Band Of Believers

Band of Believers

Our youth group left Father’s Day to go to Minnetonka Christian Camp (http://www.minnetonkacamp.com/) and this year’s theme was a take off of the mini-series Band of Brothers. I had a different sermon planned for the evening service but after seeing the T-Shirts I knew I had a different one to preach.

I did not see the mini-series, but being an old soldier I understood the concept pretty quickly. In the military, you learn to bond with people that you might have never spoke to or liked in the civilian world. There will come a day that you will be in a combat situation and your life depends on the lads you are with as much as your own tactical skills and equipment. You develop a brotherhood.

In spiritual warfare, it is pretty much the same. As it is with the military we all have our specific jobs but we all need each other. As much as the branches of military may hate to admit it each is needed to win a war. No one branch has ever won a war single handedly. Each believer is in the Body or Band and we have our jobs or mission if you please and if one part of the Body is wounded the rest are to respond to it.

1 Cor 12:13-31

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 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.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (KJV)

So often we spend all our attention on the comely parts of our Body or the “stars” of our band. Only when the uncomely parts become ill or bothersome to us do we take note of them. We often neglect our toes unless our nails become ingrown or develop a fungus then we spend a lot of time trying to relieve the pain and cure the disease. If we had done proper preventative maintenance all along we wouldn’t have the problem in the first place. Until we realize that we are a Band/Body and understand the how complexly tied we are to each other we will not fulfill our role or complete our mission.

We Depend On Each Other

Eph 4:4-16

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.