“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,” James 5:19.

Each child of God has their own particular area of influence and calling that God has placed on their life. Some may be called to a sphere of influence in a particular state or region, and still others to a national or even global scale.

Some are called to a deliverance ministry and their gifted-ness involves dealing with demonic and oppressive issues as they are witnessed in various manifestations upon individuals and groups of people. Still others are called as pastors and teachers to the body of Christ, to help ground others in the truth. Furthermore, some are called to the prophetic and apostolic ministry. And yet while there are some similarities to be seen with each, the Holy Spirit has dispensed a unique function and placement for these members of the church and body of Christ. Each member has their place and function, and all are needed.

Now while each has their own particular and unique function to perform, each member is called to present and to demonstrate their gifts in a way that not only glorifies God, but establishes truth and not error.

If one member comes to another one and sees error, then that one needs to be open to hearing what is said in love. For it is not in judgment that one would come, but in rooting-out the error, so that the disease wouldn’t spread to the rest of the body.

I’m not referring here to those who may have a critical or fault-finding spirit. For we know that we all make mistakes and we are not fully mature in our lives and ministries.

One may respond in defensiveness and say, “This is my territory and field of influence, what right do you have in coming here to disagree with me?” The right response should be, ‘Thank you for sharing this with me – I will go to the Father in prayer about this.’

But again, it all should be done in love, and not in a spirit of criticism or fault-finding.

But we need to truly examine what the issue at hand is first. There may or may not be error. Sometimes our perceptions are clouded by our own thoughts and opinions. If there truly is an error, then it needs to be seen in the light of God’s word and through the discerning of spirits.

We also need to allow God’s spirit to shed his light upon our own lives and allow him to point out any darkness or error in us, before we begin looking elsewhere. Ultimately, he is the true and just judge, and yet we are all members together in this.

Then the body can be healed, and we can go onto maturity, unto the full measure of the stature of Christ.

~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the Lord is a special way in 1975 and has been prophesying regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are to be reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?