YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST

Many Parts ONE BODY (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) "For sas the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, tso also is Christ. For uby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—vwhether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and whave all been made to drink 7into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14) Here is just a few verses that discribe the church, but the one that is used the most is comparing the church to the body. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4-16; 5:23, 30; Colossians 1:18, 24; 3:15) Believers both in bible times and I believe even today, forget this fact, that the church ia=s a body and it should function like a body. This reality comes pretty clear, when you loose the use of a part of your body. The rest does not function as well. For instance, in May of 2000, I as training a horse to ride, because of a lack of tack, I rode bareback, and our friends daughter rode in the saddle, I told her she was a lady and needed to ride in the saddle. So a long stroy short at the end of that ride, I was thrown from my bucking horse, did a face plant and the resi=ults were having a parralizrd arm for the biggest part of a year. You know that incedent made me realize what Paul was talking about here. In order to make my arm work again, I had to continue treating it like it was a part of the bos=dy, so the nervous knew they were still a part of the body. If I would have shuned them and never made them welcome in the body because they were damaged and wouldn't do what they were supposed to do. I would not have my arm worjking today. In the scriptures, Jesus lifted up all of the spiritual gifts as important. One gift is not more impotant than any of the others, as some believers try and say that they are. Biut that is not what the bible tells me. Tiungues is not more imprtant than being a good and faithful friend, with a gift of being a good listener.None of the gifts should be disdained, or be considered less spectacular than anyother gift. Paul, refutted this idea of one being more imoirtant than the others by useing the body as an example. In so doing he taught unity among the body of Christ, which is the church, the church are the people, not the building. Yes, just like the human body, it has many parts (1 Corinthians 12:14, 20); and just like my arm as needed all the all parts of the body of the church are needed as well to make the body complete and function correctly and effectively, in furthering the Kingdom of God. (vv. 24-26). What does this look like in practice? As the body (church) functions it becomes the physical and spiritual "body of Christ" on earth. It was what Jesus came to do,as He prepared the disciples to build the church on a firm foundation, as He himself went from the cradle to the cross to the grsave and then was ressurrected to life and returned to the Father promising to return for the Church. But He set the body up to function in His place until He returned. This was done, by the Holy Spirit coming to live within the believer and giving them diverse gifts and special callings to member who were willing to reciie those gifts and put them into use. Bringing unity to the church which furthers God's Kingdom.. It is done through acts of service, spreading the gospel, and bringing Christ's love and healing to the world. Tjhrough the New Testament wroters God provided profound insight into how the church operates as one body to accomplish this mission. Just as a human body has many parts with different functions, the church is made up of individuals with unique spiritual gifts, like the gifts of teaching, serving, giving, encouraging and so on). Friend, if you are a believer, your gift given by God is essential to the health and growth of the whole body. The body is a healthy body when the believers care for one another as Jesus cared for them. This type of care ensures, when one member suffers, all of the other members hurt. When my back went back into place, I got my balance back and the intence pain in my whole body, was able to function better and the healing was able to begin. When I began to move my arm again my family rejoyces with me. When one member of our church is rejoicing because of the work God is doing in their lives, we should as a body rejoice with them. So my friends, the church furthers God’s Kingdom by actively serving as Christ's hands and feet, embodying His teachings, and fulfilling the (Great Commission) "Matthew 28:18-20" to make disciples and grow the church, not inwardly but outwardly. As the church grows outward it will grow inwardly. Because as believers go out obedient to the great commossion, other believers will fill their spots with in the Church. Are you fulfilling your roll as a part of thebody of Christ here on earth? If not, why not? Father God, help me, not to jusdge others, but go about your business and let you change the hearts of your people. My job is to funtion as a part of your church. Being and doing the things you have gifted me to do.Lord help me to function and be in unity with the other believers with in the body of Christ upon this earth until you call me home. It is in your name I pray AMEN.