The Body of Christ led by the Holy Spirit
The bible talks about the church community as a body using its various functions as an example. In this message I wish to take our human body with its many parts to illustrate how we should live as Christians. By taking those same parts of the body we can give spiritual meanings to their functions, to show in a practical way how each one of us should individually live out our Christian faith.
Let us first read from 1 Corinthians 12 (NIV) - Concerning Spiritual Gifts in the Church community.
1. Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
From verse 12 of this 12th chapter of the 1st book of Corinthians, Paul is reminding us that we the church have similar characteristic to the human body. Each part of our body has its unique responsibility and function, so likewise each member of a church community has his or her gifting which when operating under the leading of the Holy Spirit will be united and functioning profitably, becoming as one body bringing glory to God.
Just as a reminder, let’s look at the human body as an example from a slightly different perspective by taking its many parts and analyse the individual functions, to help us to identify how the Body of Christ not only works within the church as a community but how it works within each one of us as individuals.
The human body, in general has as its prime support the back bone with all the ribs protruding out and around to protect the lungs. Then we have the shoulder blades which have the arm bones attached, running right down into the fingers. Likewise we have the pelvis with the hips holding the leg bone following right down to the toe nails.
We can walk into any church service for the first time and be impressed as well as blessed by its smooth running but also aware of the Holy Spirit speaking both through the worship leaders, by the message given as well as the Godly conversations that can pursue after the service.
We may or may not be aware that hidden in amongst that structure is a group of elders, worship leaders led by the minister who are regularly meeting together to discuss, plan and pray about how they should lead the various services, in order that God will be glorified. I am suggesting they are the backbone to that church.
That backbone structure will have a God lead responsibility to teach and encourage the members of that church congregation how to live and witness as Godly Christians. But each one of us need backbone, we need to have a strong and bold character today, to stand up to the various distortions of Gods true word, both outside and inside the church.
We read in the book of Joshua when God told Joshua to get ready to take the Children of Israel over the Jordon into Canaan, the land of Israel as we know it today, to be strong and very courageous. We need to be strong, not just in our thoughts and ideas but to be courageous not just by what we say but boldly in our actions. We can get some timely advice from what the apostle John said in 1 John 2:14 - I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Again we read in - Romans 1:11-12 (NIV) - 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Also Paul writing to the Christians in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV) 13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
We see from these verses some important principles in order to be made strong. We need to have the word of God embedded on our hearts, we need to know what the bible is saying to us and apply it. God has also given each one of us spiritual gifts to enable us to carry out our work for Him. By knowing Gods word and the truth of God’s word, we will be ready to stand up to the deception of Satan, but we need to act in love, with Gods love. So again let’s repeat the apostles words - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
So we as a church have a backbone, connected to the other bones doing there various functions but we also have in our body muscle, sinews and nerves as well as a number of organs carrying out various functions. Yet in order for any of those parts to function there is one all-important organ that surpasses all the other organs, because without it functioning correctly and healthy the body would instantly die, it is the heart.
In order for the heart to function in a healthy way it needs food and oxygen. It is the responsibility of the church leadership to ensure that every spiritual heart of the membership are fed and given oxygen to work and serve God in a true and upright way. There is as with the human heart two areas the church need nourishment, it is food from the Bible, clear unadulterated teaching. In John 20:22 we read after Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to the disciples where it reads - And with that he/Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. We also need spiritual oxygen; the teaching should be God breathed, led and guided by the Holy Spirit who gives energy to our spiritual heart.
As a young man in my teens with a good knowledge of the bible, I met up with an evangelical couple who took me to 2 Corinthians 3:6 which reads - He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
There are two main things our bodies need to grow and have energy, it is food and water. We are told by the survivalists and medical professionals that :-
You can survive for 3 Minutes without air (oxygen) or in icy water
You can survive for 3 Hours without shelter in a harsh environment (unless in icy water)
You can survive for 3 Days without water (if sheltered from a harsh environment)
You can survive for 3 Weeks without food (if you have water and shelter)
Taking these various life survival principles, we can see that oxygen comes first and vital to our survival before food although together with shelter they all are vital and needed for us to live. When Jesus made His supernatural appearance to the disciples after He had risen from the dead we read in John 20:21-23 (NIV) 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
At the moment of conception when the seed is planted into the egg in the womb there is physical new life. But God also implant’s a soul the spiritual heart and a spirit within that unborn child to primarily communicate with God. At the moment we were born again, we read we were sealed with the Holy Spirit we received new life, we were born again
So as well as constantly needing natural oxygen and natural food each day we need spiritual oxygen and spiritual food each day. By reading Gods word, keeping regular communications with Him, which can be moment by moment through prayer it ensures we get the regular nourishment needed to live our Christian life, keeping it healthy and be a blessing to those we meet with each day.
