Introduction- Last month I went for my annual physical. My doctor checked my pulse, my blood pressure, did blood tests, listened to my heart and lungs. He gave me a clean bill of health. I have an annual physical every year. All of us are concerned about our bodies and our healthy.
You might be like the following people, having a healthy body is not important to you. (tongue in cheek)
Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it... don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!!... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO . Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Ed Vasicek)
Like I said, some people are not concerned with having a healthy body. That may be true physically; however, if you are a believer you should be concerned with a spiritually healthy body. What does that mean?
I. A healthy body has a healthy connection to the head. I am going to use head and brain interchangeably in my message. Notice verse 15. The ultimate goal of growth and spiritual maturity is that we may “grow up in all things into Him who is the head---Christ.”(vs. 15) Thus, we have a healthy connection with Jesus Christ. Sometimes that connection is not good, both spiritually and physically. This is what happens physically when a stroke occurs. I looked up the definition of a stroke on the internet. The definition says a “Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.” (Taken from the American Stroke Association website) I will give you a layman’s definition. A stroke occurs when the brain has a poor connection with the body (especially the heart). It is vitally important that our brains (head) have a healthy connection to the rest of the body. When the head is properly connected to the body there will be two results.
A. The head will direct the body. The brain is the control center of the body. A healthy church should be concerned with following and obeying the words given by Jesus Christ. Sometimes we get focused on church traition, denominational suggestions or member preferences. Our first priority should be Jesus directions.
B. The body will depend on the head, Jesus Christ. Why is it so vital that we depend on Jesus Christ? There is a simple explanation found repeated in Ephesians 3 & 4 (Ephesians 3:2,7,8; 4:7). The phrase is God’s grace. You may ask, why is God’s grace so vitally important in establishing a good connection? Jesus Christ and His grace is our connecting link to God. Most all of us carry a cell phone in our purse or our pocket. We know the frustration of losing a phone connection when we are talking. Phone companies use this frustration as a marketing strategy. The same is true in the spiritual realm. Connection is important!
• Because of Jesus Christ and His grace we have access to God. (vs. 8)
Illustration: Several years ago I preached a revival near Rapid City, South Dakota. The place where I preached was the home of a SAK (strategic air command) base. They had several B-1 bombers housed there. At that time the B-1 bomber was the jet that transported nuclear bombs. One of the mechanics, that maintained the B-1, was a member of the church where I preached. One day he offered to carry me on a tour of the base and carry me on board a B-1. That was like asking a duck if he wants to get into the water. I never will forget that afternoon. I stood at the gate of this highly secure base waiting on that mechanic. He came riding up in a maintenance truck. He showed his security badge to the guard and I got in the truck. He carried me to a large hanger and I was able to go inside a B-1 bomber. That was awesome! Follow the story. I was granted access to a highly secure place where I would never be allowed to go because my friend had access. Since he had access I had access. I was able to visit a place very few people are allowed to go. Jesus Christ has done the same for us. He gives access to the throne room of God’s dwelling. Apart from Him there is no access to God. In II Tim. 2:5 you will find a verse that perfectly explains this truth. “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
• Because of Jesus Christ and His grace we have authority with God. This authority is beautifully illustrated in Romans. The book of Romans was written to introduce Paul to a church he had never visited. It was like he was sharing his credentials with that church. In verse 5 of that book Paul states “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship.” It is as if Paul was saying Jesus Christ gives me my authority.
Illustration: Before Christmas I went into a store and bought a present. On the way out an alarm went off as I went through the scanner. I had paid for my item and I had my ticket in hand. I was not upset. I was not worried. I was confident because I had the authority of a receipt in my hand. Jesus Christ gives that kind of confidence. He gives us authority.
• Because of Jesus Christ and His grace we are chosen to serve God. None of us are worthy to be in God’s service. He is perfect. We are imperfect. He is Holy. We are sinners. He never makes a mistake. We make mistakes every day. However, by His grace He has chosen to use us.
Illustration: Somebody made a list of defective saints. This list perfectly illustrates God’s willingness to use imperfect saints. He is gracious.
1. Moses stuttered.
2. David’s armor didn’t fit.
3. John Mark was rejected by Paul.
4. Timothy had ulcers.
5. Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
6. Jacob was a liar.
7. David had an affair.
8. Abraham was too old.
9. David was too young.
10. Peter was fearful.
11. John was self-righteous.
12. Paul and Moses were murderers.
13. Jonah ran from God.
14. Miriam was a gossip.
15. Gideon and Thomas were doubters.
16. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
17. Elijah was burned out.
18. Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that God is gracious?
A healthy body has a good connection to the head. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and the head of your spiritual life. He is our access! He is our authority! He is the reason for our inclusion in God’s family and God’s work.
II. A healthy body has functioning members. The church is the body of Christ and you and I are its members. We are to function for Him. Twice in verse 16 we see reference made to our functioning for Him. “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share.”(vs. 16)
What does a properly functioning member do?
