1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-312004 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2004.

The body of Christ. Here as we're talking about spiritual gifts, Paul gives us a wonderful illustration. A wonderful example that we could look at and understand. Why is it so wonderful? Well, because we're very familiar with our body. We spend hours and hours every morning looking at it in the mirror as we're getting ready, right? You've got to do my hair. I don't look at the mirror that much. I don't know, is there any more red and blue paint in my hair from last night's dinner?

the marriage couple's dinner was a great time but they put paint all kind of in my hair and stuff and so I hope I got it all out but

But we're very familiar with our body. We're accustomed to it. We know how it works and what it does. And you might remember those times when you weren't so accustomed to it as you're kind of going through your younger years and growing into your limbs, as they say, right? And that's when the kids are clumsy and they're not used to their body yet. But as adults, as we are here, we understand. We know what our body is like. We know how our body functions. We know what it's like to be a body and to accomplish things as adults.

As one body. Now, the more you think about this, the more you think about and ponder the similarities and the example that Paul gives us, the better illustration it is. Because we'll further understand by our physical body

The body of Christ, the spiritual body that we're in, will further understand the actions that need to take place, the relationships that need to be in place, all the things that we do. The body is very complicated and the more that we study it and understand it, the better we'll understand the body of Christ, how the body of Christ, the church, is to function, how it's supposed to act and respond and relate to one another.

Your body, what you have right here as you're sitting in here, has approximately 200 bones, 206 bones and 650 muscles. Now, that might not sound alike a lot, but most of you don't weigh too much, at least not as much as me and Cisco, huh? Most of us, we don't weigh that much, but we have 650 muscles. There's a lot of things going on. In fact, in order to walk, it takes...

around an average of 200 muscles. So for you to get up and walk out of the sanctuary, you're going to be using approximately 200 muscles just to get out of here. Now, when we relate that, when we think about that and understand that not only is the physical things going on, the things that we can see, but there's all the inner workings as well because there's those muscles, those things behind the scenes taking place that accomplish the feat of walking. Now,

In the body of Christ as well. Many times, yes, there's physical things, there's visible things that people will see, but there is so much more going on behind the scenes. There's so much more that God is doing behind the scenes, that members of the body of Christ are doing behind the scenes, that you and I, as we do our part, are accomplishing great works for God.

So he says the body is one in verse 12 and it has many members. It has a lot of members. 206 bones, 650 muscles and who knows all the other stuff. I was looking at all the different cells and stuff and you take 23,000 breaths in a day and your blood travels 12,000 miles in a day and all that stuff and it's pretty interesting. Your body does a lot of stuff. There's a lot of activities, a lot of functions. So is the body of Christ as well. There's a lot of things that are going on. There's a lot of things that...

If the body of Christ, if the members aren't in place, it's not going to function properly. In verse 13, he says, "...for by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."

For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. Now, he's not talking about water baptism here. He's not talking about, you know, when we went to the beach last month and took some people under and they baptized and stood up for Christ. But this baptism is a different baptism. It's the baptism into the body of Christ.

which occurs, it happens when we become born again. As we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, as the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, we are baptized, we are identified with the body of Christ. We become part of the church, part of the body of Christ. And so he says we're baptized into one body and that there's no race separations, there's no divisions. He goes on in verse 13 to say, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free,

and have all been made to drink into one spirit. We've all been united. There's no differences in race or any kind of separations that we think of today.

But we're all part of the body of Christ. Every single one of us. We have our place, our God-given place that he has appointed for us, that he set aside for us, that we could be a part of his ministry, of his work. God is in the business still of changing lives. He wants to reach out to this community, to this area. He wants to reach out to your coworkers and your family. He wants to tell them how much he loves them.

But Jesus is not here physically. His body is not here except through the church. We are his hands. We are his feet. We are the members of the body of Christ and we're to do his work. We're called to be his body that he could accomplish what he wants to here and now.