The heart cannot function just with oxygen it needs food to nourish it. How important for us to receive spiritual food as well as the oxygen of the Holy Spirit. The heart pumps the blood around our body bringing nourishment to feed the organs and muscles to give energy. So likewise the spiritual heart will feed us and by the Holy Spirit direct nourishment to our voice, hands and feet.
In order for the muscles to work they have to receive signals from the brain. The nervous system carries the signals from our brain to the various parts of the body giving the necessary instructions. As soon as the muscles receive the signal they unquestionably respond. An athlete who has had a leg injury and unable to use the leg for a while soon finds the muscles loose character and go flabby.
I can spend all my time reading my bible and learning about God, and the way he helps us in our everyday situation but unless we start to exercise our spiritual muscles and be guided by the Holy Spirit to give us energy, we will vegetate, we need to exercise our spiritual muscles, asking God to lead and direct us each moment of the day..
Jesus has given us the responsibility as servants to unreservedly obey his every request. First we have to learn to recognise His voice, to know first the gifting He has given to each one of us. But it is more than that we can have a loving walking relationship with him too. Jesus was willing to die for us, are we willing to lay down our lives in obedient to His voice. It takes practice, any God given gift we may have, we will not get it right the first time, but with Gods help we will win through.
So once we learn to hear the voice of Gods and know what His desire is for us, we now can begin to exercise the various parts of the spiritual body in order to fulfil his requests. Remember God is in heaven His spirit is in our hearts, we are Gods hand and feet here on earth waiting to do His bidding.
In 1 Corinthians 12 we read how to teach, encourage and build up the church by spiritual GIFT that God has given to each one of us, each one of us needs to display what we have learnt in our lives, which are called the FRUITS of the spirit.
For the first thirty five years of my life I was brought up in a church that had a great ability to teach the fundamental truths of the Bible. They had the ability to show the historical time line from the creation, to the birth of Jesus and give us good fundamental guidance as to what we can envisage before and after Jesus returns to earth again.
This same church also directed us to the bible to understand the moral responsibility we has in being upright citizens in how we lived as found in the New Testament writings of the various apostles. Yet it seemed to be very dry and stuffy when you listened to the various teachers. But often I would ask the question “How do I do it, how do I get what I hear down to my fingers and toes, how does this all happen, show me the practical out workings of what the bible is saying”. We were getting the theory but there was no evidence of anyone actual living it out what they were telling us.
We have heard the saying “I love work I can watch it all day” lets remind ourselves we have to remember God is in heaven He has sent us His Holy Spirit who lives within us, so by his Spirit working in us we are, and through us Gods hands and feet, living and working for Him.
So how and what can we use to be Gods hands and feet on the earth. In Ephesians 6 verse 15 it says, we should be ready with our/your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
It has been said we can talk the talk, and not walk the walk, but we must walk the talk, by using the gifts He had ordained for each one of us.
But how many of our bodily parts can be activated to work for the Lord. Surely as well as our feet, there are our hands and our voice. At times we can use all three of them feet, hands and our voice to display and live as children of God.
How can we display the character of God in how we live, in Galatians 5 verses 22 to 26 we read - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Notice the apostle refers to these as fruits of the spirit (the Holy Spirit). We are not going to be able to shine for Jesus in our everyday lifestyle, unless we know the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all we do in order for us to fulfil these spiritual activities.
Here in Galatians 5 we have five key elements to our lifestyle in seeking to help us become a good witness and example for Jesus Christ. Let me take as an illustration the example of a Bell tent which had a central pole and a number of guy ropes each representing one fruit of the Spirit anchored to the ground around the outside of the canvas to support the tent.
It is interesting how the apostle mentions Love as the first of the fruits - Verse 22 reads - But the fruit of the Spirit is love. So let us take Love as the central anchor of the Bell tent. This takes us back to the last verse of the chapter we first read from 1 Corinthians 12 verse 31. Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way, Love is about to take centre stage.
This phrase should be the opening verse to the next chapter- And yet I will show you the most excellent way. Here the apostle at the end of this chapter, after explaining the various functions of the body, drops in this small yet highly important comment I will show you the most excellent way. The apostle is saying that when seeking to be a faithful upright Christian in our service for God, there is a more excellent way, a more excellent secret to help us live the life Jesus expects of us. So in order to discover this secret we need to read the next chapter in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 which is often referred to as the love chapter.
