The Body Beautiful
Part 2
High Hopes
Designed to Succeed
We are in the midst of a new series, entitled
“The Body Beautiful”
The idea behind this series
is to get us to the place
where we not only have an understanding
of the parts of the body
and the reason for the Body of Christ,
but most importantly
this series is designed to help you
find your place in the Body
Too many Christians
are just living life – day-to-day
without an understanding of their purpose
and how important they are to the Body.
The good news for today is this
You are exceptional – you are unique –
you are designed to worship the Lord -
In fact, your perfect place in the Body of Christ –
will not only bring you great joy and peace,
but it will help bring that same peace and joy
into the lives of others
All too often –
we are trying to fit into the structure of the local church
Instead of having the church
adapt to the parts of the Body
as Christ created them.
If you have a certain gift or talent
and there is no place for you in the Body,
Chances are
you will be miserable, unfulfilled and never settled.
However
if the local church operates as Christ,
its founder, established it, -
the church would recognize the gifts
and make room for them to grow, develop and flourish.
1Co 12:12-31
The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does.
Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God's Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit.
Our bodies don't have just one part. They have many parts.
Suppose a foot says, "I'm not a hand, and so I'm not part of the body." Wouldn't the foot still belong to the body?
Or suppose an ear says, "I'm not an eye, and so I'm not part of the body." Wouldn't the ear still belong to the body?
If our bodies were only an eye, we couldn't hear a thing. And if they were only an ear, we couldn't smell a thing.
But God has put all parts of our body together in the way that he decided is best.
A body isn't really a body, unless there is more than one part.
It takes many parts to make a single body.
That's why the eyes cannot say they don't need the hands. That's also why the head cannot say it doesn't need the feet.
In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest.
We take special care to dress up some parts of our bodies. We are modest about our personal parts,
but we don't have to be modest about other parts. God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable.
He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others.
If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.
First, God chose some people to be apostles and prophets and teachers for the church. But he also chose some to work miracles or heal the sick or help others or be leaders or speak different kinds of languages.
Not everyone is an apostle. Not everyone is a prophet. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can work miracles.
Not everyone can heal the sick. Not everyone can speak different kinds of languages. Not everyone can tell what these languages mean.
I want you to desire the best gifts. So I will show you a much better way.
When you are added to the Body
You bring about a more beautiful
More perfect Body
Able to accomplish its mission
Too many people are simply wandering around without a clear direction
As far as their place in the Church of Today
Let me ask you a question
As the Body of Christ – What is your part?
Now I know some of you are saying things in your head like
“I swat the flies in the summer”
“I pick up the lint on the carpet”
“I water the lawn”
You understand
I didn’t want to name actual ministries
So no one would take offence
The areas I mentioned
Are areas of service – called “helps ministry”
But they do not define
WHO YOU ARE
as a part of the Body of Christ
Helps are areas of need
Where we each do what we can to keep
The business of the ministry operational
But as far as your PART
In the Body of Christ
That is a completely different thing
Now,
Doing something in “Helps”
Can be a part of the expression of who you are
But it cannot define your purpose
Each of us has a purpose that relates
Directly to people
And Helps is a tool
To help you accomplish your purpose
In the body
Today we begin this series talking about
How we as a part of the Body
Were “Designed to Succeed”
We were made special
For a reason
Let’s look at another scripture
Gen. 1:26-27.
"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness … so God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. "
For a moment
We need to look at how God created Man
Chemically, the body is unequaled for complexity.
Each one of its 30 trillion cells is a mini-chemical factory
which performs about 10,000 chemical functions.
And every cell has 1012 (one trillion) bits of data —
equal to every letter in ten million books!
Each one also replaces itself every seven years.
Each one is independent,
yet cooperates with many millions of other cells.
The body's billions of parts all work together as a team—
its 206 bones provide the framework
and its 639 muscles
enable it to move with incredible timing
balance and precision
Our body is controlled and coordinated
by over 16 billion neurons
and 120 trillion "connection boxes"
packed together into an unfathomably complex set
of neuro-passways.
The system is much like a modern nation,
inter-connected by billions of telephone wires.
All of this in a brain and spinal column
that weighs slightly over three pounds!
In comparison,
a bee has only about 900 nerve cells,
an ant only 250.
In the large gauge fibers,
nerve impulses flash along at 300 miles per hour.
All told, the human brain and nervous system
is the most complex arrangement of matter anywhere
in the universe.
One scientist estimated that our brain, on the average,
processes over 10,000 thoughts and concepts each day—
and some people process a much greater number.
