This morning we continue our series entitled, “Power of Fellowship.” For the last few days we have been looking at passages that describe all the believers around the world as “members” of the Body of Christ. In yesterday’s message we looked at 1 Corinthians 12:14-20. Today we will go back to that chapter and look at verses 21-26.
( 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 The Passion Translation)
It would be wrong for the eye to say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” and equally wrong if the head said to the foot, “I don’t need you.” In fact, the weaker our parts, the more vital and essential they are. The body parts we think are less honorable we treat with greater respect. And the body parts that need to be covered in public we treat with propriety and clothe them. But some of our body parts don’t require as much attention. Instead, God has mingled the body parts together, giving greater honor to the “lesser” members who lacked it. He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Just like the parts of your physical body are all different in function and role, people are all different and we all have individual assignments from God. Paul gives us a great analogy. He says that just like the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” you cannot say to another person, who has a different role in the Body of Christ, that you do not need them. The eye needs the hand and the hand needs the eye. Maybe not always in ways that are clear or evident, but if any part of your body is not functioning, your entire body if affected. That’s the point Paul was making. When you see yourself within the context of a larger Body of Christ, you realize that you need others, others need you, and without each other neither of you will maximize their purpose and potential.
2. God created us to be dependent on Him and interdependent on each other. We certainly can do NOTHING without Him. That is clear. But most believers don’t realize that they can’t do everything. There are certain things God did NOT grace you to do, that He graced others to do, and you will never benefit from the grace that is on their lives until you connect with them in fellowship. This is why God calls us into fellowship with Him and with others. We need both.
3. Paul tells us that every member of the body is important. Think of your own body. Your pinky toe may be one of the smallest parts of your body. Most of the time it is not on display. But if you lose your pinky toe, it will cause tremendous pain throughout your entire body and it could significantly impact that way you walk for the rest of your life. Every member of your physical body as a role and it is important. The same is true for every member of the Body of Christ. Understanding this I will drive home two quick points. First, don’t look down on anyone. You are not more important than them. They are not more important than you. Every person has an assignment and we are all valuable in God’s eyes. Second, you must be willing to open your heart to connect with others in a significant way. There is value that God placed IN them that you need in your life, but that value is not unlocked in surface-level relationships. That value is only unlocked in true fellowship.
4. When many believers hear the word “fellowship,” they think of a social gathering. Socializing is good, but the Biblical term for fellowship has a deeper connotation. Godly fellowship is beyond just being social with each other. It is certainly way beyond having someone as a “friend” on social media. There are people today with thousands of “friends” on Facebook who never truly open their hearts to connect with real people, in real life. Don’t confuse social media or just be cordial with others to Godly fellowship. When you have fellowship with someone you open your heart to see them the way God does. You then honor them for whom God has called them to be. Godly honor means you can value them and the call of God on their lives, without tripping over their mistakes or flaws. God sees their faults, flaws and failures, and He honors them anyway. He does the same with you. So God expects you to see them the way He does and to treat them the way He does. It is then, and only then, that you will be in a position to receive from them the way God wants you to. If you are going to focus on the fact that someone is not perfect, you will miss out on the value God placed IN them FOR you. But if you can get past the fact that they are not perfect, just like you are not perfect, then you can receive from the grace and anointing of God on their lives. When you do this for them, and they do it for you, and you both start drawing from the value God placed INSIDE of one another, you have FELLOWSHIP. This is how God called us to live. This is why you cannot be a LONE RANGER. God placed things you need INSIDE of other people and things they need INSIDE of you. That value is sitting there, waiting for someone to tap into it. This will not happen until you have true FELLOWSHIP!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I am totally dependent on You. And now, because of Your teaching, I realize that You created me to be interdependent with other people. You did not give me everything I need. You placed some of what I need INSIDE of others. Conversely, You did not give them all they need. You placed some of what they need INSIDE of me. For us to tap into the value and grace You have placed inside of one another, You require us to FELLOWSHIP. I declare that from this day forward I will. I open my heart to have true and intimate fellowship with others. This is beyond facebook. This is beyond a potluck dinner. This requires me to open my heart to others and for them to open their hearts to me. You are looking for true fellowship and from now on that is what I will pursue. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
