The Body of Christ
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12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
These words penned by Paul some 2,000 years ago make up a beautiful picture of the church.
A picture describing each member of the church being needed for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Paul understood that for Christ Body to function with the greatest level of impact,
each member must do his or her part.
Paul knew first hand that each member of the body has a specialized,
God designed role to further the Kingdom.
As Paul writes that some are hands, some are feet, some are ears, but each part is important and make up one Body.
I wonder when Paul was writing this if he was thinking back on his early days as a Christian.
I wonder if Paul was thinking back on the days when he was still called Saul.
When Paul still went by the name of Saul,
God choose 2 special members of the Body to help Saul in extraordinary ways.
It is easy to overlook Paul’s conversion story and how different members of the Body contributed to Paul’s life and ministry.
There were 2 men in particular that played a vital role for Paul.
These 2 men are often times forgotten in Paul’s story but should get more attention.
Story of Paul (memorized) {3 days without sight}
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Ananias follows the Word of the Lord and prays for healing for Saul.
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
Ananias walked in obedience to the Word of the Lord as the power of God was manifested through the laying on of hands to heal Saul’s sight.
Ananias was the hands and feet of Jesus and was faithful to not miss what God had for him to do.
When God calls us to do something we must be faithful to carry out what he has for us. Amen!
Ananias was the first instrument used by God to help Saul early on in his life as a Christian.
The second significant instrument God uses is a man who shows up just a few versus later.
After Ananias prays for Saul and is healed.
Saul immediately goes on to preach the Gospel in Damascus.
The Jews were unable to refute the evidence that Saul gave about Jesus so they plotted to kill him in Damascus.
So Saul was lowered in a basket to escape and he heads to the main hub of Christianity.
Acts 9:26–27 (ESV)
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. (Can’t Blame them) (History not our future)
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
But Barnabas steps into the picture and encourages the believers in Jerusalem to receive Saul as a fellow brother in Christ.
Barnabas encourages them to receive Saul because Barnabas knew that Saul had an encournter with Jesus.
Barnabas was not worried about Saul’s history but rather knew the power of God can change peoples lives.
Barnabas knew the fruit of Saul as he tells the Apostles in Jerusalem that Saul has been boldly preaching in the name of Jesus in the city of Damascus.
It is interesting that Barnabas name means son of encouragement,
so it is fitting they he was the one to encourage the believers to accept Saul.
Barnabas was faithful to do what he could do
to help get Saul into the fellowship with the believers in Jerusalem.
Barnabas did his part in contributing to the Body of Christ in a profound way.
Both Ananias and Barnabas played such an important role with Saul’s ministry getting started.
And I wonder if they ever realize how significant their role was in the early church
as Saul who later became Paul was the Apostle who went on to write much of the New Testament.
Many life’s were impacted by Paul’s ministry and it all started with 2 members of the Body being faithful to do there part.
To often we overlook people that God uses in what may seem small and insignificant,
but without them the story would look much different.
There was a man named Edward Kimball who tried to make the most of his time as a Sunday school teacher.
The Lord placed on Kimballs heart a desire and passion to see his students come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Because of this fire in his heart, he was focused to make the most of every opportunity to see each student become a believer in Jesus.
One young man in particular did not seem to understand what faith in Jesus really ment.
So, Kemball decided he would visit the young man at the shoe store he worked at and explain what the Gospel was and what it ment to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
In the stockroom that day the young man became a Christian and eventually went on to be a pretty well known evangelist.
That young man was Dwight L. Moody.
In Moody’s lifetime, he touched two continents for God, with thousands professing Christ through his ministry.
Moody’s impact was quite significant but the impact of Kimballs faithfulness to not miss an opportunity did not stop with Moody.
In fact Moody was the start of the chain of events that greatly impacted the Kingdom forever.
Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, his name was Wilbur Chapman.
Chapman also became an evangelist who preached to thousands.
One day, a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings,
his name was Billy Sunday.
