Today is Remembrance Day. The day in Canada that we remember our fighting men and women who have died in service to this country so that we have the freedom to worship
Hebrews 13:3 [3]Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Today we also gather with churches across this planet in over 130 countries to remember those who have given their lives for the cause of Christ and still face persecution. Today, more than 200 million Christians around the world face brutal opposition and persecution because of their faith in Jesus. They face serious social pressure against converting to Christianity, rejection by family and friends, repression from authorities, violent attacks against themselves and their loved ones, and opposition and intimidation from other religious groups. We are called to suffer with them as they experience their sufferings, and to pray for them.
Together, our prayers help suffering believers to experience the faithfulness of God, to see their societies transformed by the gospel, and to know, along with His sufferings, the peace and victory of Jesus. Together with our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world we can see unity in diversity
In 1 Cor 12, Paul explains and illustrates the nature and importance of the unity of the church itself, and then again the importance of diversity as a key factor in that unity. The diversity of the church is a God–ordained means of bringing the fellowship to oneness, but unless each diverse member recognizes and accepts his part in the whole body, diversity will divide rather than unite, destroy rather than build up, bring discord rather than harmony, and result in self–serving rather than self–giving.
How well do you relate to other Christian communities around the globe? To be honest, I have never really suffered. I have not lost someone very close to me, never suffered any real physical pain, and live in one of the freest nations on Earth. It can be hard for all of us to relate to events in hostile and violent nations of social pressure, rejection, repression, attack, opposition and intimidation. When we do come to grips with these things however, and intercede on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters, we not only grow as Christians but we become instruments that God uses to change this world. We realize and function as we are created: We are one.
In 1 Cor. 12:12-27 we see the unity and diversity in the body of Christ.
WE HAVE 1) UNITY WITH OUR PERSECUTED BRETHREN
A) UNIFIED IN ONE BODY 1 Corinthians 12:12
1 Corinthians 12:12 [12]For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (ESV)
Paul again (cf. 10:17) uses the human body to illustrate the unity and interrelationship of the members of Christ’s Body, the church. Through verse 27 of chapter 12 Paul uses the term body some 16 times, and he uses the metaphor many other places in his writings (Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:23; 2:16; 4:4, 12, 16; Col. 1:18; etc.).
The human body is by far the most amazing organic creation of God. It is marvelously complex yet unified, with unparalleled harmony and interrelatedness. It is a unit; it cannot be subdivided into several bodies. If it is divided, the part that is cut off ceases to function and dies, and the rest of the body loses some of its functions and effectiveness. The body is immeasurably more than the sum of its parts.
Christ’s Body is also one. There are many Christian organizations, denominations, agencies, clubs, and groups of every sort. But there is only one church, of which every true believer in Christ is a member. Paul is so intent on driving home the point of oneness in the church that he refers to Christ as the church: so it is with Christ.
Please turn to Romans 8
No one can separate Christ from His church than we can separate a body from its head. When Christ is referred to as the head of the church it is always in the sense of mind, spirit, and control. When a body loses its mind and spirit it ceases to be a body and becomes a corpse. It still has structure but it does not have life. It is still organized but it is no longer a living organism.
Romans 8:35-39 [35]Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36]As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."[37]No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38]For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39]nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
The church is one body because so it is with Christ.
ILLUSTRATION : Unity: Members of the body of Christ are truly dependant on one another.
Three Indonesian mothers, Eti , Rebekka, and Ratna, were imprisoned two years ago for teaching Muslim children in their Sunday School.
Prison was shocking, discouraging and very hard at first. One of the women was the bread winner for her family. But after two years in prison they have learned a lot from the Lord.
One of them said: “I praise God for this opportunity to be in prison. It is all because of His plan that we are here, not because we are criminals. This is an experience of a lifetime—I will share it with my grandchildren. I pray that my time here and my experiences in prison will be a blessing for others. I believe He prepared us earlier, because our faith, hope and love are with us during times of difficulty. For me, prison is a symbol of my faithfulness as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, who also was in prison when he shared the gospel, it is our obligation to tell our children and grandchildren that to suffer for Christ is not a bad thing.