The highest note on record
sung by the normal voice is C#4,
the lowest is Great E b.
The normal human voice can be heard
from as far away as 200 yards
although with practice, power, quality and volume
have enabled it to be carried for as far as six miles.
The human ear with its 24,000 "hair cells"
which convert vibrations to electrical impulses,
is capable of hearing sounds of astonishing low level acoustic energy.
Under favorable conditions
a normal person may actually perceive sound waves
with the power of only 10-16 (1/10,000,000, 000,000,000) of a watt.
This is so little energy that,
if our ears were slightly more sensitive,
we could actually hear the noise of the collision of molecules in the air.
Looking at the eye,
we find that the amount of radiation (light energy)
necessary to stimulate the human optic nerve
is so small that
if the mechanical energy
required to lift a single pea one inch up in air
was converted into light energy,
it would provide enough stimulus
to activate the optic nerve!
To work this marvelous machine,
we need energy and building materials.
Our three and one half pounds of daily food intake
is chewed by 32 teeth
where it is mixed by saliva, a mild digestant
secreted from five glands located in the mouth area.
Down the esophagus,
digestion continues in the stomach,
an amazing organ which must dissolve food
and yet not dissolve itself.
The acid in it
would eat the varnish off a kitchen table in seconds
If this precarious balance is lost, ulcers
(the process of the stomach digesting itself) results.
The food then moves into the small intestine,
a 20-foot tube which absorbs vitamins, minerals, and food into the bloodstream,
then through the 5-foot long large intestine
which absorbs water and other liquids.
The average person swallows about 2,000 times.
Our heart beats over 100,000 times daily
to move blood 168 million miles around our body
We take about 23,800 breaths per day
to bring 438 cubic feet of air to our lungs.
The airways to the lungs are lined with glands
which secrete a sticky mucous film.
The mucous acts like flypaper, catching germs and dust
so it can be swept away by cilia.
Cilia are thousands of microscopic hairs
which flow back and forth 12 times a second.
They move faster when they sweep towards the throat
than when they move towards the stomach,
pushing the thousands of bacteria in the system upward,
toward the throat,
where they are harmless in the digestive tract.
The air passes through the trachea into the lungs
whose purpose is to exchange gases
(which means taking into the body life-giving oxygen and removing poisonous carbon dioxide and other waste products of body metabolism).
This process is done by over 750 million
microscopic air sacs called aveoli.
If spread flat, they would cover over 600 square feet,
a surface area 25 times greater than that of the skin.
The body has a remarkable and complex system
to keep its temperature at about 98.6°.
The body works by burning,
literally, and burning food requires oxygen
Perspiration is used to cool the body and control the hairbreadth temperature adjustments.
The result is
about two-thirds of a quart of fluids is secreted daily.
To convey information about temperature
and other body conditions to the brain,
the skin alone has about four million structures
which are sensitive to pain.
In addition it has about one-half million
sensitive to touch
and 200 thousand to temperature.
These "report stations"
keep the brain attuned to conditions all over the body.
It is an elaborate "spy" central intelligence network
without parallel in the man-made world.
Now if we take any one of the parts of the Human Body
We just discussed
And we say
Well I’m just mucus
And that’s all
I’m not all that important
The truth is
Without mucus
The airways to the lungs
will be filled with germs and dust
and all the thousands of bacteria in the system
would be pushed down into the system
instead of upward,
toward the throat, where they are harmless in the digestive tract.
Without the mucus
We will be filled with infection and die
Just as the Body was created as a marvelous machine
Unparalleled in quality complexity and potential
So too were we created
As the Body of Christ
We were created to succeed
The issue with Today’s church is
We don’t quite know where we fit in
And how we are to work together
The Body of Christ
has become a bunch of separate organs
Trying to operate the entire body
Arguing and competing and ultimately
Failing miserably
The assignment of position
In the Body of Christ
is given by the creator
But just like the human body
When one portion
tries to perform the work of another body part
We have confusion and a potential train wreck
For instance
If I decide that my nose
is better to type with than my fingers
First I’ll find that it will be quite painful
And with a nose as large as mine
quite frustrating
As a Christian,
It is God’s desire that you find a church home,
Attach to the vision of that church
And begin to function within the workings of that body
To function as a part of the Body
You must first understand
The vision
What the Body does
Where it is heading
So you can determine
Why you are important to it
If you get these answered
You will see the plan
And know you are important
The Body of Christ is called to be
Without fault
Without spot or wrinkle
Eph 5:26-27 (CEV)
He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.
Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.
