The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and
though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For
we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave
or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Today, I am
writing for Thursday and Friday. Thursday we set aside to pray for churches,
schools and also families. Friday we pray for those working in the fields of
Harvest. But first a praise report. Rick Brouse thanks all for prayers and
gives glory to God. His back surgery yesterday to take care of a bad disc, he
was in the hospital by 8 am and home by noon. God is good... Thank You, Jesus.
Prayers also today for Vicki, Carol, and others who have been
on our prayer lists the past days and weeks. Also, I had a EKG the other day
getting ready for my hand surgery, I did not do well on the test and am heading
to the heart doctor this morning to be checked out and cleared for surgery.
Your prayers will be appreciated.
One Body, Many Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:12 - The body is a unit,
though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form
one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into
one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink. (NIV)
A few weeks back, when we were sorting and packing food for
our big Christmas food distribution day, Rick Brouse was with us helping and he
was having a bad day. As I recall he was on the detail to break down the empty
boxes and stack them and his back was really barking at him. I am pointing this
out as when one of our body parts does get out of sorts, then all too often it
makes the rest of our body not work so good. What happens if we just get a
head cold, and we get a fever, we feel punk and cannot work right, our body sort
of gives up.
Here we find in the Bible our body being compared with the
"Body of believers." Let's look at our local church for a minute. We need many
people who have different gifts who come together to work for the Lord at the
local church. In the Church of Christ, meaning God's church, well, let me just
give it to you right from the scripture.
1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ and each
one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those
having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do
all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But
eagerly desire the great gifts. (NIV)
Now we can see there are many gifts given or I like to say lent to us from God. And while God is talking about the Church of God, His
church, one we all belong to when we love Jesus and have received Him as our
personal Savior, the local church supports many of the same gifts and needs them
all to have the church work for the Lord. If the body of Christ, that would
be all of us working together as one, starts to come apart, then the church gets
hurt. I am sure we have seen the devil get involved in local churches and some
people with gifts start not using their gifts but get involved in other things.
Sometimes when one does not use their gifts properly and for the good of God,
then the church falls apart, maybe even fails. Brothers and sisters, God has
also lent to us more than one gift. Let me use my dear, dear brother Pastor
Larry Hale as an example on this. Among the gifts that God has lent to Pastor
Larry is the gift of teaching, the gift of faith and also the gift of
Administration (all pastors need to also be administrators). While he might
have a few more, one of those others that he has is the greatest gift of all,
and that gift is "Love".
Let me look a tad deeper into this great gift called love... 1
Corinthians 13 talks about this great gift.
1 Corinthians 13:1 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and if I have a
faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all
I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I
gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not
boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres. 8 Love never fails!! (NIV)
So we can see in the scriptures, there are many gifts, but the
one that is above all others is Love. Now where did we see that? Oh, in
Jesus, we know He heals, we have studied that, we have seen His great faith, we
have see Him tempted, but above all we have seen His great love for us when He
died on the cross for us. He gave His life for us, and His love never fails,
and the Bible tells us that it will not fail. Please, folks, please do not be
afraid to show love towards others, please do not be afraid to share your love,
do not be afraid to hug others, and most of all do not confuse LOVE FOR SEX.
Brothers and sisters, fall first in love with Jesus, then and only then do you
really know what REAL LOVE IS.
Dear Father in Heaven, Please forgive us of our sins, and Lord
Jesus, thanks for the great love You gave to us when You died on the cross for
us. Thanks, Jesus. Father, please honor our prayer requests according to Your
will, and Father, thanks for the many gifts You have given us and thanks for the
good report from brother Rick, all glory and honor to you. In Jesus' name I
pray... Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving others. Have
a great weekend... love ya (I really do), Pastor Dan.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment