Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos Christian Centre
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 10 03/18/2007
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 10 03/18/2007
I’m so glad that I am in the family of God! Rudyard Kipling wrote about families, "all of us are we--and everyone else is they."
A family shares things like dreams, hopes, possessions, memories, smiles, frowns, and gladness...A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and the cement of mutual respect. A family is shelter from the storm, a friendly port when the waves of life become too wild. No person is ever alone who is a member of a family.
It is very important you realize that EVERY BELIEVER at the time of their re-birth becomes a vital member of the church - the body of Christ.
According to I Corithians 12:18 we have been “placed in His body where it pleases God the most.”
I Corinthians 12:12-28 “For as the body is one, yet has many parts and all the parts of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ…. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, Because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body? And if the ear says, Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? …. We are many parts members), yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you: nor can the head say to the feet, I have no need of you... there should be no schism in the body; but all the members should have the same care one for another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice. Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Too many are actually unsure of their place in the body. Worse yet, some folk resent their God given place in the body.
To prove his love for her, he swam the deepest river, crossed the widest desert and climbed the highest mountain. She divorced him. He was never home.
The body of Christ and the church are one and the same. Ephesians 1:22-23 refers to Jesus being the head of the church, which is His body....
I Corinthians 12:7-26 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every person to profit all. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these are directed and used by that same Spirit, dividing to every person as He wills.”
Having a poor attitude regarding your place in the body can and does hinder the proper function of the body.
Paul in his twisted sense of humor describes the foot denying its place in the body because it is not a hand. The lesson is obvious.... the foot lacking the visibility, creativity and dignity of the hand gets filled with insecurity.
Unfortunately, many saints tend to be insecure.
We need to be careful not to depreciate our role in the body. We of course know the foot is a very important member, but if the foot doesn’t believe that, insecurity weakens the body.
Paul pictures the eye proudly rejecting the hand saying “I have no need of you”. But Romans 12:5 says we are all individual members of one another. Each part is important to the next. When one hurts they all hurt!
Matthew 25:15....He gave gifts to every man according to their personal ability We were born with natural interests and abilities.
Some are musically inclined, some mathematically gifted, some love working with their hands, others with children or seniors, some are mechanically inclined.
These natural abilities are not given by chance. According to Ephesians 2:10 we are specifically designed for God’s purposes..... we are his workmanship. And again in Matthew 25:15.… gifts given to our ability.
Our natural abilities are energized by the Holy Spirit, becoming gifts to the body of Christ. Romans 12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.
Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.
The body of Christ - the church consists of many members, each with gifts and talents that have been given by God.
It is important that you:
1. RELATE TO YOUR GIFT REALISTICALLY:
Romans 12:3 ..do not think more highly of yourself than you ought, but think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
2. Remember the source of Your abilities:
I Corinthians 4:7 Who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you didn’t receive?
3. REALIZE YOUR GIFT CAN INCREASE: God will reward faithfulness and diligence. In the parable of talents those who invested wisely received more.
4. REMEMBER GIFTS ARE FOR SERVING!
Luke 22:27 I am among you as He that serves. Our gifts and callings are for the purposes of serving others and building up the body of Christ.
God hasn’t called you to be something you are not!
He has made you perfectly suited for the practical ministry he has called you to.
In order to help you find your place in the body here are few tips:
Submit yourself to God’s calling. We must be willing to accept whatever place or function He has for us.
Warning! Don’t compare your place with that of others. Be the best you, you can be! Then help others to be their best!
Give God time: Many Christians run ahead of God. Although you may receive a calling early in your walk it may well be some time before it is fully manifested!
Get involved: Once a basic foundation is laid in your life, you should get involved. All saints can pray, witness, or help some area of the local work. Trying your hand at helping in various areas can often reveal the areas of gifting in your life.
Consider your abilities and desires: We should honestly evaluate our talents and abilities to realistically determine what we are qualified for. If you are tone deaf it may not be the best choice to lead the song service, no matter your desire.
