DISCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST

The title of this series is “Go Tell My Brothers.” This is such a privilege because I remember Jesus talking to another Mary saying, “Go tell my brothers.” He said to me, “I want you to tell my brothers that they are the Sons of the living God.”

I do not believe that you fully understand the ramifications of this; most saints do not. Most of the Body of Christ does not comprehend what it means to be a Son of God. Hopefully, you will understand the reason for this concern.

The Church itself; has not discerned the true purpose for the Body. You are men, and you must be able to receive the Word as men, and not children. When I say “children” I mean you must not receive it in folly or in foolishness of heart. You must receive it as mature men.

God wants you to share in His concern for the Church. God wants to reveal to each of you, the Body of Christ, and its true purpose for being here on earth. I challenge you brothers. If you had discerned the Body of Christ you would also be operating in the purpose of Christ. The church is stagnated today because the purpose of God is not on the agenda for the Body.

Many of you have a call on your life that you will never walk in unless you discern the Body of Christ. You know you have been called. You feel the unction to serve. You know God has something for you to do, but unless you discern the Body, you will only do what you see other men do. You will only produce what other men are producing; but never achieve the purpose of God for your life.

Some Saints will be religious and play church until Jesus comes. I say this because man is so arrogant as to flaunt his refusal to submit to the mind of Christ before the true and Living God. Thus, there are many things operating in the Body of Christ that are causing it to forfeit the privilege of glorifying God through Jesus Christ. We will deal with some of them in the upcoming lessons of this book..

Many of you sitting under these teachings have done so for many years. You have heard the teachings on “Oneness,” the “Body of Christ,” and “Faith,” for many years. You know the truth. Nevertheless, you have deceived yourself into believing that your knowledge of the truth, equals you walking in the truth. Let me give you an example of such deception.

REGARDING YOUR PERSONAGE: I’M THE MAN

One of the hardest things for men in the Body of Christ to come to terms with, is the role of the woman. Even those who know the scriptures promoting her equality in ministry, sometimes allow themselves to wrestle with the truths. They occasionally give in to the rise of self and manhood.

This is sad because I don’t believe my brothers know the severe damage such a mindset does to their anointing. It manifests their opposition to the “oneness” of the Body of Christ.

Galatians 3:28

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

The above scriptures are either spiritualized or totally ignored when the male ego is allowed to live. Even if, as some, you have served in a ministry with female leadership, you too must be careful not to succumb to the uprising of your own ego.

God knew this would be an issue in the Body of Christ, therefore, he tempered the Body with more glory being given to its uncomely parts, the women and the poor. This glory is given in the form of revelation, great knowledge and understanding of his word. Even an unveiling of the mysteries of God which others wrestle with. It is given in the form of anointing and governmental placement in the Body.

My dear brothers, ego will highlight in your heart, your male gender and/or your substantive social status. In Christ there is no regard for race, creed, or color, rich or poor, and especially male or female. Below is an example as to God’s mind concerning male and female, and more so, husband and wife, with regards to their dealings with him.

WOMAN, GO TELL YOUR HUSBAND

Judges 13:2-5

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

The Old Covenant has recorded many things regarding the history of the nation of Israel, that are to serve as a schoolmaster for us today. It is here that we learn many things concerning the heart, mind, and character of our God. But even as Jesus said in the New Covenant, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church; even from the ancient scriptures.

The woman testifies to her husband of her visitation from the Lord:

Judges 13:6-7

6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE WOMAN:

1. A man of God came to me
2. His countenance was that of an angel of God, very terrible.
3. I didn’t ask him from whence he was. (Where did you come from?)
4. He did not tell me his name
5. I, (who am barren) will conceive.
6. I will have a son
7. I am to drink no wine nor strong drink.
8. I am to eat no unclean thing.
9. The child will be a Nazarite to God (separated & consecrated), from the womb to the day of his death.

Judges 13:8

Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.

Now on the surface this prayer of Manoah may indeed seem totally righteous and sincere. “Lord send the man back again to us. At this point, the angel of the Lord had never made a physical appearance to the both of them. He appeared only to the woman.

Let the man teach uswhat we shall do. …

But the angel of the Lord had already told the woman what was to be done; and the woman had repeated it to her husband.

Judges 13:9

And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.

God knows the hearts of men. He knows their vanity and their egotistical flaws. Thus, He sends the angel back; but again to the woman only.

Judges 13:10-11

10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

There are some interesting facts that need to be discussed here.

First of all, the woman was not hesitant to inform her husband of the visitation. In fact she was quite eager to do so. This is how it should be in the household of faith. The wife should feel the liberty to speak to her husband, or her pastor, of the things God has revealed to her. Even if the Lord has not shown these things to either of them. To rob the woman of this liberty, is to force her to serve her husband, her leader, and her God, in suppression of the knowledge he has bestowed upon her.

As a husband, or the leader of a congregation, always keep before you the reality that the Father can use whomever he will to speak to you.

Take note of the fact that it was the woman that led the man to come face to face with what he later proclaimed to be God. Had he not followed her, he would not have known how to find the angel of the Lord.

Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman?

Now we see the true disposition of Manoah. But where does he go first? Did you say these things to the woman? But God confirmed through his messenger that he had indeed spoken to the woman.

Judges 13:12

And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?

Ok! So you are the one that spoke to the woman. Now tell me about this matter.

Judges 13:13-14

13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

Now this is very interesting. The angel of the Lord simply replies, “all that I commanded her, let her observe.” Notice that he only tells Manoah enough to confirm that he had indeed spoken to her. However, he never told him that no razor was to come upon his head, or that he would begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines. These things he would have to learn from the woman.

Judges 13:15-18

15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.

16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.

17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

Manoah never stops. First of all, he is face to face with the angel of the Lord, but does not discern it. Secondly, he is still fishing for the angel to tell him something that he didn’t tell the woman. Again God is not ignorant of the wiles of men. Why do you want to know that which is secret? It is not to honor me; but to stroke your ego.

My brothers, take heed that none of these things plague you. Walk in the Spirit of the Living God and be content with what he does through you. Dare not to covet, or suppress that which he does in another whom the world deems as a lesser vessel.

You live in the kingdom of God. The rules are different. Neither gender, race, nationality or social staus are meritorious. But if you mind these in your heart, you will never please the Father. Salvation is his plan. He is the architect of the Body. Your secret feelings on these things can seriously undermine your ability to serve in this kingdom. Be content with that which God has given you, and does through you.