A. A properly functioning member is producing. In verse 16 it says “every part (of the body) supplies.” Jesus once told a parable that illustrates this truth. One day Jesus was walking down a road and noticed a fig tree that was not producing. As a teaching point, for His disciples, He cursed the fig tree. He said a fig tree is created to produce. The same is true of believers. A healthy believer was created to produce. Jesus spoke about productivity in John 15. He said “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” We are to be fruit-bearing followers of Christ.
A touching story illustrates this truth. “A little lame boy was once hurrying to catch a train. In the press of the crowd he experienced real difficulty in manipulating his crutches, especially as he was carrying a basket full of fruit and candy. As the passengers rushed along, one hit the basket by mistake, knocking oranges, apples, and candy bars in all directions. The man who caused the accident paused only long enough to scold the cripple for getting in his way. Another gentleman, seeing the boy’’ distress, went to his aid. Quickly he picked up the fruit and added a silver dollar to the collection, saying, ‘I’m sorry, Sonny! I hope this makes up a little!’” With a smile he was on his way. The young boy who had seldom been the recipient of such kindness called after the ‘good Samaritan’ in gratitude and awe, ‘Mister—please sir, are you Jesus?’ “No,’ replied his new-found friend, ‘I’m only one of His followers.’ So too the people whose lives we touch need to see the Lord in our acts of compassion and Christian kindness.”(Our Daily Bread)
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Ronald Keller)
Have you noticed recently that there are a lot of commercials on television advocating kindness? The one that grabs my attention is the delivery man who is loaded down with packages and takes time to open a door for an elderly lady. Due to the load, in his hands, he must open the door with his foot. That campaign is sponsored by an organization that is trying to improve living conditions in our country. Should not that be the goal of a believer every day? Our lives should be saturated with kind deeds that are motivated by a heart that is full of the love of Jesus.
B. A properly functioning member is a minister. If someone asks you this question: who is the minister at Faith Baptist Church? How will you answer the question? I hope you will answer by saying: all of us are ministers! Throughout church history we have tended to classify church members as either clergy or laity. There tended to be a holy reverence built around the clergy. In fact, at one point in church history layman were not allowed the privilege of possessing a Bible. It was believed that only clergy could properly interpret the Bible. However, in the 1500’s and 1600’s that began to change. The scriptures began to be interpreted in a language that common people could read. In 1611 the popular King James Version came out. Since that time many other wonderful translations have opened the door for all believers. There should be no dividing lines between clergy and laity. All of us have been called to be ministers. The clergy or staff have been given the job of equipping the saints. However, all of us are ministers.
Joke: You can be a minister wherever you go and whatever you do. A bus driver and a minister were standing in line to get into heaven. The bus driver approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a bus driver. Since I’m in charge of housing, I believe I have found the perfect place for you. See that mansion over the hilltop? It’s yours. The minister heard all this and began to stand a little taller. He said to himself, "If a bus driver got a place like that, just think what I’ll get." The minister approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a minister. See that shack in the valley?" St. Peter had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the irate minister said, "I was a minister, I preached the gospel, I helped teach people about God. Why does that bus driver get a mansion, and I get a shack?" Sadly St. Peter responded, "Well, it seems when you preached, people slept. When the bus driver drove, people prayed."
(Sermon Central: SOURCE: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited. (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 146.)
C. A properly functioning member is maturing. In verse 15 Paul refers to “growing up.” A believer is a person who is growing in spiritual maturity. Paul identifies the signs of maturity.
• There is unity. Developing unity in a church is difficult. I once heard someone say “Baptist fellowship is Heavenly. The only place it will work is Heaven.” The unity referred to in vs. 13 occurs when a group of people fall in love with Jesus and the only thing that matters is pleasing Him. The reason a lot of churches are divided is because they are not focused on Jesus. When you start maturing all of this other stuff will not matter.
• The second sign of maturity is stability. In verse 14 Paul compares maturity to that which occurs when a child grows. When a child is growing he has a lot of uncertainty in his heart. If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up he will change every day. He is unstable.
• The third sign of maturity is speech that is guided by love. In verse 15 he refers to “speaking the truth in love.” Such speech is two-fold. It is guided by loving kindness. It is trustworthy. It is truthful.
• The fourth sign of maturity is ministry. I have already covered this point.
• A fifth sign of maturity is a willingness to be equipped. This is taken from verse 12. This presumes that you have a hunger and thirst to be equipped. A lot of people call themselves believers but they never set foot inside a Bible study class. They never step foot inside a discipleship group. They never pick up their Bible all week. They never pray all week.
These are signs of a healthy body. A healthy body has a healthy connection to the head. A healthy body has functioning parts. May our church be a healthy body. May we as members be healthy parts of the body.