It is normal to suffer for Christ. Prison is a school for Christians who love Christ. “Thank you for letters from brothers and sisters around the world. Praise God that these letters brought us not only encouragement but they also are a living testimony to prison guards. The guards told me that Christians are so solid – they stand together – and the Muslim guards admire Christianity. I also praise God for prayers, and for brothers and sisters who come from all parts of the world to visit us here in the prison. I know that they are obedient to God’s Word [which says to] visit brothers and sisters who are in prison. Thank you for funds as well. God bless you all abundantly.” (Source: IDOP 2007 Illustration kit)
Expressing the 1) Unity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters:
WE ARE A) UNIFIED IN ONE BODY 1 Corinthians 12:12 and
B) BAPTIZED BY ONE SPIRIT 1 Corinthians 12:13
1 Corinthians 12:13 [13]For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV)
Please turn to Colossians 2
In this verse Paul presents two important truths about Christ’s Body: its formation and its filling.
There should be a clear understanding that we are one with those who are being persecuted:
Colossians 2:1-4 [2:1]For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2]that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3]in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4]I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. (ESV)
I) THE FORMING OF THE BODY
For in/by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. The Holy Spirit is the agent of baptism but Christ is the baptizer. At Jesus’ own baptism John the Baptist tells us that it is Jesus Christ:
Matthew 3:11 [11]"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (ESV) (cf. Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
This text speaks of the Unity between Christians. All believers receive baptism with the Holy Spirit; all unbelievers will receive baptism with fire. Therefore every living soul will be baptized by Christ.
• For those who are persecuted, we pray for both redemption and Justice. That God would redeem those who are persecuting Christians and Government would prevent and punish further persecution.
Parenthetically, it should be noted that Paul is not speaking here of water baptism.
It should also be noted that the phrase “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is not a correct translation of any passage in the New Testament, including this one. En heni pneumati (in one Spirit) can mean “by” or “with” one Spirit.” Because believers are baptized by Christ, it is therefore best to translate this phrase as “in/with one Spirit.” It is not the Holy Spirit’s baptism but Christ’s baptism in/with the Holy Spirit that gives us new life and places us into the Body when we trust in Christ.
There is only one Spirit baptism, the baptism of Christ in/with the Spirit that all believers receive when they are born again. By this the Son places all believers into the sphere of the Spirit’s power and into a new environment, a new atmosphere, a new relationship with others, and a new union with Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:2, where Paul shows how the nation of Israel left Pharaoh and Egypt to become immersed and identified with a new leader, Moses, and a new land, Canaan).
• God has not made a mistake nor failed those who are being persecuted. They have been specifically strengthened and providentially put into their situations. The testimony of those give everything for Christ, is the strongest of all witness.
• In no way are we who are not being persecuted some more faithful. Most often, we are so corrupt with the pleasures of life and the enslavement to materialism that we are not prepared for real persecution.
The apostle could not have stated the truth more clearly. There is unity in truth and One Spirit baptism establishes one church. There are no partial Christians, no partial members of Christ’s Body. The Lord has no halfway houses for His children, no limbo or purgatory. All of His children are born into His household and will forever remain in His household. All believers in Jesus Christ become full members of His Body, the church, when they are saved.
Ephesians 4:4-6 [4]There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- [5]one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6]one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (ESV)
• We are one with our persecuted brothers and sisters in every way.
Expressing the unity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters: Paul presents two important truths about Christ’s Body: it’s i) formation and
II) THE FILLING OF THE BODY
1 Corinthians 12:13 [13]For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV)
When we were born again the Lord not only placed us into His Body, but placed the Holy Spirit in us. The Greek text has the preposition en that can be translated “by” or “in”. If it is rendered “in” one Spirit, then it is consistent with the rest of Scripture. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is never described as the baptizer. Rather, the Holy Spirit is the sphere into which the baptismal candidate enters. The Gospel for example declare that Jesus baptizes his followers with/in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8). This makes the most sense for those who are suffering. Recall in Mark 10, when Jesus asks James and John whether they are able to be baptized with a baptism similar to His own (Mark 10:38). Jesus is alluding not to His baptism in the Jordan but to His death on the cross (Lk. 12:50; Acts 1:5; 1 Cor. 10:2). Water baptism pictures the nature of death to self. When we are baptized we must realize that we are baptized into the reality that we may suffer and die for our faith.
