We prepare ourselves today by fixing our eyes on Jesus, absolutely refusing to look at Satan or to consider him in any manner. He is not our god. He is not all-powerful. He goes about accusing the righteous before God, but he cannot harm us while we are following Jesus. He will flee from us if we will submit to God and refuse to yield to temptation.

Jesus is our Lord. Let us consider Him always and not the spiritual darkness around us. Christ is greater than all and we are absolutely safe in Him.

Set Yourself Aside for God's Purposes

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2—NIV)

One of the greatest of the needs confronting us Christians is that of guiding the believers to the area of service God has for them.

Prior to the Protestant reformation it was generally agreed that the priests would officiate at the altar and the people would assemble and participate as they were directed. There was a considerable gap between the priesthood and the laity.

Since the Reformation the concept of the clergy and the laity has continued, because it is kind of a natural arrangement. It is obvious there must be people in charge of the assembly. Also, church government appears to proceed on a more effective basis when one person is regarded as being the final decision maker.

So it is understandable, since the senior pastors are often full-time employees of the church, that the believers give their spiritual proxy to the pastors.

It is time now for the Body of Christ to grow to maturity, and since the Body cannot grow to maturity apart from the gifts and services of all the members of the Body, we must begin to encourage the believers to discover and operate that which the Spirit has given them.

We know from the Scriptures that the Spirit of God has given a gift or ministry to every member of the Body. No part of the Body is without a designated function.

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (I Corinthians 12:6,7—NIV)

It is obvious, just as there is no part of the human body that has no purpose, that there is no part of the Body of Christ that has no purpose, no function—nothing to contribute to the growth and well-being of the Body.

But because of the concept of the clergy and laity, many, if not the great majority, of Christian believers who are not professional ministers do not regard themselves as being on the same level as the clergy.

To be continued.