This morning we continue our series entitled, “Power of Fellowship.” After studying our requirement to have true and intimate fellowship with the Father, a couple of days ago I introduced you to the concept of fellowship with other humans on this planet. This is the will of God. Today we will look at the concept of the “Body of Christ”. The Bible gives us a picture of a global and universal “body”, of which we are merely just a part/member.
(Ephesians 4:15, 16 The Passion Translation)
… All our direction and ministries will flow from Christ and lead us deeper into him, the anointed Head of his body, the church. For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.
(Ephesians 4:16 Easy to Read Version)
We will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. He is the head, and the whole body depends on him. All the parts of the body are joined and held together, with each part doing its own work. This causes the whole body to grow and to be stronger in love.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The picture God paints for us is a global and universal Body of Christ. This body has members all over the world and each member is unique. No one else on this planet has your fingerprint, voiceprint, or spiritual assignment. You are completely unique and God created you to work within a system of other completely unique individuals, with a goal of all coming together to form a body that will properly represent Him on this planet. If you attempt to embrace your individual assignment from God, but you do so with a belief that you don’t need anyone else, you are fooling yourself, because you are part of a bigger system with a larger purpose. Without you the larger Body of Christ is missing a member that is critical to the overall mission. Without the larger Body of Christ you will be left wandering around aimlessly through life, because your divine purpose can only be fulfilled within the larger context of God’s overall plan for this planet.
2. The Bible says, “For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one.” We were all formed in the image and likeness of God. And just like God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all ONE, we are supposed to be ONE with God and also ONE with each other. This cannot happen without God. This is an impossible task if you remove God from the equation, because humans will find every excuse to disconnect from one another if the Holy Spirit is not enabling them to remain unified. But if we are all led by the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves operating as ONE Body of Christ, representing God well on this planet. When unbelievers look at us and they see how we are truly unified, they get a glimpse of what heaven is going to be like. When we operate as ONE with God and with each other, we display heaven on earth.
3. The Bible says, “Every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all.” This means that you have gifts that others need and they have gifts you need. Without you, they are missing something. Without them, you are missing something. But if we all come together, we eliminate each other’s weaknesses and we miss nothing. This is the will of God.
4. When you get the revelation that you were created to be a member of a larger Body of Christ, you embrace the grace to do your part. You are able to open your heart for God to show you where you fit, and you are at peace with it. You know you can’t do everything and you are okay with it. You don’t have the grace to do everything, because God created others to fulfill their specific part, just like you have yours. But when we all come together, no one is missing anything. The goal is to celebrate the diversity of giftings and callings without jealousy. There is no need for jealousy, because “every joint supplies”. Everyone of us has been called to run a specific race and we were given grace for our specific race. Don’t covet someone else, because you don’t have the grace to run their race and they don’t have the grace to run yours. When you get this in your heart you are free to be yourself and you give others the freedom to be themselves. This is the goal. This is God’s plan. This is how we represent Him on this planet. This is fellowship.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I am who You say I am. I can do what You say I can do. I will become the person You called me to be. I embrace the grace to be ME! And I free others to be themselves. I need them and they need me. Together we become the men and women You have called us to be. Together we are the Body of Christ. Together we represent You on this planet. Together we display heaven on earth. I enter this day knowing that I am part of a global and universal Body. I do my part and I allow others to do theirs! I celebrate them and they celebrate me. This is fellowship and it pleases my Father. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
