We Need Each Other | What I’ve Experienced Within the Body of Christ

Last week, October 5-11th, my family and I went to a conference called Christianity Arising in Loogootee, Indiana. 

It was the best week of my life. 

(some pics from the week)

There was a place to park our skoolie, free meals, teaching, small groups, prayer, worship, fellowship, volleyball, and so much more. I walked into the conference struggling with fear of rejection, insecurity, & pride. By the end of the week, I left with freedom, humility, boldness, and new friends. God did such a work in me—my next few blog posts will probably be based around things that happened during the conference! 

Something really neat happened partway through the week that I wanted to share. 

On Wednesday, there was a session with worship & prayer. There was also a microphone for if anyone felt led to share something. 

Right off the bat, a fellow young person shared James 4:17: “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” He also said, “If you feel God prompting you to do something, just do it. Don’t hold back.” 

After that, we began worship. During this time, I began asking the Holy Spirit if there was anything He wanted to show me, or someone I was supposed to talk to/pray with. 

Almost immediately, something came to mind to share with the group. It caught me off guard. While I love talking to & encouraging others, the thought of walking up front (I was in the way back), asking for the microphone, and sharing something for everybody really terrified me. 

I didn’t know if that thought had come from God. If He was prompting me, then why wouldn’t I do it? I’d just surrendered a lot of things to the Lord, including fear of what people would think of me. On the other hand, if it wasn’t from Him, I didn’t want to just say the first thing that popped into my head if it wasn’t what the group needed (about 60 people). 

I continued praying about it, and the thought simply wouldn’t leave my mind. I strongly felt like I needed to share it that day, since I thought it was a message that would help others get breakthrough. 

Finally, as I was working through it with the Lord, I said, “Lord, if the next person who shares is a woman, I’ll know…” 

I didn’t even finish my sentence before a lady took the microphone and shared. I hung my head. I knew that was my confirmation, but I was still struggling with fear. I walked toward the front, and my dad was standing up there. I whispered to him, “I feel like I need to share something, but I’m nervous.” 

The next thing I knew, his hand was on me and I could hear him quietly praying. As soon as the lady finished sharing, my dad asked me when I wanted to share. I said, “Whenever.” 

“Here,” he said, “I’ll go with you.” He asked the person if I could have the microphone, then handed it to me. 

With a shaky voice & trembling hands, I started to share the short, simple message God put on my heart. 

When I finished, I returned the microphone and took a deep breath. I’d done it. I felt peace about what I said, like I’d obeyed God. 

All of a sudden, someone else took the mic, and what he said seemed to piggyback off of what I’d said. Then, several people started sharing similar things and praying for one another in front of the whole group. It was incredible. 

When that time was over and I had a chance to process what had happened, I realized something: what if that first person hadn’t shared James 4:17? That verse encouraged me to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

And what if the lady hadn’t said something in front of everyone? I might’ve felt like I’d be overstepping, the only girl to take the mic. 

And then what if I hadn’t shared? Maybe the person directly after me wouldn’t have had the courage to speak. And if he hadn’t confessed and asked for prayer, then maybe the others wouldn’t have either. 

It was a domino affect, and it all started with one person who responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

The Lord has been impressing on me how important it is to respond to His voice. Sometimes it’s a testimony you feel is important to share, or a thought to go pray for somebody, or an idea on how to help a person get breakthrough in their life. 

That conference—and specifically that prayer/worship/share time—really drove home the meaning of Ephesians 4:15-16: 

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Also, Romans 12:6 says, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly….”

(Some more passages on the body of Christ/roles in church are 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:4-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11, and Ephesians 4:1-16.)

Each of us have different roles in the body of Christ, and no two are ever exactly alike. Multiple people with the same or similar call will be used by God in unique ways. 

We need to listen for His voice, and be prepared to say “YES” when He prompts us to do something. It could be as small as giving someone a smile or hug, or as big as leaving everything behind to serve God in another country. 

Because we are one body, the body of Christ, it’s vital that we all do our parts diligently. 

The same way that our brain tells each part of our body what to do & when, our spiritual head (Jesus) tells each of us what to do and when. The whole purpose is to grow, edify, and strengthen the body of Christ. 

That’s why we need to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit: the rest of the body needs us. We’re all in this together. 

God wants to do incredible things for the world, and who does He use to do it? Us. You. As individual members of the body of Christ, let’s work together to strengthen and encourage one another. We need it. 

What if your best friend’s breakthrough doesn’t come until you tell them the verse that won’t leave your mind? What if people repent of sin, trust in God, and get set on fire for Him because of the message God put on your heart to share?

Ask God to use you, then when something comes to mind, pray into it. If you know—or even strongly think—that it’s from God, then run with it. He wants to use you. 

Let’s say YES!