Let us read this chapter by first reading the phrase from the previous chapter so as to get the full emphasis. 1 Corinthians 12 (NIV) 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV) 1. If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Remember the word love in this chapter is not human love, the love we experience in our natural emotions and desires which are vulnerable, it is Gods perfect love, and without His love living in our lives we will not be a good witness for Him. God’s Love needs to be in the centre of our life.
So the first item in this list of fruits in Galatians 5 is the self-same love of 1 Corinthians 13, Gods love. When God looks at mankind he looks through rose coloured spectacles. Those spectacles are made up of one material Gods Love. In the first epistle of John chapter 4 verse 16 we read - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them? That is why Jesus said in John 3 verse 16 – For God so loved that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. When we know and have Gods Love through the Holy Spirit living in our lives, that love will show through, and energise us into what we say and how we say it. If you took time to read chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians again and wherever the word love is mentioned, replace it with the name Jesus, you will understand much more about Jesus and His love showing us by example how He expects us to live. So it is vital that Gods love in the illustration is central as the centre pole in the bell tent, it holds every part of the tents structure together, it is the backbone to how we live.
Just to emphasise Jesus’s character lets read verses 1 to 7 of 1 Corinthians 13 using Jesus instead of love - If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have Jesus, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have Jesus, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have Jesus, I gain nothing.
4 Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. 5 Jesus does not dishonour others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Then in verse 13 it says - And now these three remain: faith, hope and Jesus. But the greatest of these is Jesus. Let’s seek to shine for Jesus showing His love at all times in all we do and say.
Using the illustrations of the guy ropes as anchors let’s look at the other fruits of the spirit. It is only by living out the fruits of the Holy Spirit that we can keep the love of God central and anchored in our lives, to become a living example, in order to win others to become followers of Jesus Christ.
The next fruit is joy, - Having the love of God rooted and central in our lives we will be able to identify with the words of the apostle in Philippians 4 verse 4 to 7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Also in Philippians 2 (NIV) we read - Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mind-set as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) we read -10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
When we have discovered Gods unfailing love and sustaining strength even when going through trials we will know our security in God and a hidden joy in our hearts.
What the apostle clearly shows us in Philippians 4 is that knowing and living for God by the Holy Spirit we will have His joy in our hearts. Following on in Philippians 4 verse 7 to 9 we experience the third fruit of the spirit - peace it says - 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Jesus in John 15 verse 10 - If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jesus also said in John 14 verse 25 to 27 - 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
By having Gods joy in our hearts we know a contentment which will bring His peace in our hearts, it means no anxiety or cares of this world.
We now come to the fruit of forbearance, it has a similar meaning to tolerance, patience, endurance. It means when we come up against people and situations which are testing for us we have to show restraint. Again in spite of the situation it is our opportunity to show Gods love, to have a deep sense of security in our heart that God will bring us through, and when helping others have the strength to stick in there till the job is done.
The first three fruits of the spirit are from within, it is how we feel inside being manifested on the outside, but the next four fruits are to do with how we act like the next fruit kindness and goodness very similar in nature. We can show kindness and goodness to a neighbour by offering help, giving a hand when they are in difficulty, helping with food or taking someone to hospital, caring for their children at that time. Yet doing it with a loving heart.
The next fruit Faithfulness, cannot be under estimated in importance. We live in an age of speed when work, pleasure and social life take up most of the time. There is in most folk a desire to help and show kindness, full of promise even fulfilling that help. It maybe that offer will happen but sadly so often it is just a one off. It is vital we do show kindness and goodness but we need to be prepared to go the full mile and have the stick ability to stay faithful with folk and help them back on their feet.
Finally we have gentleness and self-control. We read in Matthew 10:16 (NIV) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; We will often come up against situations which will try us, we may want to be a little heavy handed, or be tempted to lose our temper. Sadly when that happens we will lose our respect.
Coming back to the illustration of the tent anchors, it is vital we have Gods love in the centre of our heart, with all the various Spiritual fruits anchored around it, in sustaining Gods love. But if at any time we slip and fall short of carrying out any one of those gifts, it is as if one of those supports to the tent is broken, which will weaken the overall support needed to keep Gods love active and working in our lives, we are on a journey, if this did happen we have got to come to God and ask forgiveness, we will never be perfect in this life.
May this message encourage you to boldly step out in faith and seek to be an ambassador for Jesus by living out our faith both in what we believe, in how we live and in all we say to shine for Jesus, becoming an attractive light that will be the means of bringing others into Gods family.
Amen
There are further studies available allied to the subject of the body of Christ which are Spiritual Clothing for the Christian, explaining what Spiritual clothes to wear, as spoken in in Colossians 3 and also the title Spiritual Protection for the Christian – the importance of wearing the armour of God as found in Ephesians 6
