Today’s message summary of September 22, 2019 from Pastor Gus Brown:
What is the body of Christ? It is about who you are in Christ, and it is beyond who you are.
If you name Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are in the body. The Holy Spirit placed you there. The question remains as to whether or not you are functional within the body.
The Spirit placed you there to learn as you go. Your responsibility is to surrender yourself to Him in order to function within the body at an optimal level.
How well do you function in the body of believers?
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 ESV
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
- Are you a self-appointed critic?
- Are you a participant in the work of the body?
- Are you only a spectator within the body?
- Do you see yourself as an important part of the body?
In your role in the body, are you prayerful as to enacting the will of God for His glory.
How important are you? You are very, very important. It has nothing to do with how much you give. It has to do with your heart and your service for Jesus.
We come together to learn together in order that we many function together.
“Currahee” is an original word (you won’t find it in the dictionary). It comes from paratroopers. It means “we stand alone together.”
When God calls us as individuals (believers), we are still connected to a unit (the body).
In the body of Christ, we stand alone, but also together.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
The body of Christ touches the lives of others, even that of a community, for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 12:7
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The common good is for the body of Christ and for those even outside the body. We learn, through the Spirit, to love others and to show compassion to the world for the glory of God. The members of the body are implored to keep pressing on.
When the body of Christ functions well, the world outside sees Jesus. The purpose of the function of the body is to bring glory to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The glory is for God, and not for yourself. We are to learn continually the importance of dying to self and living for Christ (John 3:3-7).
The body is formed to teach, to learn and to function together.
One of the most difficult things that a person does is to listen to one another.
If God listens to you in prayer, is it not important for each one of us to listen, as well?
Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Proverbs 5:13
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
Proverbs 23:19-23
Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
We need to listen to one another. We need to hear one another.
We work together to find godly solutions to worldly problems.
John 17:15-17
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 18:19-20
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.”
John 8:26
“I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
The church–and the body–needs to speak openly to the world.
You don’t need a college degree to be useful within the body. We all have a contribution to make with our spiritual gifts. Be an active participant.
“I am grateful for each one of you. You are a vital part of this ministry. Maybe all that you can contribute is prayer. Praise God that your prayer is uplifting to the body. Your generosity is coming forth in so many different ways, and in eternity we will see and know the benefits from our sacrifice and giving. You bring knowledge and insight in the body. Thank you for challenging one another and for striving to do more and do it well. Thank you for speaking God’s truth in love.”
The body is formed to challenge our thoughts.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
The body is formed to seek the will of God.
1 Peter 4:1-2
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 