At salvation all were made to drink of one Spirit. We are in the Spirit, who is in us. Just as there are no partially saved Christians there are no partially indwelt Christians. The Spirit is not parceled out to us in installments.
John 3:34 [34]For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. (ESV)
• It makes no sense for us to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit. It makes no sense for us to pray that the Holy Spirit would fill our persecuted brothers and sisters.
• We need to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide them, strengthen them and sustain them in strength.
Although there is 1) Unity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters, there is also natural 2) Diversity. We are:
2) DIVERSIFIED IN ONE BODY 1 Corinthians 12:14-17
1 Corinthians 12:14-17 [14]For the body does not consist of one member but of many. [15]If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. [16]And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17]If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (ESV)
The most important characteristic of the Body is unity; but diversity is essential to that unity. The church is one Body, but as it says in Verse 14: body does not consist of one member but of many.
Refusing to function as part of the body does not make us any the less a part of the body or any less responsible for ministering within it. We have no right to remove ourselves from our God–given responsibilities just because we are dissatisfied with what we are and what we have. Many Christians have never known the joy of ministry and of pleasing the Lord simply because they do not recognize or refuse to use the gifts and opportunities God has given them. That is disobedience.
Continuing his analogy, Paul reminds us that a body could not possibly function if it were all the same part. In Verse 17:[17]If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (ESV)
A) GIFTED BY ONE LORD 1 COR. 12:18-19
1 Corinthians 12:18-19 [18]But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19]If all were a single member, where would the body be? (ESV)
Some may dismiss the existence of God because of suffering or at least question God’s wisdom and goodness by implying He has made a mistake.
Please turn to Romans 9
In verse 18 it is said that: God arranged/placed the members in the body, each one of them as He chose/desired.
When people mock the existence of God because of persecution or second guess His plan they show their contempt for Him and utter foolishness:
Romans 9:20-21 [20]But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" [21]Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? (ESV)
As Creator and Lord God has arranged/placed the members in the body. God has created us, re–created us, placed each of us in His Body exactly where He wants us to be, and equipped us to do exactly what He wants us to do.
In Verse 19, Paul asks [19]If all were a single member, where would the body be?
We are not all to perform the same role
• God does not want us all to go overseas to face persecution.
Quote: As John Piper says: There are only three classes of people: There are 1) Goers, those who leave North America and minister overseas sometimes with our persecuted brothers and sisters. There are 2) Senders: Those who pray for and financial support the ministry. And there are 3) those who are disobedient: Those who neither pray for nor financial support the overseas ministry
God does not want everyone to stay or everyone to go. People must fulfill their calling and use their gifts where God intends.
• Just as there are differing gifts there is differing degrees of suffering. Although 2 Tim. 3:12 says that all who desire to live godly lives will face persecution, there are varying degrees of persecution. Those who are persecuted less should not think that they are more holy nor those who receive greater persecution think that they have failed in some way.
We are A) GIFTED BY ONE LORD 1 COR. 12:18-19
B) Not Independent (1 Cor. 12:20–27)
1 Corinthians 12:20-27 [20]As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. [21]The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, [24]which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, [25]that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26]If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. [27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (ESV)
• Some may wonder today why we take this time to pray for and focus on the plight of those who are being persecuted.
• Why can’t you just focus on something that pertains to me? The reason is, if we are indeed part of Christ’s body, then this is happening to us.
Some may feel 1) they have no gifts or abilities that are worthwhile, and so sit back and let others do the work. Those are the believers described in 1 Corinthians 12:15–17. Perhaps you fell there is nothing you can do for those who are being persecuted.
