The Body of Christ

We are the body of Christ… As the body of Christ, we have some important questions to answer:  What are we doing?  Where are we heading? How do we get to where we are led?

God has given us all the direction that we need…we have His Word and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us on the journey.

We are disciples and we are told what to do as His followers…together as the body of Christ.  We are told to make disciples, to feed, to shelter, to care for, to visit…all for the glory of God.

If that is the direction for the body of Christ…if God's Word is really that clear that as disciples and followers, that is what we are suppose to do…then why aren't we doing it?  What is missing?  How does it get fixed?

Prayer is the first place that we begin.  If we are continually seeking His face, listening for His direction, humbly coming before the Lord, then we will know what to do next.  And it should be no surprise when He directs because He has given us direction in His Word.

I think we step out on faith next…Not held back by our own humanity…scared of what is ahead…fearful of what the implications are…but boldly stepping forward in faith knowing that this is God's fight and we are His soldiers.

Third, we are called to do this together…if we are really the body of Christ.  Paul gave us the well known analogy of how we are to come together to work together for His good.

1 Corinthians 12:1-26

In reading this scripture, here are a few things to note:

A – We are serving ONE LORD – One God, One Spirit, One Lord.  It is all about Him, for Him, and we are working through His power, His strength, and His guidance.

B – We are given gifts to be used for His glory.  When we are not using the gifts we have been given for Him, we are withholding what we are called to do from the body of Christ.  When we wait for someone else to do what we are called to do, then we are not being obedient and thus, harming the overall body from going in the right direction for the Lord

C – Your gift is not any more important or any less important than anyone else's.  That is YOUR GIFT to be used for HIS GLORY.  It is important because it is what He has placed inside your heart and within you to complete.  If you have the gift of encouragement…then encourage.  If you have the gift of organization, then organize.

D – Different gifts = Different people.  We are not all going to be the same or think the same or do things the same way.  If we do, we have a bunch of arms that go NOWHERE.  That isn't how we are designed.  We have one Lord and one Spirit and one goal/focus…but we all have different things we do to help that get accomplished.  That means that we will work with people who don't do things like we would want…but they bring a gift that we don't have.  Look for the gift in others.

E – Find YOUR passion.  God has laid something special in your heart that drives you to serve Him with all you are.  Find it…it may be oversees missions…it may be children…it may be teaching…it may be serving through encouragement…it may be music…but FIND it because God is ready to USE it!

We are the body of Christ…many members…One Lord…where are we going?  How do we get there?

About Me?

Day to day, we go through life…influenced by the world around us…sometimes blindly.  We can get so caught up in daily life and especially a material life that we fail to take a step back and reflect on where we are and what we are doing.  I would say that many of us don't stop and make sure that our speech and actions reflect following God and following His Word.  We could become content with our lives and if we did take the time to reflect, we might find that there are some things need serious prayer and change. 

Today, I want to look at what happened to a couple who let power, greed, and envy get in the way of their lives.  1 Kings 21:1-14.

Naboth has a vineyard…a parcel of land which he inherited…priceless to him

Ahab is a king…living next door…wants the vineyard for a vegetable garden…names a price for the land of Naboth…he really wants the vineyard…it works well for him

Naboth isn't willing to compromise…sell…or trade…Ahab pouts because he can't have what he wants

Jezebel (his wife) doesn't see this as a problem since he is the king…so she takes care of it…she makes it happen…at Naboth's expense.

Tough story for us to read…we quickly judge Ahab and Jezebel and think how horrible they are…we can really spend a lot of time picking them apart because they definitely had some issues.  But, this message from the scriptures is important and I want to share with you what I see going on here that can help us…

They have the ME syndrome

The me syndrome is where everything starts, lives and ends with me…my wants, my needs, my desires, my passions, me…me…me… What I do, I do for me…I work for me…I live for me

The ME syndrome is easy to get…it is how our world works…it is what we are often taught in advertising and shows and in those we watch…

With the ME syndrome comes problems…and these problems often begin very subtly…without notice…we don't even see them coming…and no one may not even tell us about it because they have the same thing…

Problem 1: Envy

When we have the ME syndrome, we see what others have and we want it.  We see beautiful things all around us and we want them.  All of a sudden, the things that we have aren't good enough.  The things that have been working just fine aren't sufficient.  We begin to notice what is around us and feel like we deserve those things as well.  Why not?  Does it matter if we have to cut what we give God to get it?  Does it matter if we have to work a few more hours and cut our family time?  Does it really matter that we will go in debt beyond our means? 

