Each Member is a Dynamic Component of the Local Church/Four Significant Facts about the Local Church

Introduction

This morning by way of introduction, I would like to wrap up last week’s message. Our text was 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

As we already noted, the primary emphasis of these verses is the Holy Spirit’s part in transforming the local church into the body of Christ. Most of this transformation comes when a person accepts Christ as their personal Savior. Last Sunday, we spent a lot of time considering how we are “baptized into one body” by the Holy Spirit. However, we ran out of time. There is one other factor noted in our text concerning the Holy Spirit that we did not get into last week. Note the last phrase of 1 Corinthians 12:13 “...and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

The phrase “have been…made to drink” has the idea of causing one to drink or take in a liquid. Essentially, what the Holy Spirit is saying is this. Each believer drinks in the Holy Spirit as the moment of salvation. Drinking liquid places that liquid on the inside. We intake it. It becomes part of us. Thus, the picture is that of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. A spiritual fact supported by the New Testament several passages.

John 14:16–17 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Romans 8:9 KJV 1900

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

The essence of this spiritual fact ties in great with all the Holy Spirit is teaching us in our text today. He begins by noting that He, the Holy Spirit, immerses or places us into the body of Christ. He also, at the very same time, immerses or places Himself in our own bodies. Thus, God transforms a local body of believers into a physical, living representation of His own body in this miraculous manner. We become how He functions in this world. We are the instrument He uses to reach those lost and in need of His saving grace.

All of which leads us to today’s text and message. Look again at 1 Corinthians 12:14-20

1 Corinthians 12:14–20 KJV 1900

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

This passage indeed speaks for itself. It is outrageous to think that any body part is more important than another. How ridiculous is it to believe the foot can act independently of the body? The same can be said for the ear, the eye, and so on. The Holy Spirit gave us this parody concerning the body to emphasize four significant facts about the body of Christ and its members.

Here is the first.

Each Member is Necessary as Part of the Body of Christ (aka the Local Church)

As we proceed further into the chapter next week, we will see that the local church of Corinthian had huge issues concerning those members who were considered “feeble.” These verses we are studying today preface this problem by helping us understand how needful each member is, no matter their status. Some body members may feel they are less gifted, incapable, unworthy, insignificant, unimportant, or even inadequate. Is that not the essence of this entire passage? The foot feels inferior because it is not the hand. The ear feels insignificant because it is not the eye, so it goes. Many within each local church (aka body of Christ) feel the same way. This was the case with the Corinthians church. Yet, each member is completely NECESSARY and a VITAL PART of the body. Without the foot, the body could not move from place to place. Without the hands, the body could not accomplish basic tasks. Without the eye, knowing and seeing where you are going is hard. I think you see where the Holy Spirit is going with this. I will not belabor the point. However, you must understand that you are not insignificant to God or this local church. You are a vital part that God desires to use to help our local assembly grow and function as we worship and witness to the Lord.

Here is the next point.

Each Member has a Purpose within the Body of Christ (aka the Local Church)

Each part of the human body has a purpose. For example, the foot’s purpose is mobility and stability, while the hand’s purpose is functionality and production. The ear’s responsibility is to hear, and the eyes are to see. How wonderful it is when all are working together! When they are not working together, there are some huge issues. Each member has its purpose; additionally, each member cannot do what another is purposed to do. For example, the ear cannot replace the eye. It is literally impossible. If you think about that, there are some serious ramifications for each local church. Too often, people begin to focus on themselves and, in doing so, begin to feel insignificant and no longer wanted. So, they let their feelings dominate their actions. They withdraw from serving God in the local church, thinking no one cares and no one will miss me. That is entirely untrue. What God has gifted you to do is something only you can do. When you stop using that gift, it causes great harm to the overall operation of the local church. I believe that is something many do not understand. Yet, here it is in God’s Word.

On the flip side of that coin is the person who thinks they are the entire body. Look again at our text and note verse 17.

1 Corinthians 12:17 KJV 1900

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Such people allow pride to fill their hearts. They think they are everything to the local church. Perhaps, within their hearts, they think things like, “This church wouldn’t survive without me!” or “Boy, look at all the things I do around here; no one else does anything.” Such thoughts are selfish, proud thoughts. It is like saying, “As the eye, I am the most important, and I am the body.” Well, how would we hear or smell if the whole body were an eye? If the body were nothing but one big eye, we would see that body as some sort of freak. At best, such a body would be wholly inoperative and useless.

We must be careful about thinking we are insignificant because we are not. However, at the same time, we must be cautious about thinking we are so important that it becomes all about us and not the body.

In fact, this leads to three critical applications.

First, a local church operates efficiently when members function as God gifted them

Second, a local church is handicapped (unable to function efficiently) when members do not serve as God gifted them.

Third, a local church’s effectiveness is determined by the number of members functioning as God gifted them.

Let’s put that in the context of our church. If only 5% of those who attend our church function according to the spiritual gifts God gave them, then 95% of this body is not working. If that occurs within a human body, it is sick, paralyzed, and will soon see death. That is what happens in a lot of churches today. However, think about it this way. If 95% of those attending this church use their spiritual gifts as God intended, that is a pretty healthy church. A healthy church goes, grows, and serves God efficiently. The questions that I would ask of you this morning are these!