In verses 4-18, Paul goes on to explain to us, in this example of the body, he explains to us that no part, no member of the body of Christ, or no member of our physical body, is insignificant.

Every part is important. No part is not necessary. In verse 14, he says, For in fact, the body is not one member, but many. It's not just one thing, not one member or one part, but it's very many parts all put together.

In verse 15 he says, if the foot should say, because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? So he gives an example, kind of a silly example, but he says, look, if the foot should say, I'm not a hand, I'm here, you know, it's kind of dark, they always cover me up, and just kind of insignificant because, you know, I don't get seen very much.

In fact, a lot of people don't like to see me at all. Even if I'm at my home, I wear socks and stuff. I'm just insignificant. I'd rather be a hand. Something that could be visible and seen. I'd rather be out there like the hand and functioning like the hand because it's very useful. But me, I'm just insignificant. I'd rather be a hand.

Now, silly example, but you know that it wouldn't work. If you tried to put your foot where your hand is, or tried to wear your shoe like this all day, you'll look funny. But,

Because it's not a hand, doesn't mean that it's not significant. In fact, it's very important. The feet are very important for us. And so he says, the foot can't say that to the hand. And then he goes on in verse 16, also to say that of the eye. He says in verse 16, if the ear should say, because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? No. The ear says, hey, I'm not of the body, you know. No. No.

I'd rather be an eye, you know, because it's very useful and it's kind of, you know, people have pretty eyes, but nobody really has pretty ears. They're kind of weird shaped and funny looking and they got the wax and the hair and stuff and it's kind of gross.

The ear could say, oh, I'd rather not be a part of the body. No, no, no. The ear is very important. It's very significant for us. It's not an unnecessary part of the body of Christ or our own physical bodies. In verse 17, he says, if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, then where would be the smelling?

So he says, look, it's not one member, it's many members. If the whole body were an eye, what good would that do? You could see a lot, but you couldn't do anything about it. You couldn't process anything with it. You would just be a big eye. Or if you would be a big ear, then you wouldn't be able to have the other senses and smell and so on and so forth. And we understand that with our physical body. But he's applying it to the body of Christ. That there is no part of the body of Christ that...

That is insignificant. In verse 18 he says, But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body, just as he pleased.

He says, look, God has done this. He formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed air into him and gave him life. He created us exactly how he wants us, with the ears in the right place and the eyes in the right place and nose and mouth and hands and feet to function just exactly as we do. He created us that way. In the same way, he created the body of Christ to be a specific, certain way. And he's given us, each and every one of us, he says, each one of them, that's all of us,

You have a place within the body of Christ. You have a part and it's not an insignificant part. It's an important part. Every believer has a place. Paul wrote these last few verses, 14 through 18 that we've been looking at. He wrote this for those who feel that they have no place. For those who feel that they're inferior, that they're insignificant.

In the work of ministry, well, you know, I just sweep the parking lot, or I just do this, or I just do that. I'm not really significant. I'm not really a part. Paul says, no, no, no. There's no part that's insignificant. There's no part that's not necessary. Every single part is important. And God put us, it says in verse 18, He set each one of the members, each one of them in the body, just as He pleased.

The place that you and I have in the body of Christ is the place that was given to us by God.

It was the place that God was pleased to put us in. The place where He wants us to be. And so we can't complain and grumble and say, well, I just have this part. Well, hey, God gave you that part. Rejoice in it. You're not insignificant. Do it to the best of your ability. The Bible says that whoever is faithful in little will be faithful in much. And God will give charge over much to those who are faithful in the little things. And so we need to understand that. We need to know that.

My part is not insignificant, but I have an important place in the body of Christ. Verses 19 through 27, now as we read it together, Paul will tell us that every part is important. Every member has its place in the body. Verse 19, And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, but one body.

And the eye cannot see to the hand, I have no need of you, nor the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Verse 22. 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. Verse 23.

But God composed the body, having given greater honor to the part which lacks it. Verse 25. 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. Verse 27. Now you are the body of Christ and members individually.