We either begin to have a distaste for those around us who have better things or we work ourselves to death to get them…no matter the sacrifice.  Envy is really easy given all of the messages we receive.  We must guard against envy and wanting what others have…

Problem #2: Pride

When we have the ME syndrome, we begin to think a lot of ourselves.  We begin to think more of ourselves that we should.  We begin to realize that we do have power to make this happen…we can influence others…we are somebody.  There is a healthy sense of self…and then there is pride that causes you to think about being self made…when in reality you are God made.  We forget the Creator.  We forget others.  It is all about us and what we can do and accomplish.

Problem #3: Selfish

With the ME syndrome, we become selfish.  We think of self first.  We put self first.  We will help our neighbors if it doesn't interfere with self.  We are willing to give as long as we take care of self.  We are truly out for self and if there is time and resources left, we will give to others. 

The reason all of these are problems is because God's Word tells us to guard against all of these.  We are constantly taught in the Word to put God first, then others.  We are reminded that what we have all belongs to Him and we are just stewards of what He has given us.  What are you choosing?  Maybe we should take a step back today and make sure we are choosing the direction of the Lord rather than direction of self…do you have the ME syndrome?

Are you faithful?

Being faithful to God can be difficult.  Often God doesn't ask us to give Him what we have an abundance of.  It doesn't take much faith to do that.  In order to be faithful, He may ask us to give Him all we have…or a good portion of what we have…or give more than we are willing at the time.  He may ask us to do that in places where we think that just isn't possible.  We don't see that this can be good…we aren't sure it will all work out.  We get nervous.

God calls us to be obedient with what He has given us.  That means that we realize that full ownership of all we have belongs to Him and so we have to be willing in a moment's notice to give all He asks back to Him…trusting that He will take care of us when we are faithful.

That is what is going on with a widow in the message today.  Let's look at just a portion of the journey for Elijah and how this widow is asked to give of her all.  1 Kings 17.

This is a powerful reminder of who God is.  The God that we serve is not powerless or at our beckon call to have something happen.  God is in control and has plans for us if we are faithful to Him.

Let's notice just a little of what is going on in today's scripture:

1 - Elijah is depending on God daily for his provisions.  That couldn't have been easy.  What could he have been thinking as the water was drying up in the brook…as he watched that happen daily?  What had to be on his mind as God instructed him to go to a widow for his next set of provisions?  God feeling the Israelite children wondering in the wilderness comes to mind for me…daily provisions by trusting.

2 – The widow is hopeless but willing. 

The widow that he is going to see…she has given up hope.  Her bin is practically empty.  She doesn't have anyone to lean on.  She doesn’t have anywhere else to go.  She is looking at the end.  And Elijah shows up requesting what little she has.

She could have refused knowing that what little was in her bin was for her and her son.  That could have been the end for her.  But, because she was willing to be obedient and faithful to what God has asked her to do, her needs were met as well.

When she gave of what she had, God met her needs.  The bin of flour was not used up.  Every day, there was more flour.  There was more oil in the jar.  Every single day, she could look and see how God was faithful because she was willing.  Reminds me of Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" 

This widow reminds me of the widow Jesus spoke about In Mark 12:41-44 that gave all that she had…not out of the abundance that the wealthy had.

3 – God continued to meet their needs. 

Not only did God feel Elijah and the widow and her son, He also provided for the healing of her son…who had died.  God saw her need and heard Elijah's prayer.  God did not leave her but took care of her and Elijah. 

Over and over in scripture we see that God takes care of those who are faithful.  Notice that taking care of them doesn't equate to the things we think of today.  It didn't mean that He provided her with a new house or brand new livestock.  He didn't make her the land owner of many acres.  What He did do was take care of her needs. 

We can see the faithfulness of these people.  We can read about the faithfulness of so many in scripture.  But, what happens when God calls us to be faithful?  Do we back up and declare that we aren't like them?  Do we remind God of what we need our provisions for?  Do we show God our bills and explain why we can't do what He is asking?  OR, are we faithful and obedient and willing to do what He asks right away…without hesitation…knowing that He will provide when we are faithful?  What about you?