Page 38 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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“...BUT NOW GOD HAS SET THE MEMBERS, EACH
ONE OF THEM, IN THE BODY JUST AS HE PLEASED.
IF THE FOOT SHOULD SAY, "BECAUSE I AM NOT A
HAND, I AM NOT OF THE BODY," IS IT THEREFORE
NOT OF THE BODY? AND IF THE EAR SHOULD SAY,
"BECAUSE I AM NOT AN EYE, I AM NOT OF THE
BODY," IS IT THEREFORE NOT OF THE BODY? IF THE
WHOLE BODY WERE AN EYE, WHERE WOULD BE THE
HEARING? IF THE WHOLE WERE HEARING, WHERE
WOULD BE THE SMELLING? AND IF THEY WERE ALL
ONE MEMBER, WHERE WOULD THE BODY BE? BUT
NOW INDEED THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS, YET ONE
BODY. AND 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.“...BUT GOD
COMPOSED THE BODY, HAVING GIVEN GREATER
HONOR TO THAT PART WHICH LACKS IT, THAT
THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN THE BODY, BUT
THAT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE
FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS,
ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT; OR IF ONE
MEMBER IS HONORED, ALL THE MEMBERS REJOICE
WITH IT.
NOW YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST,
AND MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY.”
1 Cor.12:12-31 excerpts
“FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, TO
EVERYONE WHO IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF
HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK,
BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO
EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH. FOR AS WE HAVE
MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY, BUT ALL THE
MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION, SO
WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND
INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER. HAVING
THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE
THAT IS GIVEN TO US, LET US USE THEM: IF
PROPHECY, LET US PROPHESY IN PROPORTION TO
OUR FAITH; OR MINISTRY, LET US USE IT IN OUR
MINISTERING; HE WHO TEACHES, IN TEACHING; HE
WHO EXHORTS, IN EXHORTATION; HE WHO GIVES,
WITH LIBERALITY; HE WHO LEADS, WITH DILIGENCE;
HE WHO SHOWS MERCY, WITH CHEERFULNESS.”
Rom. 12:3-8
“I, THEREFORE, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD,
BESEECH YOU TO WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING
WITH WHICH YOU WERE CALLED, WITH ALL
LOWLINESS AND GENTLENESS, WITH
LONGSUFFERING,
BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE,
ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT
IN THE BOND OF PEACE. THERE IS ONE BODY...”
Eph. 4:1-4
“THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND
BELOVED, PUT ON TENDER MERCIES, KINDNESS,
HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING; BEARING
LIGAMENTS, GROWS WITH THE INCREASE WHICH IS FROM GOD.”
WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING ONE
ANOTHER, IF ANYONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST
ANOTHER; EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU
ALSO MUST DO. BUT ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT
ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION.
AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS,
TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE
BODY...” Col. 3:12-15
“...BUT, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, (the
believer) MAY GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM
WHO IS THE HEAD -- CHRIST -- 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, CAUSES GROWTH OF THE BODY FOR THE
EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE.” Eph 4:15-16
Using the illustration of the physical body’s inter-dependency
upon its various members, Paul likens it to the spiritual Body
of Christ which also has many members that comprise a
unified, single body.
What good is an eye without a hand? The illustration is that
the eye helps the hand to do what it needs to do. What does
the ear do, but direct what the eye is to focus upon? What
good are feet apart from a brain to direct their movement?
Which is the most important part of the physical body? The
answer is none apart from the other parts of the body aiding
it. There is to be “no schism” or sectarian division among the
members of the Body of Christ. No elitist attitude allowed!
The members of the Body of Christ are not to be self-
centered or self-willed, but rather to focus upon what is best
for the whole body. The whole body is to compassionately
experience sorrows, sufferings, and rejoicings together!
This is Paul’s message, this is God’s will!
Spiritual gifts have the tendency to puff up the individual who
has them as though they are “special” in the sight of God.
Paul emphasizes that all spiritual gifts are just that-gifts that
are given by the grace of God, not the merit of the individual:
“...THAT YOU MAY LEARN IN US NOT TO THINK BEYOND
WHAT IS WRITTEN, THAT NONE OF YOU MAY BE PUFFED UP
ON BEHALF OF ONE AGAINST THE OTHER.FOR WHAT MAKES
YOU DIFFER FROM ANOTHER? AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE
THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE? NOW IF YOU DID RECEIVE IT,
WHY DO YOU GLORY AS IF YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED IT?”
1 Cor. 4:6-7
God’s gifts are given to individuals for the overall benefit of
equipping the whole body.
Unity is what God wants for His people. It takes a conscious
“endeavoring” (concentrated effort, hard work) to “keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond (glue) of peace. It takes “super-
glue” to do the work, namely, the fruit of the Spirit of Love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, gentleness (goodness)
faithfulness, meekness and self-control.
The greatest hindrance to the unity of the Spirit is the
“spirit” of unforgiveness at work among members of the
body:
“PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL MEN...LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST
ANYONE FALL SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD; LEST ANY
ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP CAUSE TROUBLE, AND
BY THIS MANY BECOME DEFILED.” Heb.12:14-15
God’s objective for the Body of Christ is to “grow up” into,
and remain under, the headship of Christ. This is not a
“headless body” that God has created:
“AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH...
THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE...”
Col. 1:18
“...HOLDING FAST TO THE HEAD, FROM WHOM THE WHOLE
BODY, NOURISHED AND KNIT TOGETHER BY JOINTS AND
Col. 2:19