Jesus asked His disciples saying, “Whom do men say that I the son of man am? …And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:13-17).

This truth about the person of Jesus is the bone of contention among religionists in our time and before us. Some would rather acknowledge His divine birth than will accept His Sonship. Others condemn it outright as having no basis. Even His kinsmen who had the book of the law and of the prophets were unable to read in-between the lines. On the other hand, some were willing to accept it if they had proof. Jesus attempting to give them a proof reminded them saying, “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (John 10:34). This they could not understand having not the spirit of discernment.

Now a god is not the object of worship, but some spiritual identity that the believer acknowledges to exist in the object. Jesus was telling the people that they were spirits having definite potentials in them; and so is the whole of creation. As a result, there are principalities and powers, strongholds and dominions, the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Christ being “the head of all principality and power” (Col. 3:10).

It seems to me that Jesus was saying to them, though we are flesh and blood, there remains a spiritual side of us. The point is that who Jesus is by the will of the Father in the spirit, is what he manifests in his body by faith. Only the Father reveals this identity. However, the power we may all exhibit by our measures of the faith is not ours to decide, but God’s. For it “is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy” (Rom. 9:16). And so, his Father had chosen to exalt his name above all other names; “far above principality, and power, and might, and dominion.” So that He become the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. “But as many as receive Him;” even they that will believe in His name, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). Knitted up together with him, they form the everlasting fellowship, according to the will of the Father; Jesus being the head and the Church the body.

And there are many members in the one body. But all members have not the same office. In other words, as his Father has exalted Him to be the head, functioning with the body, even so are the members (the hands, the legs, the loin, the abdomen, etc.) exalted in their offices. To “some apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers (Eph.4:11). “For the body is not one member but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you” (1 Cor.12:21). “And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).

The point here is that there is a spiritual balance, a pattern. “For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Cor 14:33). Even in the secular world, there are governments and there are laws. There are leaders and there are followers. A prosperous nation is one in which its leaders live up to their responsibilities, having delegated powers that function together with law abiding citizens for the common good. Any distortion of this order may adversely affect sections or the whole nation. In the secular world also, you may seek to be elected or be appointed to an office. So also, in the spiritual “shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him” (Luke 11:13). But the gift of the Holy Spirit is for service (I Cor. 12). To his disciples, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you…” (John 15:16). Everything is well ordered!

So, you do not just claim to belong. And if you do, then you must ask, who am I? Now do you belong to the Church, but have not discovered the purpose of your calling? Not knowing what member of the body you are? The truth is, you cannot function effectively until you realize who you are in the body. There is a ministry invested in you by the reason of the new birth. For “ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph.1:13); empowered for the common goal of reconciling all men to God.

Are you satisfied the way you are, playing the bench warmer in the Church? Like Jesus, who is the person in you that you can manifest in the body? I encourage you today, wake up! “Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Tim. 1:16); for it “is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor 12:7). Jesus urged them and said, “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; for everyone that asketh receiveth” (Luke 11:9,10): “Hitherto have ye asked nothing… ask, and ye shall receive that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

Remember, ye are gods, the image of the living God, in the part the member you are!