Bible Message/Preaching : God's Family - The Body of Christ
2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
(1 Jn 3:2)
13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:13-17)
What is a family:
What does it comes to our mind when we hear about family?
How do we become part of a family? Baptism - by taking on His Name!
What benefits do we have as member of family?
How do we behave in a family? What matters most? Love - time!
15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." (Mt 12:48-50)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom 12:3-8)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Eph 1:3-5)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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; 14 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, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; 16 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. (Eph 4:11-16)
Benefits of family:
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:13-17)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Gal 4:4-7)
Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 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. 13 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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. (1 Cor 12:11-14)
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:9-10)
1 Cor 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
We'll be evaluated by the love we'd in our life!!
The best expression of love is by giving - Time and its the best gift we can give our loved ones and the best time to give love is NOW!
Fellowship = Enjoying life together!
Need for a family:
- Identifies us to the body of Christ
- To get out of self-centred isolation
- Helps in spiritual growth
- The Body cannot function without its members!
- We share the mission on this world
- Helps in difficult times and helps to stand up when falling
What do we experience in a real (ideal) family?
- Authenticity - heart-to-heart, gut-level communication - honest Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
- Mutuality - giving & receiving, depending on each other 24 ... But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 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. (1 Cor 12:24-28)
- Sympathy - today its called Empathy! - sharing the pain of others & NOT giving quick help or an advice
- Mercy - Forgiving one another, not holding grudges
- Requires commitment.
- True love - Agape
- We need to be example
- Honesty Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, see a conflict is a tunnel passage for intimacy!
- Humility - ..all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (1 Pet 5:5)
- Courtesy - respecting our differences & being considerate to each others feelings Rom 12:10
- Confidentiality - No gossip! & keep matters with confidentiality
- frequency of meeting - not once in a while but regular fellowship is required - knowing eachother. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Act 2:44-47)
- How can we change our behaviour to treat fellow believers more like our own family members?
- Are relationships our first priority?
- Does our involvement in the body of Christ demonstrate the love we profess towards Christ?
- What one step can I take to make our relationship in the body of Christ heart-to-heart level?
12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col 3:12 -17)
How can a fellowship be developed
To meditate:
(to be continued...)
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