BEING ONE BODY
I Corinthians 12:11-13
The Holy Spirit unties each and every believer with Jesus to be united in one body, in one accord, in one church. It is a single living body that should lift up and edify the body of Christ. We are all individual parts of the body but are interdependent on each other. Each of us needs what the other can provide with their God given talents and gifts that He has given each of us. It is His will that distributes gifts Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Paul was urging the people of Corinth to stop the envy and work to together as one just as Christ taught His disciples. Instead of building up the body of the church the Corinthian people were preoccupied with the people who had the gift of speaking on tongues. They felt they were a special “breed” if you will. A cut above the rest and had a better position or of more importance in the church. Paul compares the different parts of the human body to the different individuals of the church. Each member of the church has completely different and unique functions and talents, but all are very vital to the unity and survival of the church body. Their tasks and talents may be different, but all work toward the same purpose. It is obvious that we can certainly accomplish more working together than any of us can as individuals.
Two of the most common errors that believers make are (1) taking too much pride in heir abilities, (2) thinking they have no talents or gifts that could possibly contribute to the body of the church. Instead of comparing our individual talents to one another and seeing, “which one is greater”, we need to work together “Being One Body “, for the sake of Christ.
Prayer
I. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
A. Each church should have people from all backgrounds and places
1. God’s church includes people from social, economic, ethnic, and origins
2. It would be easy for the different personalities of people to divide a church
3. By the way we are brought up we are different
a. I was brought up in the north
b. Some people of the south were brought up with prejudice
4. We all have different tastes, ways and talents
a. No two of us are alike
b. We are all created unique and special in the eyes of God
c. We are unique in we all have different fingerprints
d. By our DNA is how science can tell us who our parents are
e. But each and everyone of us has royal blood running through our veins
i. We are all members of God’s family
ii. We are children of the King
B. Just as when you have a recipe for food
1. It takes many different ingredients to make any recipe complete
2. Each ingredient is different but each item gives it a unique flavor
3. Each ingredient is vital and it would not be the same without it
a. What if you would forget the onions in potato salad?
i. What if you left out the salt?
ii. Salt is so small and unassuming
iii. What does salt do? It changes the whole taste of things.
b. What if you left out the strawberries in the strawberry cake?
i. It would just be a plain cake, not bad, just plain
ii. What if a basketball team didn’t have any tall players?
iii. It would not be bad, but different.
C. Each member of the church has a unique and indispensable purpose for God
1. Nobody is here by accident
2. Each member has a specific talent and a specific purpose of the church
a. Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
b. Ephesians 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
i. I believe that all of these offices are for today
ii. Just as in the days of the disciples we need all these offices
iii. What if we did not have evangelists?
iv. What if we did not have pastors and teachers?
v. Does it not say “He gave some…”
vi. It does not say, “He gave some while He walked the earth…”
c. 1 Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
i. One bread the bread of life
ii. Jesus is our bread of life
3. Each of us is here with our unique talent for His purpose in love for one another
4. We are here to do His work until He returns regardless of what we do, we do it for His glory
5. Paul also wrote in part of what is called the “Love Chapter” about talents/gifts
a. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known
b. We need the gifts and talents for now; WHEN THE PERFECT COMES
c. Until the “Perfect” comes we need those talents that ”He” distributes
d. We do not understand everything at this point but we will
e. Only you can do what God has planned for you.
f. Until that day comes we are to use the talent God has given each of us
g. I heard Dr. Ron Carpenter Sr. one time say you are an expert in “Youness”
6. All members of this church should be honored so there is no division of the body
7. Each individual should be humble in their talents
a. There was once an interview with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa gave her life to feed starving people and later to minister to the dying. In one article the writer asked Mother Teresa about her feelings of being used of God to minister to the poor, then the world. Her work was known world wide, even the President of the USA knew her and her labor of love.
