The Body of Christ Must Work Together
The Body of Christ Must Work Together
Everyone has something to contribute, the church cannot function properly otherwise.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (ASV)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: 23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;
25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The body of Christ must work together it can not function properly otherwise. I have been to many churches of God and I have not seen the body function as it should. It has always been one man ruling over the brethren which has resulted in constant splits and has caused many to fall because the way they were treated and by the things they saw that were not scriptural or even moral. Jesus instructs us not to rule in this way.
Matthew 20:25-28 (ASV)
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your servant; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: 28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 23:10-12 (AMP)
10 And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.
11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.
Acts 20:29-30 (AMP)
29 I know that after I am gone, ferocious wolves will get in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 Even from among your own selves men will come to the front who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavour to draw away the disciples after them [to their own party].
I see this happening in the Churches of God it is in a sad state and the brethren have allowed it because they have become lukewarm (Laodicea Church) We at GodSeekers Church of God want to change this and are striving with the help of Jesus Christ and our Father to walk right before Him and be on fire making a difference and being noticed.
We encourage our brethren to come forward with thoughts for future sermons or with words of edification for the church. We want the brethren to use their talents and to add to them. We are accountable to each other no one is above the other we are all brethren and we must serve one another. We must be active and add to the abilities that Jesus has given us. Jesus spoke about this in the parable of the talents.
He gave them talents according to their ability. Two servants doubled their talents. One servant did nothing with his. This is why we say everyone has something to contribute and we encourage them to do so.
Matthew 25:14-30 (AMP)
14 For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.
15 To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.
17 And likewise he who had received the two talents—he also gained two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.
21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.
23 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
24 He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].
25 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.
26 But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?
27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.
30 And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
John 15:2 (AMP) 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
Jesus gave us an example of how we are to be with one another.
John 13:12-15 (BBE)
12 Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, Do you see what I have done to you? 13 You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. 14 If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another’s feet clean. 15 I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you.
John 13:34-35 (AMP)
34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
1 John 2:7-11 (ASV)
7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.
8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Notice that Jesus says all men will know that we are His disciples if we love one another as He has loved us. This is the new commandment because He has given an example of how to love one another. It must be very obvious what we are doing if we walk in this because people will take notice. It must must be by our actions that they will notice.
Acts 2:42-47 (AMP) 42And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers. 43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers). 44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;
45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need. 46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts, 47 Constantly praising God and being in favour and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].
They got noticed by the love they had for one another. Acts is full of examples of people that were consumed by their love for Jesus and each other. What has happened to the Church? I have not seen this in the body of believers let us all repent and do better. We need to ask God daily to show us if there is anything in our hearts that needs to be dealt with and to help us with it.
Jeremiah 17:9 (ASV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
Psalm 139:23-24 (AMP)
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
2 Peter 1:5-12 (BBE)
5 So, for this very cause, take every care; joining virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue, 6 And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind, 7 And love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself. 8 For if you have these things in good measure, they will make you fertile and full of fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For the man who has not these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having no memory of how he was made clean from his old sins. 10 For this reason, my brothers, take all the more care to make your selection and approval certain; for if you do these things you will never have a fall: 11 For so the way will be open to you into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 For this reason I will be ready at all times to keep your memory of these things awake, though you have the knowledge of them now and are well based in your present faith.
Romans 14:19 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Romans 15:1-2 1 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV) Let all that you do be done in love.
1Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other, just as in fact you are doing.
John 15:12-14 (AMP)
12This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.
13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.