Sunday quit baseball and became a part of Chapman’s team for years.
Chapman later took a position as a pastor in a large church, which helped lead Billy Sunday to start his own evangelistic crusades and ministry which had great impact.
Years later Billy Sunday’s ministry was influential in bringing in a man named Mordecai Ham to Charlotte for his 1934 meetings.
It was in those meetings in 1934 that a young man gave his life to Christ.
And that young mans name was Billy Graham.
It all started with Kimball making the most of the opportunity that God had placed before him.
Even though Kimball may have seem to have a small task teaching his Sunday school class,
he knew that he was to do it with everything he had as unto the Lord.
Paul writes
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Everything you do is seen by God.
Even if man does not see your dedication and faithfulness,
God see’s it and will reward you.
It is important that each one here does not miss what God has for you individually.
I firmly believe that each one here in this room has assignments by God to reach people that only you can reach.
Each man and women here has a unique sphere of influence that I believe is God appointed.
You may be the only Christian your coworker, neighbor, or family member has regular contact with.
And because of this you may be the one God has assigned to tell them about the Good news of Jesus Christ.
You may not realize what your faithfulness in sharing the hope of Jesus with others could do in impacting an entire generation.
You might be like Ananias and led by the Spirit pray for someone in need.
You might be like Barnabas and bring encouragement in a situation on someone else’s behalf.
Or you might be like Kimball and minister to a young student about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Whatever piece of the Body God calls you to though,
do it with the best of your ability as unto the Lord.
As a member of the body it is important that you do not miss an opportunity to be salt in light to a world that is in desperate need of truth and love.
We are in a day in age were the world is empty and is looking for something they can only find in Jesus. Amen!
Jesus said
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
As members of the Body our call is to shine the light of Jesus for all to see.
Our faith is not to be a hobby that we just engage in on Sunday mornings,
but rather our faith is to be a lifestyle that is apart of our DNA.
Everything we do is to be unto the Lord to give glory and honor to our Savior Jesus Christ.
If it is at a factory line in production, sales to customers, or staying home with your kids.
Do it as unto the Lord and share the light of Jesus.
You never know the impact you may have on someone in just a simple encounter.
Story Subway (Seeds planted)
Paul writes,
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
Do not miss opportunities to be the hands and feat of Jesus.
I enjoy watching sports and playing sports.
Fast pitch softball was the sport that I enjoyed playing and couching for years.
Those who have been around the game for awhile will often notice the little things that for the casual fan will miss.
It is usually the little things that will win a game for a team...
If it was not for Ananias and Barnabas
if it was not for Kimball
If it was not for an Ant a cousin a parent...
We all have people that impacted our lives...
Don’t miss opportunists to share you faith with others.
Story of Marty
You know it is easy to overlook the significance of certain members in the body because in modern day Christianity we have gotten so caught up in this celebrity culture
I find it interesting though that even though the Bible clearly describes each member being important and significant to furthering the Kingdom.
That many times we feel insignificant and play a very unimportant role.
I am sure that each one here has probably thought at one point or another if what you are doing is making any kind of difference?
It might be helping in the children ministry, it might be helping lead worship, or it might be greeting people on a Sunday morning.
Whatever the case is I am sure some of you if not all of you have wondered is my role in the church ever going to make a difference.
Or has all that I have done all been for nothing...
If you have
I think it is easy though to get discouraged and believe that what I am doing is not important at all.
I find that in modern Christianity it is easy to become complacent in our roles in the church.
In many ways today’s version of Christianity is so celebrity driven that it would seem that the average person in the church does not have much of a role to play.
Growing up in the church my whole life I have found that we have become depended on the celebrities of the faith.
Growing up in the church my whole life I find that many of our Sunday School stories and sermons given to the church highlight what we would call the main characters in the Bible.
If it is David killing Goliath, Daniel in the lions den, Esther standing up for her people, or whatever story you can think of you think.
The main people get the attention and we often forget what you may say are the obscure people that play just as significant of a role in the story.