On a scale of 0-100%, where does our church stand?

On a more personal level, are you utilizing the gift God has given you as a contributing member of this church?

If not, what will be your answer to God one day when He questions why you refuse to use what He so graciously gave you?

And, on top of that, is your refusal to serve the Lord contributing to our church being unhealthy?

Now, let’s move on to the next point from our text.

Each Member is a Member of the Body of Christ (aka the Local Church) as God Wills

Look at verse 18.

1 Corinthians 12:18 KJV 1900

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The human body is a fantastic machine. God perfectly designed the human body to function and act with high intelligence. About this fact there is no doubt. It might be argued that some act with a higher level of intelligence than others. I will let you debate that. Yet, the fact remains that all humans operate at many different levels than the rest of all created beings. Every single part of the human body was designed in such a way that it works seamlessly together with a high degree of energy and synergy. The eye sees because God created it that way. The ear hears because of God’s perfect design.

Is it not the same with each local church? Note that our verse indicates that God “set the members EVERY ONE OF THEM in the body.” It is no accident that you are a part of this local church. You are here this morning because God set you here. He placed you here and gifted you as a member of this church. He strategically placed “every one” of us in Calvary Baptist Church. And once again, note that verse 18 ends with “as it hath please him.”

As you sit here this morning as part of this church, be thankful God has placed you here and gifted you to serve Him. Now, I know every church has its set of issues and problems. We, as a local church, are not perfect. There is no ideal church since each local assembly is made of people. We are sinful people who enjoy God’s saving grace. Thus, there will be issues and problems in our battle with the flesh. By the way, each of us deals with difficulties in this human flesh called a body. We get sick. We are injured. In much the same way, local churches endure sickness, injury, and other issues. However, no matter what comes our way, our job is to trust the Lord and continue faithful obedience to Him. We are not perfect, but we are His. He placed us here and gifted us to serve Him right here. Therefore, we should be thankful for our church and our part in this church. God did it as it pleased Him.

With that in mind, we should be encouraged to get busy for Him. Take the gift He has given, knowing that He has placed you in this local church, and get active. Serve Him! The great thing is this! As you serve Him, He will be with you, helping you, and, as you are faithful, give you more spiritual gifts for His service.

1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV 1900

9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV 1900

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Hebrews 10:23 KJV 1900

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Here is our last point and we are done!

Each Member is Different, but United as Part of the Body of Christ (aka the Local Church)

1 Corinthians 12:20 KJV 1900

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Look back to verses 4-6 on this same chapter.

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

From there, the Holy Spirit gives examples of the different spiritual gifts. It lists the other parts of His body within the local church. If you have the gift of faith, you are a faith member of the body, for lack of a better way to state it. If you have the gift of teaching, then you are the teaching member of the body. Each is different, but each is an essential part of the body. All the different parts make up the body. It is then the local church by which all are united and operate together.

Going back to the Holy Spirit’s illustration, if only one member, such as teachers, existed, where would the faith, mercy, pastors, etc., be? If there were only one member, there would be no body. Think about it this way! I will use my spiritual gift as an example because it often happens in churches. If a church becomes all about the pastor, making him the most significant and vital person in the church, what happens to the body? This church isn’t about one person or one spiritual gift. No, each local church is made of many members equally crucial to the function and operation of the body. All of us, including pastors, must not make it about ourselves. Instead, we must remember that we are one part of a whole body, of which Christ is the head. Any church that makes it all about the pastor is not operating as God intended. Are pastors significant? Yes, but so are those who teach, serve, encourage, pray, etc. Each member is substantial and essential. We are one body!

Romans 12:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Whatever God has gifted you to do, do it. He placed you here for that very reason.

Remember earlier I read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

What was the common denominator in those verses? It is God. We all have the same Spirit serving the same Lord as we live in obedience to the same God.

Conclusion

Each member of a local church is a dynamic component. God desires to use you no matter who you are and what you think about yourself. Indeed, He sees you as a valuable asset to this church and His cause. Consequently, you are necessary right now and right here. God has a purpose for your life. God gave you a special spiritual gift at the moment of your salvation. Why would He do that if He didn’t have a purpose in mind for you? He wouldn’t, and that is the point. He sees you as you are. He loves you. You are necessary and have a divine purpose. You are a valuable member of Calvary Baptist Church. Yes, you are different. None of us are alike. We have different temperaments, abilities, and spiritual gifts. It is what makes us unique. Yet, here we are. All part of this wonderful thing called a local church. We are the ones God has divinely and purposefully brought together. We will learn about God’s blending process in a couple of weeks. For now, God wants you to know that you are a necessary ingredient to that process. I encourage you to accept that fact by crying to Him and saying, “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul! Thank you, Lord, for choosing me!” When you have, follow that up with a heart of total surrender to Him by simply saying, “Lord, here am I; use me!” Leave determined this morning to do whatever God leads you to do.