The Body I
THE BODY
In Speaking on the BODY I would like to note that this does NOT NEGATE the need, or command by God for the individual, yet there is more to what we have learned in various Christian circles regarding being filled with the Spirit, walking in the Spirit and the Christian life.
The WHOLE of the Christian life centres around the BODY
It is the PATERN for the Christian IN THE BODY
It is the PURPOSE for the Christian IN THE BODY
It is the POWER for the Christian IN THE BODY
It is the PROTECTION for the Christian IN THE BODY
It is the PROCREATION OF the Christian IN THE BODY
WHAT IS THE BODY:
A Body is that which is separate and distinct from that which surrounds it, for example “a body of water’. It is a collective, a unit as in a body of soldiers.
A Church is a called out group of saved people, Scripturally baptized and organized by the Spirit of God and the Word of Truth. It is LOCAL, it is VISIBLE.
Ephesians 2:11-16 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
The BODY or A CHURCH was a NEW THING. It was UNHEARD OF before Christ.
This would be HIS INSTITUTION for HIS WORK in this age.
Mat 16:18 ... I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
It would CAUSE AWE and WONDER among the JEW and Gentile alike.
What we take for GRANTED now was a RADICAL concept to the JEW. To be ONE with the DOGS!!!!
We will notice the struggles that the early church had over such
The Vision of Peter before he met with Cornelius.
The Confrontation of Peter by Paul in the eating habits of Jew and Gentile together.
The uproar of the Judaizers
The BODY was to be a COLLECTIVE of believers who all had the SAME MIND (The Mind of Christ) and acted AS ONE in that mind by the Direction of the SPIRIT of God and the WORD of TRUTH.
The earth had never seen anything like this before. It was a UNIQUE entity.
It was made up of MANY but acted as ONE, even when apart.
They were MANY MEMBERS but directed by ONE MIND and ONE SPIRIT.
The Body worked together in something MORE than just co-operation, it was a collective thought and operation of individuals acting singularly by being controlled by an internal Spirit. They were filled singularly with the spirit of God and collectively empowered and filled by that same Spirit to do the WILL and WORK of GOD.
THE POWER OF THE BODY:
The Spirit of UNITY
We often think about the individual being filled with the Spirit and the responsibility of that individual to WALK in the SPIRIT, and there is no doubt that this is of great importance but to a church body this is only HALF the TRUTH. There is a need for the WHOLE to be filled with the SPIRIT and walk in the Spirit.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
Acts 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The BOND OF UNITY … LOVE
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
BEING JUGED AS A BODY
The Principle of being judged as a whole:
THE Nations will be Judged
Isaiah 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
The Nation of Israel was Judged
The Cities and towns of Jesus Day were to be Judged
Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
The Churches of Revelation were judged as a UNIT
Unto the Church of Ephesus……unto the church of Sardis… of Philadelphia…..
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
REWARDS OF THE BODY
There will be REWARDS specifically for the UNIT, for judgment necessitates an examination.
Those who are part of a CHURCH BODY will gain rewards gained as part of that corporate unit that could not be obtained on their own or even by way of co-operating with others of like faith and practice.
Rewards based upon how you acted IN that body, how you fulfilled YOUR PLACE, rewards of SOULS saved, rewards of FRUITFULNESS and CHRISTLIKENESS as a BODY…. Things that can ONLY be gained by being PART of a body.
THE WORKS OF A BODY AND BEARING FRUIT AS A BODY
GLORIFY CHRIST:
Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
We as a body, our testimony in our UNITY and POWER, in our PERSONALITY should REFLECT the person of Christ and make men stand in wonder.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(Even the context of this verse speaks of the body)
For certain that if the INDIVIDUAL has certain works to do, there is no doubt that each CHURCH has specific works to do…..
Our INDIVIDUAL gifts are to be used for the COLLECTIVE:
Ephesians 4:8-12 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(Just as God chose to put his name upon a city, upon a place, a house, he has chosen to place his name upon these CHURCHES…..)
Ephesians 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
WE ARE TO EDIFY and EVANGILIZE
The SELFISH PERSON tends to spend their resources, time talents treasures upon SELF, whereas the SELFLESS (Or Christlike) person is a GIVER.
All too often the church spends most of its resources upon being preoccupied with SELF…. Our sickness, weakness, internal strifes and schisms instead of the WORK OF GOD.
PRAYING AS A BODY
Matthew 18:18-20 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
ACTING AS A BODY
Acts 13:1-4 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Matthew 18:15-17 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
THE PERSONALITY OF A BODY
Just as EACH individual has a personality that is UNIQUE and under the Spirit of God is the exact Character for the place they live in, so is each CHURCH UNIQUE and has a certain personality determined by the members, and is a BLEND of those members. The personality of a body is greater than the SUM OF ALL THE PARTS.
THE SLACKER….feels comfortable with other slackers, the workers feel comfortable with workers, the REBELS unite together and the weak…. In any group the majority set the tone for the whole.
When the SCALES tip to the CARNAL and the PRETENDERS… the church will be drawn down to destruction….
This is why it is important that AS A BODY we POLICE OURSELVES to GUARD against RUIN, LOSS of REWARD and USEFULNESS and ULTIMATLY Having our LIFE as a Church LOST.
This is PRUNING, this is Church discipline
1 Corinthians 11:30-32 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
A Church can and WILL be CHASTENED, PURGED and PRUNED to bear MORE FRUIT….
We can be CARNAL or SPIRITUAL
This is the importance of encouraging one another in the faith. The importance of maintaining UNITY
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We as individuals are encouraged to ADD to our FAITH…. To GROW, as a BODY we are encouraged in the SAME…. To GROW AS A UNIT.
The PERSONALITY of JESUS should be one and the same as the personality of a Church
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
We are after all being conformed to HIS IMAGE and if we are the MEMBERS of HIS BODY and HE is the HEAD, that conformation process should be the SAME.
Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
THE MENTALITY OF THE BODY
The Idea of the Universal Church has done great damage and harm to the UNIT (TEAM) or BODY doctrine…. It has changed the focus of all New Testament teaching onto a SOLELY INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
The BODY according to the new evangelicals is minimal at best and unnecessary at worst.
MY ministry, MY calling….
No longer are we BAPTIZED by ONE SPIRIT INTO ONE BODY, but we change churches as we find it convenient to do so without regard for the body at all and without regard to the SPIRIT who placed us IN that body.
The results are damning ….
THE POWER OF A BODY
The lack of POWER in a church is why so many children who come from good homes fall away….
This is not to negate the necessity of INDIVIDUAL POWER or FAMILY, but these work in conjunction WITH the BODY….
A PYRAMID of POWER in the lives of its PEOPLE
The Individual who is filled with the Spirit that has TARRIED ON GOD in the WORD IN PRAYER and in SUBMISSION… the FAMILY that has tarried upon the LORD and through prayer the word and submission comes into the CHURCH, which in turn TARRIES ON THE LORD, in PRAYER and IN THE WORD… collectively .
We often given assent to the first two but neglect the last….. POWER comes through the FILLING of the SPIRIT and this BODY can be FILLED… this HOUSE can be FILLED and SUPERNATURALLY EMPOWERED.
That was the IDEA and THE NORM for a church but sadly the normal has beome abnormal.
ATTACKS UPON THE BODY
SPLINTER the UNITY (Schisms) Break the BOND of SACRIFICE of LOVE to Christ and His people
SEVER THE HEAD (Self rule) BREAK the BOND of SUBMISSION to Christ, His Word and Spirit.
SATURATE WITH SIN (Soil) Break the Bond of SANCTIFICATION
WHAT TO DO:
Get back to THE BODY
Understand YOU are a PART of the BODY
We are TOGETHER and responsible for EACH OTHER.
We STAND OR FALL TOGETHER
MY individual ACTIONS WILL and DO affect the BODY
1 Corinthians 6:15-16 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
TARRY TOGETHER
UNDERSTAND YOUR PART IN THE BODY, your RESPONSIBILITY