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 Sermon > Official Service |
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Title |
We are one in the Lord |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
1Co 12:12-27 |
Date |
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People who accept Jesus Christ and become children of God are one spiritual family. So those who have faith look after and help each other with love. Today, we will look into how we can be one in the Lord and thus give glory to God.
1. Many people make up the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ....Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
As the many parts of a body are connected to and need each other, so do the members of the church, which is the body of the Lord. As the body is one and the Holy Spirit is one and the Father God is one, we should esteem the value of each part and thus truly become one in the Lord.
Even though our hands, feet, ears, heart, lungs and stomach have their own roles in the body, they are in no way separate from one another. In the same way, the parts of the body of Christ are different from one another outwardly. But spiritually they are all linked up together into one body.
That is why Jesus prayed to God in John 17:21-22, ".....that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as we are one."
In other words, he prayed that we whom he bought with his blood should be one as he is one with God and spread the Gospel to all people and give glory to God. It is because when we become one in the Lord, we can bear abundant fruit and form the most ideal church - the church that is united in love.
2. To become one in the Lord and bear abundant fruit
What then should we do as the different parts of the church to become one in the Lord and bear abundant fruit?
1) We should acknowledge the difference among ourselves and serve each other.
As 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.", there are many parts with different duties in the church which is the body of Christ. As all these parts work harmoniously, the body of Christ can survive( continue to live).
1Corinthians 12:15-17 say, "If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?"
None of our body parts are unnecessary in spite of their different shapes and functions. Rather all of them have their own peculiar roles. If we truly realize this in heart, we cannot ignore even a child or turn our shoulders away from others just because they are different from us. On the contrary, we must acknowledge their difference and respect them from our hearts.
Philippians 2:2-3 say, "Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
As Jesus came down to the earth in flesh as God’s son, so we should humble ourselves and consider others better than ourselves. And we should not only sacrifice ourselves willingly for the sake of others but also should rejoice and give thanks to God, even when nobody recognizes it.
However, no matter how hard we work for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the most important thing is that we must be one in spirit and purpose. The kingdom of God is accomplished in the Holy Spirit. We can truly please God when we become one in the Lord as his parts.
In addition, we should encourage one another with serving hearts. By being one in heart and mind and thought, we can arise and shine and thus glorify God in every thing. Then God will be pleased and lead us to His glory.
2) Even recognizing the variety among ourselves, we must obey only the will of God.
To make a harmonious church, all of its parts should become one with the Lord as their head. As the head comes first, we the parts must not seek our own interest but consider the body of Christ first and look at things from the viewpoint of church to make better choice.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 says, "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
God put each part of body at the best position in His sight according to its necessity.
So it is quite natural for all parts to be controlled by the head and obey it. If they don’t, the body will look awkward and abnormal. If the feet don’t obey when they are ordered to go by the head, the body will be as good as cripple. If the mouth doesn’t speak when it is ordered to do so, the body will be just the same as dumb. That is, if one single part doesn’t obey, the whole body will look inharmonious. Therefore, each part of body must obey the head.
Jesus Christ is head of the church as in Ephesians 1:22, "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church." So regardless of our different duties, we must be controlled by Christ as head of the church and obey his will to be in harmony.
In addition, as God set an order in the church, we have to obey the one whom God appointed to be our head. In some cases, some people, in spite of their hard work, don’t follow the will of God by having different ways. If they all pray and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they will be able to be one in heart and purpose and work harmoniously because there is only one Holy Spirit.
If we try to get something done unreasonably because of our own thought and interest, the body of Christ will be split and God will not be able to take lead due to our disobedience. For this reason, we must follow the order of the church and seek wisely in peace and harmony the best way to get things done. Then the kingdom of God will be accomplished.
3) We should help each other and fill in what others are lacking
1 Corinthians 12:21-23 says, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don’t need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don’t need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty."
This means that all parts of the body need each other due to their respective functions. In the same way, we must not ignore others because of their weak points but help them and fill in what they lack with whatever gift that we received from God. Then the church which is the body of the Lord will stand firm.
That is why God says in 1 Corinthians 12:24-25, "......while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other."
Dear brothers and sisters,
Seeking one’s own interest, envy and conceit arouse disputes. But hating other parts is hating oneself.
For example, if all missions in the church seek their own interests, they will complain about small things. Or if they don’t care about what they are not directly related, the work of God will naturally be delayed and disturbed. Therefore, as God says in Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.", we have to share our burdens and be one in heart and look after one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 says, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
This shows the evidence of the complete unity of the parts of the body of Christ. For example, when a heel suffers from a thorn in it, the whole body will feel the pain. And if a crown is put on the head, the whole body will enjoy the glory.
Even though all parts are different, they are not separate but belong to one whole body.
Therefore, we should look after each other and share our joy and difficulties together. And then we will truly become the spiritual family who are one in spirit and all purposes(Romans 12:15).
Finally, I pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ that all of you will become one in the Lord and accomplish the kingdom of God fully. |
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