He goes on now to explain the opposite scenario. The first hand was those who feel that their gifts and their place is inferior to others. This is the opposite. He says that this is for those who feel superior.

Those who think that they don't need other members, other parts of the body of Christ. Those who feel like they can accomplish things on their own. There are no lone rangers in Christianity. God has made us, designed us, given us a place that is interdependent. That we depend and we need one another in order to function the way He wants us to. Now we can try to do things on our own and God's not going to force us to do His will.

designed for us or his appointment for us. But if we want to accomplish what God wants to accomplish, if we want to be involved in his work, then we're going to be relying upon one another. We're going to be helping one another.

In verses 19 and 20, he says, look, there's not one member, but it's one body and it's made of many members. Again, same thing he's been saying, that every part is important. Because in verse 21, he says, and the eye cannot see to the hand, I have no need of you.

See, before the example, he says, well, the foot, you know, feels inferior and says, I'm not part of the body because I'm not a hand. But here he says, I kind of being haughty and puffed up says, I don't need the hand. What are you talking about? Get away, man. I'm sufficient of myself. I have enough. I don't need the hand. Well, Paul says, no, that's not true. Without the hand, you're not going to be able to accomplish anything.

much at all. Even if you have great eyesight, 20-20 vision with no arms or no hands or no legs, you're going to have some trouble. You're not going to be able to function properly the way that God wants you to. Or again, he says, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, well, what good is a head if you don't have feet?

You're not going to get anywhere. You're not going to accomplish what God wants you to accomplish. So we understand that physically. We understand we need each and every part. Every part is necessary. Spiritually, the same is true.

that we need every part. We need for the body of Christ to be fulfilling its place, its roles, each member to be doing what God has appointed for it to do, that we would accomplish His work, that we would be the witness that God wants us to be within this world, within this life.

He goes on to explain three different things here, verses 22 and 23. He says in verse 22, No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. He says, look, those weak parts in your body, even though they seem to be weaker, they're very necessary. They're very important. You could think about it with your own body. If you've ever hurt somebody,

If you've ever hurt, let's say, your little toe,

Or your big toe. It might seem to be a weak earth. You might think of it or not think of it at all, really, most of the time, until you hurt it. Then you understand, hey, that weaker part, that part that I never think about, I understand now how necessary it is. Because when that's hurt, it impairs much of what I do. In fact, my whole body has to compensate for a hurt pinky toe or a hurt big toe or little toe or whatever all the other toes are called.

My whole body has to compensate for it. Those weaker parts that I might not pay much attention to, like my earlobe, they're necessary. My eyebrow, it's necessary. Sometimes I don't know what for. My forehead, it's really necessary, okay?

But the weaker parts are necessary, Paul says. There's no part that's not important. In verse 23, he also tells us not only about the weak parts, but in verse 23 he says, So he says first weaker parts, but now less honorable parts.

He says the less honorable parts are the parts that get the most honor. What's he talking about? Well, if you think about it, there's not a lot of honor in 29 miles of intestines. I mean, there's not a lot of honor in your stomach and the whole process and digestive system. There's not a lot of honor in that. But,

We do give great attention to those things, don't we? Because three, four, five, six times a day we're feeding ourselves and feeding that intestines and responding to that and giving much honor to those things which are not seen, which don't really have a lot of honor and they're kind of gross if you think about it or if you dissect some kind of animal, you know it's not a pretty sight. There's not much honor in that. But we give it greater honor because God has designed it so that those parts, those places which are less honorable or

receive the more honor.

Then lastly, he shares with us unpresentable parts. In verse 23, he says, and on our unpresentable parts have greater modesty. Our unpresentable parts have greater modesty. We clothe them. We take care of them. We make sure that we don't present them. Why? Well, because they have greater modesty. We take greater care of them. They're very important. And so we need to take care of them. And so he says these three things, the weak parts, the less honorable parts, the unpresentable parts, all three of these

have their place and are very important within the body. And where they seem weak, where they seem less honorable, where they seem unpresentable, God compensates for that. He designed them in such a way that it makes up for those things and they receive more honor. They are strength where we didn't know they were strength. He goes on in verse 24, he says, but our presentable parts have no need. Our hands, our feet, our head. They don't need to have modesty or to have special honor because they're out there already.