Others feel 2) they are so highly qualified that they do not really need the help of others to perform their ministry. Those are the believers described in verse 21 and counseled in the following verses. Or perhaps you feel that you have your own ministry, and do not feel a connection to those who are being persecuted.
But neither the individualism of supposed inferiority nor the individualism of proud independence is biblical or pleasing to God.
• Don’t sit today and think that your individual prayers are either not eloquent or holy enough or that the situation of persecution today is none of your concern.
This Remembrance Day we will reflect on the war in Iraq. We do not hear from the major media outlets of the other war in Iraq.
ILLUSTRATION : Martyrdom of Zewar, Christian taxi driver in Northern Iraq.
After hostilities ceased in the Iraq war on the 9th of April 2003, an Open Doors team went to the country two weeks later. They visited church leaders primarily to tell them that we were praying for them, and were ready to assist them in the rebuilding effort. On that trip, they visited the widow of 38-year-old Zewar Mohammed Ismael. He was a Kurdish Muslim who converted to Christianity and for four years was a bright and beautiful Christian. A taxi driver in the border town of Zhako, in northern Iraq, he used to witness to his passengers and give them Bibles if they looked interested.
The Muslim leaders were incensed, naming him as a trouble maker from the Mosques. On the 17th of February, 2003, a man walked up to Zewar at his taxi rank and said, “Will you come back to Islam?” Zewar replied, ‘No, I am happy in my faith.” The stranger replied, “Then will you take tea with me to discuss it?” As they walked away other taxi drivers heard a series of shots ring out and a hysterical voice screaming “Alohah Akbar.”
The assassin ran away after his shouts of “Allah is Great.” Zewar lay dead in huge pool of blood, his body riddled with 28 bullets.
The team sat opposite Zewar’s family in a carpeted room that reeked of old socks. There were five children, from eight months to eighteen years, and his widow, who was not a Christian. They just looked at each other for a moment, then they all burst into tears. There was nothing to say. A terrible thing had happened just a few months before. A healthy happy man had been killed because he loved Christ and did nothing but good.
And now a woman was being pushed out of her home by her Muslim family that bizarrely held her responsible, and the children bereft of income and friends. The team could do nothing but offer financial support and prayers. (Source: IDOP 2007 Illustration kit).
We are A) GIFTED BY ONE LORD 1 COR. 12:18-19 B) Not Independent (1 Cor. 12:20–27) finally C) We Are One (1 Cor 12: 21–27)
1 Corinthians 12:21-27 [21]The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, [24]which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, [25]that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26]If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. [27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (ESV)
Please turn to Romans 15
No eye in the church has a right to say to a hand, “I have no need of you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
That attitude was common in the Corinthian assembly. A few prominent and gifted members acted as if they were self–sufficient, as if they could carry on their ministries and daily Christian living completely by themselves or with only a few select friends. They overestimated their own importance and underestimated that of other believers.
Romans 15:1-7 [15:1]We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2]Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. [3]For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." [4]For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. [5]May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, [6]that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [7]Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (ESV)
• This International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we gather will the redeemed across this planet, with one voice to God, to pray and intercede for our persecuted brethren.
Paul continues in 1 Cor 12:22, [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable/necessary,
As important as some of the prominent members of the human body are it is possible to live without them. They are important but not absolutely necessary. You can lose an eye or ear, a hand or leg, and still live. But you cannot lose your heart or liver or brain and live. Those organs are more hidden than the others but also are more vital. You can notice the breathing of your lungs and the pulse of your heartbeat, but their work is not nearly as obvious as what we do with our hands or feet. Those less noticed parts (internal organs) seem to be weaker than much of the rest of the body (external limbs), but they also are more necessary. Consequently they are more guarded by the skeleton and the rest of the body. They are more vital and more vulnerable, and are therefore given more protection.
• We should be more vocal for those who are suffering persecution than for our own plight, they need greater protection. Yet, as previously mentioned, they are the most vital and true testimony of genuine Christianity.
Continuing the analogy, Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 12:23 that: [23]and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
Less honorable probably refers to the parts of our body that are not particularly attractive.
