The gifts of the Spirit is crucial for the edification of the church – “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supply, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, make increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16 KJV). A joint becomes ineffectual of the measure it supplies if it is dislocated or not in its rightful place and, thus will not contribute effectively to the healthiness of the body.
Identity defines us: what we do and who we are. Therefore a misplaced identity can be catastrophic to an individual or more so an organization formed by chains of individuals.
The danger in defining identity today is because it is induced rather than soulishly discovered. Common examples in the circular world is when a qualified lawyer resigns from her career and becomes a chef. You ask why she became a lawyer in the first place and it could be because mom and dad are lawyers. You ask why she resigned to be a chef and it will be because she enjoys doing it.
This same ordeal can also be applied to the church today. Because someone served faithfully under a Pastor should not automatically identify him as a pastor. More so because someone can hear the voice of God does not automatically qualify him as a prophet. There are misplaced identities in the church today that can be unhealthy to the body of Christ. Remember Stéphanos was ordained a deacon by the church but his true identity was an Evangelist (Acts 6:8). Selah.
If identities induced can be unhealthy. How can identities be discovered within the church? A story I like to point at is the story of Jesus Christ. He suffered of a misplaced identity – he was called a carpenter (Mark 6:3), he was called a Demoniac (John 10:20), he was called Elijah the prophet (John 1:21) and lastly he was called the king of the Jews (John 19:3). His true identity was only revealed by the Spirit of God as the son of God (Matthew 16:16-17). The spirit of God is the soul of the Christian body. He alone can reveal our identity to us.
Once identity is discovered it serves as the base rock from which the foundation can be built. The gates of hell may come against it but they will not prevail (Matthew 16:17-19).
Seek the Holy spirit today to discover your identity.