But he says at the end of verse 24, but God composed the body, having given greater honor to the part which lacks it. He says, look, the body has many different members, many different functions, but every one is important. And God has designed it so that within our bodies, the parts that seem weak, that seem less honorable, that seem unpresentable, he compensates for that by giving them more honor, by giving them more honor.

We need to understand that within the body of Christ, there are parts that correspond to this. Parts that maybe in man's eyes, maybe in even your own eyes, seem to be weaker. But in God's eyes, they're the strong parts. In God's eyes, the necessary parts, the necessary members, that the church cannot function, the body of Christ cannot function without those parts. It will not work properly. It will not accomplish what God wants to do.

The less honorable parts. There's not much honor in cleaning the toilets and preparing the sanctuary for worship, but it's a very important part. It's an important part that we all rely upon, whether we understand it or not. There's less honorable parts. There's unpresentable parts. Things that go on behind the scenes. All of these things

God says, look, I've designed it so that within the body, all those things that take place behind the scenes, that go on when nobody sees, when nobody else is looking, those places have greater honor. We often think the opposite, you know. We think, well, pastors and teachers, you know, hey, you know, you're up there. Well, hey, I'm getting my honor here because I'm visible. But what God esteems, what God likes, what God desires is

He gives greater honor to those that seem to be weaker, to those that seem to be insignificant, to those that seem to be less honorable or unpresentable. God gives great honor to those. There will be great reward for those who faithfully serve in those areas. God designed the body this way. He designed His body this way. And that those significant parts and insignificant parts might care for one another.

That we might have the same desires, the same goals. He says in verse 25 that there should be no schism in the body. Why did God design it this way? So that there would be no divisions. That there wouldn't be, you know, the hand looking out for himself and the foot looking out for himself. All these different things. No, no. They would all work together because they all need each other. So that there's no divisions but that the members should have the same care one for another.

God honors each part equally within the body of Christ and we should too. We are to have the same care for one another like our body members, our body parts care for one another. We are to have that same. He designed it that way so that we would work together. In verse 26 he says, If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.

Or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. If one member suffers, we're familiar with this portion of scripture. We've heard it very often, but just think about it for a second, a fresh in the new. Think about it again. It's hard to do anything really when you're in pain, when you've got a bad headache. Your body does not function properly. It's hard to do anything well when you're in pain, when you're

and being afflicted in some way physically when you have something going on.

You know, if you stub your toe, like I said, your whole body compensates for that. Your whole body, you walk differently, you sit differently, you're treating it gingerly, the way that you act, the way that you move, everything is changed because of that stubbed toe. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or really all the members come alongside to support it and do whatever they can do so that the weight is not upon that hurt toe, that stubbed toe, that smashed thumb.

that headache. You know, when you have a headache, your feet doesn't say to your head, hey, I don't care if you have a headache, we're going hiking or we're going to do this or do that. No, no, no. The body works together. It looks out for each other. So too, the body of Christ, we should function in the same way that when there are those who have been crushed, when there are those who have been hurt, when there are those who suffer.

that the body of Christ needs to learn to suffer with it, just as our physical body does. That we would come along, that we would support those who are hurting, those who are in pain, those who need it. That the weight of ministry, that the weight of the world, that the weight of cares, the weight of whatever it might be, won't be upon them, but they would have time to be restored, to be healed, to receive refreshing healing.

something, that they would be refreshed by God. We as the body of Christ need to learn that when one member suffers, we all suffer. He also says, if one member is honored...