Ok
We all stop here
And go home
Because individually we will never be without spot
Without wrinkle
Without fault or flaw
But that is the exciting thing
God knew that
That is why he formed the Body of Christ
Of which He is the head
When we are submitted to Him
Becoming His
Sold out to Him and His will
We reflect Him
And His perfection
The church today
You me –
Each one of us
we desire to be noticed
to do what we want
to feel what we desire
we are trying to take the world’s understanding
and apply it to the church
that’s why we have all these plans of man
that are not successful
The design
Godly design is that we all work together
To accomplish His desires
for His church
Not your desires
for your ministry
Or my desires for my ministry
Understanding that you were designed to succeed
Is just the beginning
But yet it’s necessary
So you can know
That who you are
Is important to the Kingdom of God
And when you find the place
To where God has guided you
You can know with complete assurance
That you fit into the plan God has
Already established for that Body
Too many times
People move on to another church
Looking to find
Something
They want more of something
But actually
They rarely find it
Why?
Because what they are looking for
Is actually
what they need to give
in seed form
To begin to receive
Back to themselves
The purpose of their existence
Let me explain;
I will use the Number 1 reason
People leave churches
Maybe you know what that is
That is the #1 reason people leave
They need something deeper
More substantive
Actually
What they have failed to see
Is that they needed to give depth
But in most cases – they began to back away
And back away – instead of pressing in and going deeper
If they were to press deeper
Give more
What they would find is:
What they had to give
Would help more people
Than they ever knew possible
And in the process of helping others
They would be set free and
Realize their calling and purpose
Most people who leave church
Are too guarded
About their personal lives
But yet they are miserable
Not happy and unfulfilled
But when they press in
Unload the burden
Create deeper relationships
Freedom comes
God always places people around you
That ONLY YOU can minister too
That is usually the beginning of knowing your purpose
But if you are too closed to
Establishing relationships
You miss out
It’s the people who
Shy away from events
Prayers
And people
That need the most and also have the most to give
That’s part of the enemy’s lies
He does the same old thing
All the time
And most of us fall for it
So many people abandon their body
To find another Body
But God designed you
Specifically for One Body
No man is called to be a church hopper
Or an uncommitted church member
God didn’t call anyone to be a seat warmer
He called you to be a Part of the Body
Churches today are less personal
Than ever in history
And that is a direct reflection of society
A few months ago we talked about how impersonal
We have become
iphone - ipad - I I I
we text so we don’t have to talk
we have virtual meetings
to avoid getting together
and so what we have in church today
is a whole lot of individuals
with little interaction
outside of the church
What would happen if our body acted that way?
Only one day week
Would the body work together and communicate
The rest of the time
Every part was doing its own thing
It would be pretty sad –
To not have control over
Your hands
Or feet
Or mouth
O I’m sorry –
Most of us have already lost
Control over our mouths
Seriously,
So what about the Body
What are the Parts to the Body?
1 Cor. 12:5-7
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord (Jesus Christ); and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God (the Father) who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1. Apostle (apostolos). The Greek word means "one sent forth" (on an official errand), i.e., an ambassador
2. Prophet, prophecy. (prophetes), lit: "to speak forth," to proclaim the mind and counsel of God,
3. Evangelist, evangelism. (evangelistes) from eu = well, plus angelos = messenger. The gift of bringing the good news of God to unbelievers individually and in groups.
4. Pastor- shepherd
5. Teacher – gift of teaching
6. Administration. (kubernesis = government). To pilot, guide, or steer as one steers a ship.
7. Leadership, (proistemi) "to stand before" that is attend to with care and diligence, as the head of a family does.
8. Faith. (pistis), Faith-vision: the ability to believe God for new direction and power---visionary faith that sets in motion events others can join in and follow.
9. Knowledge. (logos gnoseos), lit: "word of knowledge," systematic understanding of truth in broad, sweeping terms so that others may be trained and instructed.
10. Wisdom (logos sophias), lit: "word of wisdom." The ability to make wise choices and decisions at critical forks in the road.
11. Exhortation, encouragement. (paraklesis), to call alongside, comfort, strengthen, to counsel, exhort, bring aid, admonish.
12. Discernment (of spirits) (diakriseis pneumaton), is a gift to judge or evaluate the spirits so as to distinguish whether something is from God or from an evil source
13. Ministering (diakonia), to serve (hence our word deacons). A wide variety of activities one performs with the help of God to comfort, encourage, support and build up God's people.
14. Service - Helps - (antilempsis), "to lay hold of (and support)", especially the weak and needy. To minister to others and meet their needs.
