Because of the destructive division of clergy and laity only a tiny part of the potential gifts and ministries have been operating throughout the history of the Christian churches.

Yet the Body of the Anointed Deliverer can be built up only by that which every joint supplies. Are the pastors the only joints or do the joints include every member from the least to the greatest?

The division between clergy and laity must come to a screeching halt. Every member of the Body of Christ from this point forward is to become serious about his calling, present his or her body a living sacrifice to God, and seek to know his ministry; seek to find out what part he is to supply to the Body. Whoever does not do this will be held guilty of burying his or her talent!

There are to be no ifs, ors, ands, or buts. The American culture is robbing us of our time and strengthùtime and strength that is to be devoted to building up the Body of Christ throughout the world. I know you have to work and I have no use for religious bums who won't work. But there may be a lot of things you do that are not essential. God wants part of your time and strength spent in prayer, in reading the Bible, and in attending a fellowship of fervent believers (if you can find one).

You simply must get serious about finding out your part in the Body of Christ. God is ready to bring up the Body to maturity in our day and every part counts. Bury your talent under the American bushel today and you are heading for the outer darkness. And I don't give two cents for all the talk about God's love, mercy, grace, and the rest of it. If you don't start seeking the Lord you are heading toward unbelievable suffering. Take if from a concerned friend.

Are you warning sinners about Hell? Good. Now start warning the believers about not presenting their body to God, about not being serious about the role they are to play in bringing the Body to maturity.

God gave some of us to be apostles, some prophets, some teachers, some pastors, some evangelists, some gifts of healing, some working of miracles, some the ability to speak in foreign languages, and so forth that we might be equipped through the impartations of the Spirit to build up every member to the unity of the faith, to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the standard of maturity which is the fullness of Christ.

What is your role? What is your gift? What is your ministry?

You don't know? How long are you going to wait before you start asking the Lord what you are supposed to do?

The Holy Spirit gives ministry and gifts to every believer as the Spirit chooses. What has He given to you?

We all are hurting until you pick up your end of the log. Do you expect other people to do it all for you?

To be continued.