All members rejoice with it. They don't get envious of each other and bitter and say, well, how come the hand always gets so much attention? You know, if you think like a great pianist or someone who plays the piano, I think that's how you call it, but after a great performance, right? And everybody's clapping and applauding and yes, thank you, thank you. And the feet, you know, they can become envious and say, well, forget you and trip the guy on the stage so he falls flat on his face and ha, see if you get any more attention. No, the body's not like that. It's not...

envious and spiteful and trying to pay back wrong for wrong or anything like that. The whole body rejoices. If one member is honored, if one member receives blessings, oh, praise the Lord. Well, the same should be true within the body of Christ. Why does he get to do that? Or why does she have to do that? Or this or that or this or that? No, no, no. Hey, if one member is honored, bless them. Rejoice. Praise the Lord.

Come alongside. That's what we're called to do. Just like our body does, we are called to be the body of Christ, to encourage and lift up one another, to rejoice with one another, to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. That's what we're called to do, to minister to each other as the body of Christ. In other words, in our body, each member desires what is best for the entire body.

Each member is not looking out for its own. Each member is not having its own agenda or own desires. But each member does exactly what I tell it to do. The same thing is true with the body of Christ. See, the problem with the body of Christ is that every member has a mind of its own. Every member decides if they're going to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

If they're going to fulfill their role, if they're going to do the thing that God has called them to do and enabled them to do, if they're going to fill the spot or the place that God has set aside for them, set apart for them. In our body, the way it functions, my mind, my hand doesn't have a mind of its own. My hand does exactly what I tell it to do. If I tell it to do that, it does that. If I tell it to do that, it does that. If I tell it to do this, it does that.

My body does what I tell it to do. Now the body of Christ, as the church, here we are, we are to function the same way. But many times in our stubbornness and our lack of spiritual walk, we refuse to do the things that God wants us to do. The things that the head is commanding, the brain is sending down through the nerves, we miss out on great works of ministry, on opportunities that God has set aside for us because we

We're not listening. We're not submitting to the head. We're not submitting to Jesus Christ. In verse 27, he says, now you are the body of Christ and members individually. He says, you are the body of Christ. Remember that. You are the body. Now, there's two ways that we look at the body of Christ. There's the first way, which is universally, that all those who are on this earth, all those who are believers in Jesus Christ are part of the body of Christ.

We're the universal church or the universal body of Christ. But then also, us as a church, living water is a body. We are the body of Christ. Here within this body, God desires to do a great work in this community. We are part of that body. We are His physical presence here where we're at. And He's given us a place. He's given us a purpose. He says we're members individually. Yeah, we all have different places.

But we all do have places. There's no insignificant part. There's no part that's not necessary. We all have a place within the body of Christ. So if we're a part of the body, if we all have a place...

Well, what's the answer? What do we need to do? Well, let's get together and do whatever the head wants. Let's watch God work. Let's get together, perform our roles, perform our functions, and watch God meet people's needs. Watch Him change their lives. Watch Him shower this city, this area, with love and mercy like never before, with His Spirit like He wants to do. The question is, what does the head want to do?

What does Jesus Christ want to do with our body, with the body of Christ? How can we know what the head wants to do? How can we know what he wants to do with us? Well, in the next few verses, that's what Paul explains to us in verses 28 through 31.

He talks about now order. In verse 28 he says, And God has appointed these in the church. First, apostles. Second, prophets. Third, teachers. After that, miracles. Then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Verse 29, 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? He says, look, within the body, yes, we're a body and we need to function to do the things that God wants us to do. But in order for us to know, there has to be some type of order. There has to be some type of order. That's why Paul puts this portion here because there is an order that God has designed. Now,

Please remember that he has just finished teaching and sharing that no part is insignificant and every part is important and has its place within the body. So this order here is not talking about importance. It's not talking about value. Like we talked about a couple weeks ago as we looked at chapter 11. If I line up some people here, tallest to shortest, that doesn't mean the shortest person is the least important and the tallest is the most important. No. It's

Aside from that, it's just an order. It's just a way to line up, a way that is convenient and orderly. Well, the same is true with the body of Christ, that God has given different members different places within the body.