15. Giving, (metadidomi), is the gift of sharing and imparting, not only money but other resources.
16. Tongues (that is, "kinds of languages") (gene glossan). The ability to speak in other languages not previously learned, but known languages to men.
17. Interpretation of Tongues. The ability to translate unknown languages so as to edify and instruct others regarding what has been said.
18. Miracles. (energemata dunameon) The ability to raise men from the dead, call fire down from heaven and otherwise present signs that authenticate the power of God in certain situations.
19. Healing(s). (charismata iamaton) (plural). Ability to heal at the physical, emotional and spiritual levels.
20. Mercy (eleos) An ability to touch inwardly with compassion. To be exercised with "cheerfulness".
21. Hospitality. (philoxenia), lit: "love of strangers." May not be a spiritual gift but definitely a Christian virtue.
22. Healing. Gift to bring miraculous healing to the Body and the World
In my nearly 30 years of experience
Every person fits into at least one of these areas
And many have more than one area of calling
how does the Body Work?
Let’s take one area
like Helps
We talked about this one earlier
Many feel comfortable in this area,
Especially helping in serving others
But let’s look closer at that ministry
Most take it to mean
By waiting on others or serving them physically
But everything we do has a Spiritual component
The spiritual component to serving is
To not just serve them a drink of water
But to serve them the love and grace
That will eventually open a door
To their heart
Helps should bring you to seek a closer relationship
To become a part of others lives
Not just on Sunday
But a part of their life
A desire to serve them goes to a deeper level
As the Lord reveals to you
A person who is successful at hospitality
Or Helps
Will create relationships where people will seek you out
In their moment of need
At a time of trial
During difficulties
And even to share the mountain top experiences
Jesus was our example
And when He was with someone
They felt like
They were the only person in the world at that moment
If you are called to the area of helps
This is in you
And only when you pursue it and seek after it
And walk in it
Will you begin to see the fruit of your purpose.
Now that you know you were created special
Designed to succeed
Within the Body of Christ
Next week we are going to get into
Some deeper things
About how well you fit
Right where you are
And why the enemy
Tries to tell us
We don’t fit in here
It’s not for me
I have no way of accomplishing my purpose here
Listen:
I can’t speak for any other church
Any other Body of Christ but this one
But we were tried by God
We heard clearly
That we are to be a place where anyone
With a purpose in the Kingdom
Can get their ministry started or propelled here
We are not jealous
We are excited about your talent
We love to have those who are better
Than we are
We consider it a blessing
If you think you can get your purpose fulfilled elsewhere
You are hearing a lie of the enemy
There are so few churches
That will give you the freedom to grow
The environment to excel
And the support to succeed in ministry than here
You may not believe it
But many who have moved on
Have found that to be
absolute truth
I don’t say that to
Brag on us
But the truth is
If the Pastor is fearful of someone preaching better than him
Or someone knowing more than him
Then that church will never allow you to excel in your calling
Turn to your neighbor and say
You are beautiful
And this is a beautiful Body of Christ
You were designed to succeed
God created you successful
Successful in every area of life
You need to see yourself the way God sees you
The road to personal success and happiness
Is not about what you do
It’s about who you are
You are – special
And created that way
So that you can reach others
Others that no one else could
The Body of Christ is more
than a meeting place of people
It is
people meeting
To place people
in the Kingdom
There is no greater purpose under heaven
None!
And you were called to that purpose
You are uniquely qualified by God
Ordained from the foundations of the world
To live that life you have
Don’t despise it
Don’t complain about it
Don’t think its unimportant
Your life was born in purpose
The videos we opened with
Show people who were hungry for God
Hunger is born out of deep desire
To want more out of life
God created you with a plan
Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)
"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
Psalms 139:16 (NKJV)
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
You are all called
• You are called to promote truth and unity - Ephesians 4:25 says, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
• You are called to service - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 outlines the importance of using your God-given spiritual gift. Your gift is unique and equally important. It is essential to the body that you use your special gift in service to God.
• You are called to share Jesus - Romans 1:16 says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…" As part of the body of Christ, you are to share your life-changing story with others!
• You are called to worship - "It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night" (Psalm 92:1-2).
• You are called to love each another - "1 John 4:11 says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
In closing
You were born to succeed –
Born with purpose to change the world around you
Yes you can – change your world
The days ahead of you are better than the ones behind you
Your future is bright
It is not dependent on the economy
The president, your job, or anyone else
Your future is bright and filled with potential
Because God said it was
And all He desires is that you seek Him first
Mat 22:36-37
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
If you need to place your trust in God
Greater than you have been
Then today is that day
Don’t wait, stand if that is you