She answered, "But it is His work, I think God wants to show His greatness by using my Nothingness." She was asked later, "You feel you have no special qualities?" Mother Teresa replied, "I don’t think so. I don’t claim anything of the work. It is His work and I am like a little pencil in His Hand. That is all. He does the thinking, He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."
b. We should be obedient in allowing God to use us a part of His work through us and be “allowed to be used”
II. This section also has images to convey the truths about our relationship with others
A. Christ is The Head
1. As followers of Jesus we are to submit to His guidance
2. Once we are aware of the decision of making Him the head we will seek His will
3. By the leading of the Spirit we will become one
a. Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. As Paul urged the people of Philippi
a. Philippians 1-27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit (Christ), with one mind (as one working together) striving together for the faith of the gospel;
i. Regardless of who is around or where we are
ii. We should always treat each other with love, respect, and cooperation
iii. Our church should have a reputation of being one body for the good of many
iv. Ever heard, “treat other like you would like to be treated.”
v. I say, “Treat other as if you were others”
5. We need to rely on His leading and not that of men
a. Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
b. Our lives should be centered on God’s plan and His ways not ours
c. I Kings 11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee….
B. We are Christ’s living body
1. We are the living incarnation of Christ on earth
2. We represent the living God to each and every one we come in contact with
3. Like the saying goes, we may be the only bible some people will ever read.
4. When people come to our church they need to see Jesus in us
a. It is our responsibility to be a walking living example of Jesus
i. Do you remember WWJD?
ii. Maybe it should be DWJD (Do What Jesus Did)
iii. Our total thought pattern should be focused on Him
iv. Any thought that is not of God is against God
C. A healthy Body is vital to the success of the church
1. The New Testament speaks often how the body must grow and remain healthy
2. Just as any physical body the church body must be healthy as well
3. There are two things that are vital to healthy church growth
a. We are to have a close loving relationship between all members
i. John 14:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
ii. By working together in unity accomplishments are greater
iii. What other way to be close to somebody that to communicate
iv. You cannot love somebody until you learn to communicate with them
v. Like in the book Experiencing God, “You can’t love them until you know them”.
b. We must use our God given gifts to serve each another
i. By serving each other we learn to serve all peoples
ii. If we serve each other in the church it will be easier to serve people outside the church
iii. Learn to be the servant as Christ did
1. Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
iv. Jesus was a servant even unto death
v. When one member of our church body hurts, we all should hurt
D. It is so crucial that we see ourselves as God does
1. We are all unique masterpieces of God
2. We are wonderfully created in the eyes of God
3. What does it say in Genesis 1:26
a. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
b. How many times have you heard a person tell a son or daughter, “You remind me of your father/mother.”
c. Or they say, “Your daddy could not deny you if he wanted to.”
i. I hope my daddy in heaven doesn’t deny me
ii. We need to act like we are member of the His royal family
iii. I want to look like His son
iv. I want to act like His son
v. I want to talk like Him, walk like Him, love like Him
vi. I want people to say, “You act just like your father.”
vii. When you’re a member of His family there should be a family resemblance.
It is so very simple that when we work as one, we can accomplish so much more than we could ever dream of accomplishing alone. It seems that we can make every excuse in the world why we don’t come to church. I heard a pastor say one Sunday afternoon the recliner was calling his name. We can always think of a reason why not to come and be a part of this body of believers. We wonder why sometimes we should even come to church. It’s not about a building, the name on the church, the kind of building it is, or what’s on the sign. It should be about loving, serving, and fulfilling the great commission together as One Body.
CALLING OTHERS TO GOD
A few years ago a man began feeding the birds on a regular basis in our backyard. At first, some of the birds were greedy. They weren’t sure if there would be enough food to go around. The starlings were especially mean, which doesn’t surprise anyone familiar with birds. They would attack the robins, cardinals, and sparrows that came to get a taste. This situation continued for several months until one day there was a noticeable change in the bird’s behavior.
After years of regular feeding from the unlimited supply, the birds appeared to be less greedy with the food. Now they were feeding at their leisure—realizing there would be more food when their current supply was finished. Then, last month, something even more remarkable happened. After all these months of hording, greed, and then cautiously enjoying, the birds began to demonstrate a nobler characteristic. They began calling for one another at mealtime.
Today, when the seed is spread for the birds, one will call for the others to share what they’ve discovered. The greed is less frequent. The jealous pecking is rare. The trees seem fuller these days with the joy of satisfaction from birds that have learned to share. The music of multiple species fills the air. Now they know the supply is unlimited. And as far as their appetite is concerned, it’s inexhaustible.
Just this morning, I noticed a sparrow feeding right beside a starling. Miracles never cease.
Why can’t this happen in the church?
God’s grace is inexhaustible and we ought to be calling other sinners to the fount where we’ve found of refreshment and renewal. We should be about bringing them into one body and being a member of our church body.