Further training and Preparation: Having discovered your place of function / calling you must diligently prepare yourself.
Be willing to sacrifice: There is always a cost involved!
As we the individual members of His body find and accept our place within His body this world will see a greater and a deeper revelation of Jesus!
It is very important you realize that EVERY BELIEVER at the time of their re-birth becomes a vital member of the church - the body of Christ.
According to I Corithians 12:18 we have been “placed in His body where it pleases God the most.”
I Corinthians 12:12-28 “For as the body is one, yet has many parts and all the parts of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ…. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, Because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body? And if the ear says, Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? …. We are many parts members), yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you: nor can the head say to the feet, I have no need of you... there should be no schism in the body; but all the members should have the same care one for another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice. Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Too many are actually unsure of their place in the body. Worse yet, some folk resent their God given place in the body.
To prove his love for her, he swam the deepest river, crossed the widest desert and climbed the highest mountain. She divorced him. He was never home.
The body of Christ and the church are one and the same. Ephesians 1:22-23 refers to Jesus being the head of the church, which is His body....
I Corinthians 12:7-26 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every person to profit all. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these are directed and used by that same Spirit, dividing to every person as He wills.”
Having a poor attitude regarding your place in the body can and does hinder the proper function of the body.
Paul in his twisted sense of humor describes the foot denying its place in the body because it is not a hand. The lesson is obvious.... the foot lacking the visibility, creativity and dignity of the hand gets filled with insecurity.
Unfortunately, many saints tend to be insecure.
We need to be careful not to depreciate our role in the body. We of course know the foot is a very important member, but if the foot doesn’t believe that, insecurity weakens the body.
Paul pictures the eye proudly rejecting the hand saying “I have no need of you”. But Romans 12:5 says we are all individual members of one another. Each part is important to the next. When one hurts they all hurt!
Matthew 25:15....He gave gifts to every man according to their personal ability We were born with natural interests and abilities.
Some are musically inclined, some mathematically gifted, some love working with their hands, others with children or seniors, some are mechanically inclined.
These natural abilities are not given by chance. According to Ephesians 2:10 we are specifically designed for God’s purposes..... we are his workmanship. And again in Matthew 25:15.… gifts given to our ability.
Our natural abilities are energized by the Holy Spirit, becoming gifts to the body of Christ. Romans 12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.
Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.
The body of Christ - the church consists of many members, each with gifts and talents that have been given by God.
It is important that you:
1. RELATE TO YOUR GIFT REALISTICALLY:
Romans 12:3 ..do not think more highly of yourself than you ought, but think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
2. Remember the source of Your abilities:
I Corinthians 4:7 Who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you didn’t receive?
3. REALIZE YOUR GIFT CAN INCREASE: God will reward faithfulness and diligence. In the parable of talents those who invested wisely received more.
4. REMEMBER GIFTS ARE FOR SERVING!
Luke 22:27 I am among you as He that serves. Our gifts and callings are for the purposes of serving others and building up the body of Christ.
God hasn’t called you to be something you are not!
He has made you perfectly suited for the practical ministry he has called you to.
In order to help you find your place in the body here are few tips:
Submit yourself to God’s calling. We must be willing to accept whatever place or function He has for us.
Warning! Don’t compare your place with that of others. Be the best you, you can be! Then help others to be their best!
Give God time: Many Christians run ahead of God. Although you may receive a calling early in your walk it may well be some time before it is fully manifested!
Get involved: Once a basic foundation is laid in your life, you should get involved. All saints can pray, witness, or help some area of the local work. Trying your hand at helping in various areas can often reveal the areas of gifting in your life.
Consider your abilities and desires: We should honestly evaluate our talents and abilities to realistically determine what we are qualified for. If you are tone deaf it may not be the best choice to lead the song service, no matter your desire.
Further training and Preparation: Having discovered your place of function / calling you must diligently prepare yourself.
Be willing to sacrifice: There is always a cost involved!
As we the individual members of His body find and accept our place within His body this world will see a greater and a deeper revelation of Jesus!
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