I thought tonight we would look into who is a part of
God’s family and look at many scriptures about who is part
of God’s family. One of the first things I found is that
not only are we a family, but that God intends for us to be as
one.
1st Corinthians 12:12 -- For as the body is one,
and hath many members, and all the members of that
one
body, being many,
are one body: so also is Christ.
Our body has many parts yet it is one body. Christ is the
same.
1st Corinthians 12:13 -- For by one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles,
whether we be
bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
This is saying that when we become saved, born again, we all
enter the same family. God does not separate us in parts. Not by
race, church preference, or anything else.... we are all
one.
1st Corinthians 12:14 -- For the body is not one
member, but many.
1st Corinthians 12:15 -- If the foot shall say,
Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore
not
of the
body?
1st Corinthians 12:16 -- And if the ear shall say,
Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it
therefore
not of the
body?
We need to realize that as part of this family we all have
our own part, or role. These scriptures to be reworded may say
this: “shall the usher say, because I am not the pastor I
am not part of the church?” or maybe “the nursery
worker say, I am not the ladies prayer leader I am not part of
the church”
1st Corinthians 12:17 -- If the whole body were an
eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing,
where
were the
smelling?
Again, allow me to reword: “If the whole church were
pastors who would take the offering” or “ If all the
women lead prayer group who would watch the
children”
I think what it is saying is that all parts of a church,
whether big or small, are important. Without all the parts
working together, We would have chaos and would be lacking
wholeness.
1st Corinthians 12:18 -- But now hath God set the
members every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased
him.God has
called people to do what He wants of them. Not what they want to
do or
what they might
think more glorious a position.
1st Corinthians 12:20 -- But now are they many
members, yet but one body.
1st Corinthians 12:21 -- And the eye cannot say
unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to
the
feet, I have no
need of you.
Now here I think what it us saying is an usher cannot say
there is no need of the nursery. Or the congregation say we have
no need of leadership. All parts work together to form a whole
functioning “body” “family”
“church”.
1st Corinthians 12:22 -- Nay, much more those
members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary:
1st Corinthians 12:23 -- And those members of the
body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these
we
bestow more
abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness.
Basically it is saying even the jobs that seem almost
unimportant ARE just as important as any other. Maybe you feel
lead to clean the church or mow the grass on the church premises?
It is just as important.
1st Corinthians 12:24 -- For our comely parts have
no need: but God hath tempered the body together,
having
given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked.
1st Corinthians 12:25 -- That there should be no
schism in the body; but that the members should have the
same
care one for
another.
We shouldn’t look down on the church cleaner or mower.
Just because there job may seem less glamorous. We would not like
if those needs were not met. We wouldn’t want a dirty
church or to have to wade through tall grass to get to church. We
shouldn’t look down on these people or there positions. We
should show appreciation.
1st Corinthians 12:26 -- And whether one member
suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member
be
honoured, all the
members rejoice with it.
When we are a family we are effected by those in the family.
If your sister is sick, you worry about her you pray for her. If
your brother is hurting, you feel his hurt and you want to help
him. That is how our church family should be. Maybe if you notice
a church member isn’t there for a week or two, call... send
a letter.... let them know they are missed. Where are you? How
you doing?
1st Corinthians 12:27 -- Now ye are the body of
Christ, and members in particular.
Romans 12:4 -- For as we have many members in one
body, and all members have not the same office:
Romans 12:5 -- So we, being many, are one body in
Christ, and every one members one of another.
Romans 12:6 -- Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let
us
prophesy according to the
proportion of faith;
Romans 12:7 -- Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
2nd Corinthians 10:7 -- Do ye look on things after
the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that
he
is Christ's, let
him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so
are we
Crist's.
Ephesians 2:19 -- Now therefore ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints,
and
of the household of
God;
We are talking of unity. Fellowship with others. Not clicks
or groups. If you are outgoing and you see someone who is shy,
make them feel a part. Make sure they know they are welcomed not
overlooked and unimportant.
Ephesians 2:20 -- And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the
chief corner
stone;
Jesus is the foundation of this family. He, if you will, is
the root of this family tree. Without Him we would wither and
die.
Ephesians 2:21 -- In whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord:
Ephesians 2:22 -- In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We are fit together for a “home” of God. We could
not put the roof on the foundation. Nor could we put a window in
place of a door. We, in our proper place, form a perfect
fit.
1st John 3:1 -- Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him
not.
The world did not love him. They didn’t know who he
was. He was hated. Guess what the same is true for us. The world
looks down on christians we are ‘fanatics’
‘holy rollers’ ‘to protective’
‘don’t have any fun’. I’m sure you all
can think of things. But there is a good part that they do not
see.....
1st John 3:2 -- Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know
that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1st John 3:3 -- And every man that hath this hope
in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1st John 4:7 -- Beloved, let us love one another:
for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God,
and
knoweth God.
1st John 4:8 -- He that loveth not knoweth not God;
for God is love.
1st John 4:9 -- In this was manifested the love of
God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son
into the world, that we might
live through him.
1st John 4:10 -- Herein is love, not that we loved
God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our
sins.
1st John 4:11 -- Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another.
Amen?
Well that’s all I have for tonight. If there is
anything anyone would like to discuss feel free to speak and/or
ask questions.