The Body II
The BODY II
1 Corinthians 12:25-27 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
The Body in Nourishment
Exercise & Nourishment
What the BODY needs is the WORD. Just as any Christian needs the word of God to nourish, to strengthen them so the body as a WHOLE needs to partake of the bread as ONE.
Exodus 16:35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
Each member of the body assimilates the nourishment it receives at a differing rate at differing amounts.
The human body takes in nourishment and that nourishment is broken down throughout, each part taking what it needs.
This is why often when a sermon is preached that many come away with something a little different. Each member is getting and is provided what it needs to be strengthened in the whole and the nourishment is given in turn to strengthen the whole. The Holy Spirit makes application to the individual member in relation to the WHOLE.
This is why it is vital for the health of the body that each member take in what is given to the whole, for without taking it IN there will be a failure of that member to contribute BACK from that nourishment and the whole body will suffer.
This is part of the responsibility of the individual to the whole.
The LORD of the BODY is not negligent. Our personal heads often take little care of our bodies, but not OUR HEAD. He gives us proper nourishment.
(As a body we can often rebel against what we would call this light bread…. We hunger for the leeks and onions of Egypt, we lust for the fleshpots of the nile but what we NEED and what we are given is MANNA. )
Woe to the body that seeks out her own nourishment away from the master’s table. How we gravitate to the ENTERTAINMENT, the SOFT SOAP approach when what we need is NOURISHMENT.
We will also notice that the BODY needs to be EXCERCISED. We are to be exercised together, as a UN IT
Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Judges 2:21-23 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
The same trials that beset us in our individual lives come upon us as a BODY that we should MATURE. These trials are not given to destroy us but so that we would bring forth FRUIT.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The BODY needs to be pushed, it needs to WORK, it needs the challenges and hardships placed upon it.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
The Body in Warfare
Exodus 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
Joshua 10:36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
To engage the enemy, the KINGS OF THE LAND, Israel went forth TOGETHER as ONE. There are many enemies, strongholds and battles to be fought in THIS LAND OF PROMISE…. These we must face as a BODY or we will be overwhelmed.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
These enemies are highly organized.
Mark 3:24-25 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Make no mistake we are in a WAR and that war is to be engaged in OUR AREA by OUR CHURCH, by THIS BODY.
AIR FORCE (Prayer support)
INFANTRY ( Troop movement)
NAVY (
The Body in Disarray
The Body was affected by the INDIVIDUAL
ACHAN
Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
We will note that ALL of Israel was affected by ONE MEMBER. It was a vital lesson for ISRAEL and still is a vital lesson for a BODY.
We must be careful of what we involve ourselves in not just because of our individual life but because of the BODY.
MURMURRING IN THEIR TENTS
Psalms 106:25-26 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
Known by the FAULT, known by the weak member
The Withered Hand
Mark 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
The Body is Restoration (Healing)
Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
When the members of a body reject one another there is a serious problem. One member must be removed or death will eventually ensue for the whole.
This is the need for SINCERITY and CARE one for another
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
What men often view as solely a matter between one person and another that is NO BUSINESS of anybody else is more than that for the WHOLE of the BODY is INVOLVED.
Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Matthew 18:15-20 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. 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.
Here is a small formula for Obtaining forgiveness….
Admit the fault (OWN IT) Do not play the blame game
Ask forgiveness (Humility, apologies are not occasions for yur pride… remember YOU wounded your pride yourself when YOU did the fault. ) curt apologies are merely words and cannot be accepted ACT SORRY..BE SORRY
Assume Responsibility (restitution if possible, public harangues deserve public apologies)
Assure not to repeat (Sorry with the full intention of repetition is no apology.)
Love is never having to say your sorry… that is the same definition for RUDENESS , PRIDE, ARROGANCY and SELFISHNESS and that is NOT LOVE.
Here is a small formula for GIVING forgiveness
(Pattern it after God’s forgiveness of US)
IT IS SURE:
Make sure your FEELINGS are under control of the WILL… forgiveness isn’t dependant upon emotions (Although they play a part) it is an ACT OF THE WILL.
IT IS COMPLETE:
Make sure you FORGET the fault… it is GONE, in the sea of forgetfulness.
DO NOT GLOSS OVER… be gracious enough to ACCEPT the apology as it is given… not with a curt answer or a proud gloat.
The idea should be one of HARMONY of RESTORATION for the good of THE BODY.
We have a responsibility and a DUTY to the body to FORGIVE and APOLOGISE.