This morning we continue our series entitled, “Power of Fellowship.” Yesterday we looked at a passage in Ephesians that dealt with us being members of the global and universal Body of Christ. Today we will go back to this same passage and also look at another passage, in 1 Corinthians, that flows in the same vein.
(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.
( 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 The Passion Translation)
In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one. So if the foot were to say, “Since I’m not a hand, I’m not a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body. And if the ear were to say, “Since I’m not an eye, I’m not really a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body.
Think of it this way. If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds? And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances? But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires. A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all! So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You are a member of the Body of Christ. Without you the overall Body of Christ is missing something. Without the rest of the Body you are missing a great deal. But when each member is in place and performing his/her function, by the grace of God, we all benefit, the glory of God is manifested, the world is a better place, and the lost are drawn to Jesus.
2. The Bible says, “every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all.” This means that you are called, appointed and anointed to contribute to the Body of Christ like no one else can. No one else has your divine assignment. If you open your heart to become the man/woman you are called to be, and you embrace the grace to walk in the giftings God has bestowed upon your life, you will contribute to the overall growth of the Body of Christ. Your life will be part of a larger story and a greater purpose. Further, as you function as a member of the Body, you also get to benefit from the giftings and grace upon the other members. You are adding to them and they are adding to you. This is God’s will. This is fellowship.
3. The Bible says, “as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.” One of the major reasons why God did not call you to live in isolation is because God IS love. Love is not something God has. Love is WHO God is. Since God IS love and He lives IN you, He expects you to operate in love. Love is manifested in fellowship. When you function in your gifting and others function in their giftings, Paul says, “we are built up and made perfect in love.” The point here is that you can attempt to develop in the love of God by yourself, but it won’t work. Love is not love until you give it away. The love of God is fully functional when it is in operation within the larger context of the overall Body of Christ. So resist every urge to disconnect from people. You were not designed to be by yourself. You were designed to live as a member of a larger Body, a global family. This is how you are built up and made perfect (or mature) in love.
4. Every member of God’s Body has a place and a function. Every member is important. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The hand cannot say to the food, “You are not important.” We all have importance. We all have our individual roles. When we open our hearts to be fully functioning members of the larger Body of Christ, we get to benefit from the uniqueness of others and they get to do the same from us. We get to add value to their lives and they get to receive value from ours. This is God’s will. This is fellowship.
5. I will close with a word on jealousy and arrogance. In today’s message I have been driving home the importance of embracing the value God has placed in you, as an individual, and also the value He has placed in others. If you choose to covet the life and assignment of someone else, you are devaluing your own. You are failing to acknowledge the value God placed in you. Conversely, if you think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, and you look down on others, you are devaluing who God called them to be. For us to enjoy true fellowship in the Body of Christ, we much value each other and also value ourselves. This comes down to honor. The foundation for the culture of the Kingdom of God is built on honor. When you honor someone you value them. When you can look in the mirror and honor yourself, honoring the call of God that is on your own life, you value the person God called you to be. Honor will keep you from jealousy and arrogance. When you develop a heart of Godly honor you don’t look down on yourself or anyone else. You value who you are and you value those in the Body of Christ God has connected you with. Living this way you will have and enjoy amazing fellowship!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I am who You say I am. I can do what You have called me to do. I honor and value myself. I have a proper estimation of myself. I do not think of myself more highly than I ought. I also do not look down on anyone in arrogance. I don’t think any less of myself than I should either. I am both humble and confident. I honor and value Your call on my life. I like and love myself. I also love others. I honor and value them. I need them and they need me. I open my heart to have true fellowship with the other members of Your Body, Father. This is fellowship and I know it is pleasing in Your sight. I am not a Lone Ranger. I am a fully functioning member of a universal Body and global family. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