And he's given it an order. It doesn't mean that one is more important than the other, but it's just the way that God wants to work. It's the order that he has designed so that the body will function properly. So he says, and God has appointed these in the church. First, apostles.

Now apostles is an interesting word because literally it means sent out. But when we think of apostles, we think of Jesus' twelve disciples or apostles as they were later named. They were the twelve apostles who really did the work of ministry and changed the world through the power of the Spirit after Jesus was resurrected.

We see much of what they did in the book of Acts. And the works of the Spirit in the lives of the apostles was phenomenal as they founded the church and began the work that God wanted to do. But I don't believe, some people do, but I don't believe that that means that there are no more apostles, that this is not a gift any longer. Sure, they play a huge role in writing the New Testament and doing that. They are founding fathers really as a church.

But really, apostle, as I said, it means one who is sent out. And we see the works of the apostles in the early church were very simple. They were leaders within the body of Christ. They were also those who would go out on mission trips. They would do the work of evangelism and

ministry and they would also be founding churches and establishing bodies in different areas and I believe that is still in effect today. There are many missionaries, many of those who go out and establish great works for God. They go out and establish churches in different areas and different ministries and

And, you know, even I think of like Pastor Chuck Smith who started Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa and the work that has gone out from that. All of the churches that have been established, it's an apostolic ministry. It's a ministry where God has done a great work and used him as a foundation to do exactly what he wanted to do. So we see, firstly, apostles, those who are sent out, those who establish and begin ministries. Secondly, he says prophets, right?

Now, we looked at the gift of prophecy last week, and prophecy was not so much telling the future as just speaking the words of God or telling the words of God for given situations. And I believe prophets are those who have the vision for the body of Christ, those who the Lord gives understanding of where he wants the body to go and how he wants the body to function. We also see that the prophets many times were used in the Bible

for corrective reasons. And so it's used for that as well. And then thirdly, he says, teachers, those who teach and expound the word of God and explain it so that we might understand what God has to say. These three, he says, are in a specific order. This is the order that God uses to move his body. There's, just like we have the brain and we have the nervous system that goes down and tells our body to function as it does,

This is the way, this is the channel that God has chosen to use. The apostles first and then the prophets and then the teachers. And it's through that that the body of Christ is directed. It's through that that the vision is known and given out. It's through that that God can accomplish what he wants to do through each and every one of us. As each member does its part, as we all do and fulfill our place, our role within the body of Christ. Again, order doesn't determine importance.

But it does determine the way that God wants to do things. So he lists eight things here, eight functions that we see within the body of Christ. We looked at the first three, apostles, prophets, and teachers.

Fourthly, he says, also miracles. Now, we talked about that a little bit last week, and so I'm not going to touch on it now, but there are those who work miracles, and they have their place. He says, after that, there's miracles and gifts of healings, and we've seen that. Man, praise the Lord for those of you who have been praying for Pastor Tom's mom. She is doing so much better. They

And like overnight, she was way better and they released her from the hospital and she's on medication, but she's doing much, much better. And so we rejoice. We praise the Lord for that. There's gifts of healing as we pray, as we lift up people. God will choose many times to heal and to do miracles and wonderful works in his name.

He also lists helps. The sixth thing he says is helps. Now, what are helps? What gift is that? What is he talking about? Well, just exactly what it sounds like. Those who have been gifted by God, those who have been called by God to help.

to help people where maybe others cannot, or to help people in a way that is just a blessing to them, helping them in a way that they can't help themselves. Help is a gift that can be used in a variety of different ways, in all different levels, but it's just an area really of service, that we serve one another. And we should all be seeking to do that, to have the gift of helps and serve one another.

Seventh, he also lists administrations. Administrations, those who are able to plan and orchestrate and put together things. And you can understand kind of how it works, that there's those who catch the vision and say, hey, I believe this is what God wants to do. And then the people involved in administration, those who are gifted in that area, say, okay, well...

If that's the objective, here's how we can accomplish that. Here's how we can put it together. Let's do this and let's do that and let's order it and plan it so that it comes together according to the Lord's will. This is how we can get the body of Christ to be involved in each member doing its part. We can accomplish what the vision is, what God has given for this body.

And then lastly, eight, he says, varieties of tongues. We talked about that again last week as well. So if you weren't here last week or you want to review it, please get the CD and check that out. But these eight things, these functions that he gives us are functions that are established within the body of Christ.

that it would have some type of order, that it would have the nervous system, that the body would be able to do what God wants to do, that each part would be affected and be able to be involved in God's work.

Every part has its place. I was joking with first service because Robert and Anna Escalante, they always sit right here. And so this week they sat over here and it threw me all off. And I said, look, the body of Christ is out of place. Their place is normally here and it's out of place. But it's just joking around. But every part has their place and it's more than just a space in the seat. It's a function. It's an action. It's a gift that needs to be used. It's a gift that needs to be exercised.

It's ministry that needs to take place. Every part of the body is important. You know, for me, it was such a blessing last week as we talked about spiritual gifts. And we looked at these nine gifts, and as I shared with you, they're gifts I believe that God will give to each of us at different times as we need them, as we're doing the work that He's called us to do. But as I shared with these gifts, and then last Sunday evening, we had the time of the afterglow.

And if you don't know what an afterglow is, it's basically we just spend time in worship. We spend time in prayer. And then we wait and we ask God if he wants to speak to us. And it was so awesome to see the Spirit of God fall upon this place. It was so awesome to see God working within our body. Because from my perspective as I was leading it, I got to watch God pour out his Spirit and people step out in faith and use God.

These gifts, many of these gifts were used this last Sunday night at the Afterglow as we had words of wisdom and knowledge and insight and prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues. It was incredible. It was truly a work of God. And it was a blessing for me to see the body of Christ step out in faith and use those gifts that we've been learning about, applying it into our lives.

This too, as we look at the body of Christ this week, we need to understand it but also to apply it. That it's more than just head knowledge, but we need to put it into practice. To understand that I am a part of the body of Christ and I need to function as the head has called me to.

I need to support the members around me and cooperate and work with them to accomplish the task that God wants to accomplish. I think another great example of this is the Harvest Carnival that's going to be happening this coming Sunday. There's going to be a lot of different things going on. There's going to be different booths and so different members, you guys, the body of Christ is going to be performing different things within those booths and within those games and within those skits.

There's another group of people who are going to be on the stage and singing and sharing and speaking. Each part doing its share. Another group of people is going to be serving food and blessing people or praying with people. There's so many things that need to take place. There's so many important parts. And if the body of Christ isn't there, if the members of the body don't show up and don't do their part, then we're going to be lacking.

We're going to be missing out. Now, don't get me wrong. God's able to overcome those gaps and he's going to, you know, not going to be like, oh no, so-and-so is not going to be there. What am I going to do? God doesn't think like that. But it's important that we be involved, that we be involved in those things, that we be involved in the work that God wants us to be involved in. He gives us that opportunity. He says, look, I want you to be a part.

I want you to be a part. Now, many people have different callings. Many people have callings from God to do wonderful works of ministry that seem very honorable to people. And you might have that. You might have a calling of God to do something that maybe for others it seems less honorable, or even for you it seems less honorable. But remember that God has set each member free.

Just as He pleased. And we need to fulfill that. We need to be the people that God wants us to be. He asks the questions in verses 29 and 30. He says, Are all apostles? The obvious answer to that is what? No. Not everybody is an apostle. There's others who are not apostles. Are all prophets? No. Not all are called to be prophets. Are all teachers? No. Not all are teachers. Are all workers of miracles? No.

Do all have gifts of healings? No. Again, no. Do all speak in tongues? Yes. No. That's what some churches teach. That's what some teachers will share and teach. But no, not all speak in tongues. Not all prophets and apostles. Not all interpret. Everybody has been gifted, has been called in a certain way to perform a certain function so that the body of Christ will be put together just exactly right, the way that He wants, so that He can reach out to the city of Korona.