It seems best to see this as referring to the torso in general—the part on which we hang clothes, the less visible parts. The use of the verb peritithçmi (bestow, literally “to put around”) suggests the idea of clothing the body in general.
• The rest of the world focuses on the glamorous and rich. We the body of Christ must speak for the hidden, the weak and less visible. In this way we bestow the greater honor
• Although the nature of persecution is unpresentable /unseemly due to the graphic violence, when properly treated and highlighted, the Gospel becomes more attractive to the unredeemed.
In our final passage please turn to Phil. 2
As it states in 1 Cor 12: 25 [25]that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
We should not see such a disconnect between the persecuted Church and ourselves. There should be no division in the body.
Philippians 2:1-4 [2:1]So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2]complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3]Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4]Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)
• We need to have as much care for our persecuted brethren as any activity undergone in North America.
As Paul Continues in 1 Cor. 12:26 [26]If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
And finally in 1 Cor. 12:27: [27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (ESV)
The you here is plural. We are one Body. Individually, we have differing situations but one in Christ.
Perhaps you are here today and feel there is little you can do for the kingdom of God and our persecuted brethren in Christ. Let me close with a story of someone in such a situation that had a great impact.
ILLUSTRATION: “No Use but Useful”
Elderly Sister Ann in China was born into quite an educated family. She had four brothers who all became doctors. She, however, was not even taught how to read and write. She began to train as a nurse, but her father fell ill and she was required to nurse him. Then her mother fell ill, and she nursed her. That illness lasted twenty years. During that time Sister Ann hardly ever left the house.
No sooner had her mother died, than her brother fell ill, with consumption. So she nursed him, and so it went on. She was 82 years old when the final brother died, and all she had done with her life was to nurse her family members at various locations in her home town of Shanghai.
As her final brother was dying, she wondered how she would live after he died. She had no savings. All the wealth of the family had been taken by the Communists. But her brother said to her, “After I’m dead, look under the flagstone in the corner of this room.” She found many gold coins there. A fortune in fact. Her future was assured.
So, at 82, Sister Ann was suddenly free to do anything she wanted. Trouble was, she was old, illiterate, and beginning to feel ill herself. She was a Christian, and approached some house church leaders, but they had no use for her. She offered to give out tracts, but since she could not read, she might not hand the appropriate ones out to the right people. She could not teach the Bible, because she had never read it, though it had been read to her many times, and felt she knew it quite well. But the leaders were not interested. She was just an old woman. “Just hand over the money,” said one, “and we’ll make sure it builds the kingdom.”
She felt useless. Suddenly she made a decision. “The one thing I always wanted to do was to travel,” she said. “All my life had been spent inside houses by the bedsides of dying relatives. I had never been outside Shanghai.” She also thought, “Since I know the Gospel so well, I can at least talk about it as I travel.” So Sister Ann became a traveling evangelist. She used the money to travel by train all over China. No one ever challenged her. She was just a harmless old woman. But she would travel first class, or “soft sleeper” as it was known, and just talk about Jesus to her traveling companions. Many of them were high Party officials. Some were outraged at her attempting to witness to them. But she just said, “Well, what are you going to do about it? Throw an old lady in jail?” Far more of her companions smiled at her and engaged in her conversation.
Sister Ann died aged 87. In the last five years of her life she must have covered hundreds of thousands of miles. She went to the desert of the far north-west, ending up in Urumqi. She made it by bus to the 12,000 feet high Himalayan plateau in Tibet, and all the way down to the steamy jungles of the south, sharing the Gospel with anyone who would listen. In that entire time, she rarely slept more than three nights in the same place.
How many came to the Lord through her witness? No one has any idea but it could have been hundreds. She was so winsome. Her face was friendly and bright, with an unusually soft voice and a way of looking you right in the eye as she spoke. Yes, this woman led people to faith in Jesus. She was too old to work for the house churches, but she was not too old to work for God. Who else would have had the time just to travel on trains for five years? Who else, but an old woman would have escaped arrest for witnessing about Christ all the time in public places, which was against the law? Yes, she did a unique work. (Source: IDOP 2007 Illustration kit).
