A Healthy Body?

Secular -

Thanks to a very healthy lifestyle, a married couple live well into their 100s

One day they are both killed in a tragic accident, and go to heaven.

On the first morning, they go up to God and ask where the gym is. "Gym?" God replies, "you don't need to go to the gym here, you'll always be in perfect shape even if you never exercise." The wife says how nice that is, but the husband looks a little bit annoyed.

In the afternoon, they go back to God and ask where they can get high factor sunscreen. "This is heaven, you don't need it anymore, the sun can't burn you or give you cancer, enjoy the beaches." The wife is satisfied, but the husband starts looking genuinely angry.

Later in the evening, they go to God and ask where they can find a health food restaurant for dinner. "We don't have health food restaurants, you can eat as much as you want of whatever you want and never feel bloated or gain any weight."

Finally the husband snaps, and yells at his wife "You see?! You see?! If it wasn't for your bloody bran muffins, I could've been here forty years ago!"

Did you know water solves many health problems?

Want to lose weight? Drink water.

Want clearer skin? Drink water.

Suffer from migraines? Drink water.

People causing you anxiety? Drown them in water.

See, water solves many things.

Historical/Cultural Context -

Paul preached the gospel in Corinth in the early 50s AD during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–18). When opposition grew fierce there, the Lord Jesus spoke to him in a vision assuring him that he had ‘many people’ in the city (Acts 18:10). With this encouragement, Paul stayed on for eighteen months, ‘teaching them the word of God’ (Acts 18:11). God used Paul’s ministry to bring about the birth and establishment of the church in Corinth.

Biblical Text -

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - A Healthy Body Does Not Have Schisms, But Seeks The Best Gifts Of God While Doing Their Part For His Kingdom.

Life Point- A Healthy Body Consists Of All Christians Doing Their Part For God’s Kingdom

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 12:12–19 NLT

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!

Homiletical -

Today we come to a very familiar passage in God’s Word.

God is trying to remind us that there are many parts in the body of Christ that make up the whole body. This flows out from the discussion of spiritual gifts that Paul had previously written about, but there is much more happening in this section than just that topic.

1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

To equate a Jew to a Gentile would have been offensive to most Jews of the day. They were very proud of their heritage. To equate a freeman to a slave would have been offensive for a slave does not have the same rights as a freeman. To be a slave, was to be a literal nobody. Your opinion and your presence doesn’t matter. You were nothing more than a thing to be told what to do, and that is it.

Yet God has chosen to take everyone, all classes and all societies to make up His people in our time of Grace. As a matter of face all those that are saved drink from and are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit. Whether Jew or Greek, whether slave or free all saved Christians get as much of the Holy Spirit, as much of God as anyone else.

You may think this isn’t so shocking today, but I gotta tell you if we would take this passage and truly apply it we would shock the world. Indeed, shake the world down to its core.

Today the church is more divided than it ever has been. It is more divided on racial grounds than it ever has been. People no longer see themselves as first Christians and then whatever their cultural heritage is.

No, today people are putting themselves up by their race more than just 15 years ago, especially in our churches. Especially in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Critical race theory has been and is being preached from the pulpits to the classrooms and it is incompatible with New Testament Christianity.

I won’t go into all of that today, but suffice it to say that CRT is about categorizing people and telling them they can’t overcome their category.

For example, it teaches that if you are white you are inherently racist, whether you life it or not you will always be racist.

It teaches that if you are non-Caucasian then you will always start at a place that is lower than the white people and you will never overcome that.

That is not what my Bible tells me.

Galatians 3:28 NKJV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This week I have been reading a book called The Forgotten Trinity by Dr. James White. In it he stresses that no one person is of any lesser value in The Trinity. Though each person has differing functions it does not make any one person of the trinity any lower or less than the other.

That is, unfortunately, not how we are used to seeing things. We see things as the high man on the totem pole is the one who has more power than anyone else. This isn’t in fact true.

Paul tells us, if all were an eye how would one hear? If all were a hand, where would the feet be? How would one walk?

So is the body of Christ. I can preach ok, but I tell you I can’t sing like those that sing up here on stage.

Oh I can sing a solo, so low no one can hear me.

All of this to say that though I am a pastor it does not make me any less or any more important than the deacons, or the secretaries, or the man in the pew who is being equipped for the work of the ministry. You see you are the workers of the ministry. You are the ones who are to spread the Gospel. You are important. You have the most important role.

