Marks In The Body Of Christ

SCARS IN THE BODY

TEXT:

I CORINTHIANS 12:12 FOR AS THE BODY IS ONE, AND HATH MANY MEMBERS, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THAT ONE BODY, BEING MANY ARE ONE BODY: SO ALSO IS CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION:

THIS OLD BODY OF CHRISTIANS HAS BEEN AROUND NOW FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS. THERE ARE NOW MANY MARKS, SCARS, PAINS, MEMORIES BAD AND GOOD. I THINK OF FOXES BOOK OF MARTYERS AND THE THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES NOT ONLY FOR JESUS BUT FOR US AS WELL. THEY ARE PART OF OUR BODY EVEN TODAY. I THINK OF CEASER CUTING HEADS OFF AND PUTTING THEM ON STAKES TO LIGHT HIS GARDEN. SOUNDS LIKE LONG AGO DOESN’T IT. ALL THE MARKS IN THE BODY BRING TEARS TO MY EYES AND MAKES MY HEART SWELL WITH PAIN.

I. FIRST THERE ARE THE SCARS IN THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS. THE VERY FIRST SCARS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE MADE WHOLE. OUR BODY WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IT WAS NO SURPRIZE TO GOD THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE ON THE CROSS ITS FOR THAT REASON HE CAME. HIS BODY IS GOOD ENOUGH, HIS BLOOD HAS WAS SHED SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIKE. WHEN I SIN I AM ASHAMED FOR HIS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR THAT SIN. THANK GOD HE SHED IT FOR ME. AND YOU WOULD THINK: HEY I DIED FOR YOU AND YOU TREAT ME LIKE YOU DO. I WOULDN’T PUT UP WITH IT BUT JESUS DOES HE CASTS OUR SINS AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. PEOPLE TEACH THERE WILL BE NO TEARS IN HEAVEN; HOWEVER, I THINK THERE WILL BE FOR A SHORT WHILE FOR HOW WILL HE BE ABLE TO WIPE THE TEARS AWAY IF THERE ISN’T ANY. MY TEARS WILL FLOW WHEN I SEE THOSE NAIL SCARED HANDS AND FEET. I WILL SOB ALL OVER MY SAVIOUR. HE IS GOING TO HAVE ALOT OF TEARS TO WIPE AWAY FROM MY FACE.

II. THEN THERE ARE THE SCARS OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE US.

GALATIANS 6:17 FROM HENCEFORTH LET NO MAN TROUBLE ME: FOR I BEAR IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF THE LORD JESUS.

LISTEN TO ME! THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS THAT HAVE LEFT A BLOOD TRAIL LEADING TO THE CROSS OF CALVARY. MILLIONS GAVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT YOU COULD BE HERE TODAY. MILLIONS MORE HAD TO FLEE BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION EVEN OUR OWN GREAT COUNTRY KNOWS THIS STORY. PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR HEADS CUT OFF,

THEY HAVE BEEN BOILED IN OIL, SET ON FIRE, SPARED, SHOT, EATEN BY LIONS, PULLED APART LIMB BY LIMB. THEY HAVE BEEN STARVED, IMPRISONED, BEATEN, MOCKED, PERSECUTED HUNG A A CROSS UPSIDEDOWN. ONE STORY IN ENGLAND IS TOLD OF THOUSANDS KILLED AT ONE TIME FOR MEETING IN THE WOODS TO PRAISE THE GOD YOU PRAISE TODAY FREELY. REVELATION SPEAKS ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE LAST DAYS, II TIMOTHY 4:3 TELL THAT CHRISTIANS WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE IN THE LAST DAYS. THESE THAT HAVE GONE ON BEFORE: I WONDER WHAT THEY WOULD PREACH TO US TODAY, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY.

III. I THINK OF THOSE WORKERS IN CHRIST WHO ARE BEING SCARED TODAY FOR CHRIST’S NAME. MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR JESUS IN THE LAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS THAN ALL HISTORY. WORLD MISSION DIGEST SAYS THAT OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR JESUS THIS CENTURY. DID YOU HEAR THAT. A.M. ROSETHAL A NON CHRISTIAN KNOWS ABOUT ALL THE SUFFERING GOING ON IN THE WORLD FOR JESUS. HE IS QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES FEB. 11 1997 AS SAYING THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE FAILED TO HELP THOSE UNDER RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. HE SAID HE WOULD COMPLAIN IF HE WERE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE WE IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE SLEEPING GENERATION OF CHRISTIAN. WAKE UP PEOPLE. YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE KILLING YOUR OWN BODY.

IV. FINALLY I THINK OF THOSE WHO WILL BE SCARED AFTER THE RAPTURE FOR CHRIST.

THE BIBLE TEACHES AND I KNOW ITS TRUE THAT THE DAY WILL COME WHEN PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL AGAIN BE BEHEADED FOR THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST. THE DAY WILL COME AND IS SOON UPON US WHEN YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET IN THIS CHURCH. WELL I KNOW I WILL NOT BE HERE, BUT THOSE WHO WILL BE WILL HAVE TO HIDE IF THEY ARE TO SERVE JESUS. SOME OF THESE CHRISTIANS WILL BE SOMEBODIES MOM OR DAD, BROTHER OR SISTER, GRANDMA. AND GUESS WHAT? IT WILL BE OUR FAULT IF WE DO NOT SHARE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. YOU HAVE THE MEDICINE THAT HEALS FOR ETERNITY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?

CONCLUSION:

ALOT OF PREACHERS ARE ON THE BAND WAGON ABOUT PREACHING LOVE AND PEACE. THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN THEY SAY PEACE AND SAFETY THEN COMETH SUDDEN DESTRUCTION. LET ME ASK YOU, WITH ALL THAT IS GOING WRONG IN THIS WORLD FROM A CHRISTIAN POINT OF VEIW ESPECIALLY, HOW SHOULD I PREACH? YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER COMES IN FROM A CAR WRECK WOULD YOU SAY PRAISE THE LORD LETS GO TO CHURCH? HECK NO YOUR GONNA FREAK OUT AREN’T YOU?