This
writer was once emphatically told: “God doesn’t have individual
Christians.” Her companion was all wrong. Some of you have
been wrongly taught that the more you “lose your own identities”
and merge into one mass, the more pleased I am. That is a gross
misunderstanding of what the Body of Christ is all about. Just as
each of you has an individual personality through which I may express
myself, each one of you is called to a different type of ministry.
Some prophesy. Some are greatly used to minister healing to others.
Some have a special calling to the mission field. I have a plan
for each one of your lives. You could see it begin to unfold like
a flower, if you would only walk closely with Me and listen to My
Voice moment by moment. Worshipping together as a congregation is
very important. You need the fellowship, strength and support of
other saints. I love to see My children gather together to praise
My Name, and to learn more about Me and My ways. I love those wonderful
family reunions As they meet together in My Name, My saints form
the expression of My Body on earth. I am glorified in this.
But I also
have a very special relationship with each one of you individually.
I value, love and cherish you individually, not just corporately.
There are many things you are free to confide only in Me. Public
prayers are necessary at times, but I especially cherish those times
you go into your own room, shut the door behind you, and pour out
your joys and sorrows to Me,Your Father in Heaven. I want you to
hold nothing back from Me. No problem, however perplexing it might
be for you, is beyond the scope of My perfect Wisdom.You matter
to Me when you are alone with Me, not just in a group setting.
I have promised
to supply all your needs, for you are My beloved child. There are
times I love to surprise you with what you consider luxuries, for
it brings delight to My heart for You to glorify Me with your prayer
of thanksgiving. I am not tight-fisted. I do not spoil you till
you become obsessed with material things, but I love to grant every
desire of your heart which is truly good for you.
Each one of
you is a unique creation. Even identical twins have individual spirits,
and each of them has the responsibility to choose either life or
death. There have been many cases where one twin ended up in heaven
and the other in hell, based on individual acceptance or rejection
of My Son. And, sadly, many people think that just because they
come from a Christian home, their salvation is automatically assured.
But the salvation of parents does not automatically confer eternal
life upon their children. Each individual soul is accountable to
Me, and must accept Christ for himself in order to enter into eternal
life. I have children, but I don’t have grandchildren!
Earthly parents
do not expect their children to all have the same looks, personality,
or tastes. It does not alarm them that each of their children is
a unique person in his or her own right. In fact, it would be a
cause for concern if they were all exactly the same. One of the
most prevalent errors in false cults is the suppression of and gradual
stripping away of individual personality. This makes the person
less than what I created him to be, and makes it easier for the
cult leader to deceive his victim. Avoid being ensnared by suspicious
groups which try to draw you in with carefully orchestrated overtures
of “love”.
There are
times when no one else on earth has much interest in your spiritual
life. Or, you may be in a situation where you must move frequently.
You will, at times, have wonderful fellowship with other believers.
At other times this will be more scarce, for the presence of a church
building does not automatically spell true fellowship. Moreover,
the use of folding chairs instead of padded pews, and that of guitars
in lieu of pipe organs, does not necessarily indicate a place of
Liberty in the Spirit. Some searchers have walked out of informal
settings with heavy hearts, while more than a few have felt the
warmth of My Presence within the context of a so-called “High
Church” service.
You need genuine
love, not cold formality. If you find yourself in a place where
you aren’t being fed spiritually by men, does it mean that
I have cast you off? A thousand times, no. Whenever people fail
you, I will still be there to meet the deepest needs of your heart.
I will spread a spiritual feast before you, and we two will dine
together. I abide ever faithful. I cannot fail you.
How could
anyone claim that individuals have little value in My sight? I have
promised in My Word that I am preparing a mansion for each one of
you. I want you to know that when each of you enters heaven, you
will be absolutely thrilled with your new home. I even take into
account the individual tastes of each believer as the plans are
drawn up for construction. All the furnishings reflect the preferences
of the mansion’s future occupant. These homes are stunningly
beautiful. I did not mass-produce regulation army barracks for warehousing
saints. Individual homes have been specially crafted for each of
My beloved children.
I value individuals
so much that each of My faithful ones will be presented with a white
stone inscribed with a new name, for the time will come when I will
make all things new. The other believers will never know the new
name I give you. It will be a secret shared only with Me. Now try
to tell Me that individuals don’t matter to Me.