My job is to equip you, the saints, for the work of the ministry. Yours is to do the work. My job is to build you up so that you can fulfill the call of God to spread His Word.

Ephesians 4:11–12 NLT

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Does this difference in job or responsibility make me inherently better than you as a Christian, as a human being? No, it doesn’t.

Diversity of responsibilities, same value across the board.

Illustration -

Life Point - A Healthy Body Does Not Have Schisms

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 12:20–26 NLT

Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Homiletical -

All parts of God’s body are equally important.

Let me tell you something. The person who cleans the church or the person who pay the bills of the church is far more important than I and are worthy of double honor.

The folks who work in the background to make sure that everything is available and ready for the preaching of God’s Word, whether it be in song or in word, are worthy of honor. Without them, it all falls apart.

When each person is doing what they are called to do in the body of Christ, both locally in this church and universally in the Kingdom of God, we have harmony amongst the members. Each member uses their gifts to fill the need of the next member. Each member cares for one another.

In this ways Paul says:

1 Corinthians 12:25–26 NKJV

that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Division and strife happen within a church when one member who is called to be the hand wants to be the eye or when one who is called to be the foot wants to be the head. This will cause all members to suffer.

Jealousy is what it usually comes down to, and unwillingness to do what God has called us to do.

God I will do anything you want me to do, so long as it isn’t working with Kids. I don’t want to work with Kids.

God I will go anywhere you want me to go, so long as it isn’t Africa. Africa is hot and most people don’t have electricity in the remote parts.

I am going to say something to you that scares every Christian on some level. Whether they be pastor or layman.

“You don’t get to dictate to God where you serve.” If He calls you to be in a prayer closet for 30 years or He calls you to Africa, Russia, China or the United States. It is He who does the calling, you don’t get to decide what you do or where you go.

Some of you He may call to teach children’s Bible Study or to something else. If you ignore the calling you will be miserable.

Some of you are happy he didn’t call you to preach the Gospel. Guess what you were called to preach the Gospel. Each and every Christian’s responsibility is to tell those around them about the saving power of Jesus Christ. Once their salvation is experienced then it is your responsibility to make sure they get discipled somehow, by someone. Whether that is you yourself or someone else. We are called to make disciples, not just converts to Christianity.

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Life Point - A Healthy Body Seeks The Best Gifts

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 NLT

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Homiletical -

Now Paul starts to bring this altogether speaking of the gifts that God gives to the body.

He says that first are the Apostles, prophets, teachers then the Charismata those who do miracles who have gifts of healing those that can help other, leadership and lastly those who speak in unknown languages.

Why are the miraculous gifts listed after those that are called to serve in vocational ministry? Of those miraculous gifts why is tongues listed last?

1) He lists those gifts which help the Christian to grow up. The Christian to grow and become mature in Christ. Those are most important.

2) The Corinthian church was so out of balance. Or in today’s language so out of whack that he is trying to bring some balance here. True or false Charismatic gifts will bring in people. When they are in, what are you doing with them?

In the case of the Corinthians, as it is so much today, they aren’t doing very much. They aren’t discipling. They are letting bad doctrine in and aren’t teaching.

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 NKJV

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

He makes a good point here about the gifts. He says are all Apostle, prophets or teachers? Well no we all aren’t. You see those are gifts given to the church too.

So it logically follows that not all people are workers of miracles or perform healings, or speak in tongues.

Remember Paul says ok, so desire the best gifts. What gifts are those?

The Corinthians had become obsessed with tongues and interpretation. But that is listed last.

What is the best gifts? Are they the Charismata? No they are the servants to the church. Apostles, Prophets, teachers.

By the way prophet here is not one who necessarily tells the future, but one who proclaims the word of God. So you could say pastor or preacher there as well.

Apostle in this sense are those that guide the church. The 13 Apostles, the authority of the church.

Why do I say 13 and not 12? Because Paul was called an Apostle after the 12. Judas’ spot was taken by another Mathias. This would make Paul #13.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul wrote this to the Ephesians, but it is in the same vein as gifts given to the church.

Remember to desire the best gifts, which are those that can help you grow up into Christ.

Paul says gifts are good, but now I will show you a better way.

What way is that? You will have to come next week to find out, or you could just read the 13th chapter.

Life Principle– A Healthy Body Does Not Have Schisms, But Seeks The Best Gifts Of God While Doing Their Part For His Kingdom.

Call to Action – altar call….