So that he could reach out to your families and to your workplace. So that he could reach out exactly the way that he wants to. We all have different gifts. We all have different functions within the body. In verse 31 he says, But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. What is the more excellent way? We'll look at it next week. The more excellent way is love.

But he says to earnestly desire the best gifts. Now, it brings up a question. Well, what is the best gifts? What are the best gifts? Who's to determine? Who's to judge what the best gifts are? Well, I believe as Pastor Chuck often shares that the best gifts are the ones that you need to do the task right at hand. We need to desire. Lord, here's what I believe you've called me to do and I need your help.

I need these gifts. I need you to supernaturally empower me to do this because I know you've called me to it. And we walk in faith. We step out in faith. We believe in faith. We trust him and we do the work that he's called us to do as he enables us, as he empowers us to do it. The body of Christ, a marvelous example for us that we can know and understand how we're to relate to one another, how we're to support one another, how we're to lift up and encourage and bless one another.

but also so that we know that my part, your part, is not insignificant. It's important. And you know, maybe you're here this morning and you feel like you're not doing your part. You're not fulfilling your role within the body of Christ. Let me encourage you that there is no part that's insignificant.

However little you might think it is, or you might not even know what your part is, but know and understand that there is no part that's not necessary. If you don't know your place, if you don't know what God has called you to within the body of Christ, then just start serving. Because as you serve the Lord, He'll direct you. He'll open up the doors. As He gives you opportunities, take them. Take them. As people ask, Hey, can you be involved in this? Would you like to do this? Take it.

And as you do that, you will discover God will show you your role, your place within the body of Christ. Now maybe you're here this morning and you're visiting. Maybe you're part of another body. This church isn't your home, but another church is your home. Well, start serving there. Be involved in that body. Be involved where God has placed you. Because God has a place for each and every one of us within His body universally, but within His body here for those He has called here.

And we need to be, as members of the body, functioning the way He has ordained, the way He has set aside. Every part is important. So we need to act like members of the body. We need to care for the whole body. Doing what's best for each member, for the whole body. And that requires submission to the head. Submission to Jesus Christ. Saying, yes Lord, whatever you want me to do. Because I'm not looking out for myself. I'm not trying to glorify myself or accomplish my own things.

I'm trying to accomplish what you want to accomplish and how you want to use the body to meet needs, to perform ministry, to change lives. The body of Christ, a beautiful example for us, an important lesson for us, a great challenge for us. Let's fulfill it. Let's work together. Let's catch the vision of what God wants to do and let's change this world for Jesus Christ. Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we do thank you, Lord, that you've given us the opportunity to be a part of the work that you want to accomplish. Lord, you've gifted us, Lord, and as we've looked at diversities and many different gifts and ministries and activities, but God, you've worked it out. You've arranged it so that all of those are important, all are significant, all are necessary to do the work that you want to do. And so, Lord, we ask, Lord, that you would help us.

to seek you, to know, Lord, what place you've given to us. And Lord, I ask that you would gift us, that you would empower us to fulfill that role that you've given to us, that we would fill that function, that place, that part, that member. Lord, whatever it may be, even if it doesn't seem very significant to others or ourself, God, help us to be faithful in the little things. Help us, Lord, to play our part. Lord, that you might get all the glory.

that Your work might be accomplished. Lord, that people would come to know You, that people would rejoice in You, that people would grow in You. Lord, that Your work would be done. And Lord, like Christ, we could say that it's finished. Lord, we've done everything that You've asked us to do. Lord, I pray that for this body, for living water. Help us, Lord, to work together. Help us, Lord, to act like our own bodies.

Lord, that we support one another, that we lift each other up. Lord, that we're not looking out for our own will, Lord, our own desires, our own glory, but God, we're looking out for your glory. We want to work together, God. We want to catch the vision and hear from you what you want us to do, that we would be able to fulfill it. We thank you, Jesus. It's in your name we pray. Amen.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.