that is, we are God’s hands, feet, eyes, nose, etc. to do His will here on earth (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). That is why He says faith without works is dead (James 2:26). God calls us to put our faith into action and move on our own behalf as He moves on our behalf.

So, the next time you hear someone ask why God would allow bad things to happen to good people, tell them. God needs your participation in order to help stop bad things from happening to good people.

God bless,
J.W.

I Remember Me

"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" ~ Luke 22:19

Today, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was crucified for you. Let us never forget.

God bless,
J.W.

The Body

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

One thing I've learned from being an entrepreneur is that everyone has a calling. Everyone has something that they're good at, something that God has blessed them to do better than everyone else.

The flip side of the coin, however, is that everyone is not called to do everything. Not everyone's called to be a singer, for instance (see American idol auditions). Not everyone is good at math. Not everyone's called to be rich and famous like Donald Trump or the ability to galvanize millions of people like President Obama.

The key to success, however, is finding that thing you are called to do. For Christians, it's finding your place in the body.

That's where the magic happens. Because when you're operating in that which you are called to do, you allow others to operate in that which they are called to do and the entire body operates more efficient and effective.

So what's your calling? Where's your place in the world?

Find it and you'll open yourself up to a world of possibilities.

God bless,
J.W.

We're All One

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." ~ Romans 12:4-5

Remember the movie "Crash."

Everything that happened was connected with something else.

Everyone was connected to the other characters in one way or another.

That's how it is in the Kingdom of God.

Yes, we're all different, but we're part of ONE body.

Christ's.

God bless,
J.W.

Not Everyone's A Preacher

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." ~ Romans 12:6-8

For some reason, whenever someone has an anointing on their life, people automatically assume that that person is called to be a preacher.

But this passage of scripture proves that God calls some of us to do other things. No one thing is better than another. They're just different. But, at the end of the day, it's all ministry.

Embrace whatever unique calling God has given you today! He's called you to do that for a reason.

God bless,
J.W.