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Each Member is a Dynamic Component of the Local Church/Four Significant Facts about the Local Church
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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
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.
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
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.
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.
The human body is a fantastic machine.
God perfectly designed the human body to function and act with high intelligence.
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