Good Morning My Beloved,
Here we are all again, and I'm so grateful for each one of you.
Thank you all for coming to join us today!
Heavenly Father,
we come today to give you praise and offer our worship
with this overwhelming sense of gratitude,
with an overwhelming reality of our unworthiness
we who’ve been chosen to such lofty realities as salvation,
the Great Commission, provision, eternal influence.
Lord, we give you all the glory, all the praise
But we also know the reality of the cross
we know it was the cross, that was there so our sins were paid
Thank You for that, thank You for that Father
Father, You do more than we can ask or think according to that power
that same power, which raised Christ from the dead
help us to operate our lives, functioning in the power of the resurrection
We ask in the name of Christ,
Amen
"For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.
So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it."
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Today's Message: The Body of Christ - Part 3
So, when we concluded the message last time, I hope we all came away with one thing: The days of discrimination are over. The Church that Christ has created, the one that is headed by Christ, tolerates no distinctions. None. No distinction at all. None at all. There are some places, my beloved, where you just cannot preach that message without getting thrown into jail. This is truly disheartening.
In Romans chapter 10, that message is again repeated for us by the apostle Paul in verses 12 and 13, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all them that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
As you can clearly see, all the divisions, all barriers have been removed, they are gone. There are no divisions, no barriers left in Jesus Christ. We are one new man. And as a result, all Christians, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free man, whatever description anyone can come up with – whether uncouth barbarian or educated Greek, whatever the case, we’re all fellow citizens.
Paul calls us four things using Greek words that I won't be going to go into all the verses just now. But Paul calls us fellow citizens, fellow heirs, fellow members, fellow partakers. Fellow, fellow, fellow, fellow. Are you beginning to see a theme here? We are one, one, one, unity. So, in all the metaphors, our unity is emphasized.
So you know, this is my prayer for this church, that at least this portion of the Body of Christ may sense our unity, our togetherness, our oneness, in the Body of Christ. I need to hurt when you hurt. You get it? And you need to hurt when I hurt. And I need to be sensitive to your needs, and you need to be sensitive to mine. And I need to show love to you when you need love, and you need to love me when I need love. And I need to exhort you when you need exhortation, and you need to exhort me when I need it.
And when you need to rebuke, I need to rebuke you; and when I need to rebuke, you need to rebuke me. That goes for everyone but it may not work well for those who have wives.. You don’t want her to get carried away. Some already do that. (smiling)
My point is that you and I, we need to function together, sensitive to each other. You do not want to isolate yourself, Christian; you want to get yourself into the mainstream of the life of the body. Did you know that? See, that’s what’s wrong with so many Christians.. They come to church on Sunday morning, and come in here and sit down, with their little click and think to themselves, "Well, God, I'm here and I know you’re just really blessed by my being here. You're welcome." Don't act like this doesn't happen. We all know it goes on, in every church I've ever seen, there are those who think the body revolves around them. And how blessed is the church just to have them there to organize and run everything. So blessed. And they have no concept of operating in the mainstream of the body, and so they are a non-functioning member really, they're actually crippling and maiming the body of Christ. And the rest of us are limping along, trying to compensate for their inabilities. You need to be in the mainstream of the body life. Do you see that? You need to be sensitive to me, and I need to be sensitive to you. We are one. We are one!
Jesus wanted this. Jesus wanted this! He desperately did want it. So much, that in John chapter 17 – and I happen to just love this chapter; what an insight into the very heart of Jesus Christ! What an incredible insight we're given. Just listen to His words here. He’s praying to His Father. Just listen to what He's praying for. He could have prayed for any number of things, but He didn't. He prays for, in John 17 and verse 20, "I pray not only for these,but also for those who believe in Me through their message" In other words, "I’m not just praying for my disciples, I am praying for those who shall believe on Me, through their word in the future." Do you see it? Every single person, in the Body of Christ, is a critical part of the body. You're no more of an asset then I am, nor am I than you. We are one together, one!
Now, what am I going to pray? Verse 21, "May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me." So they all be what? That's right, one – just super sensitive to each other; To me, that is just so beautiful – "that they also may be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me" You know what will convince the world who Jesus is? We will, that's who! When we’re one; that’s what will do it. That’s what will do it. When we ourselves, begin to believe that, in the Body of Christ, we're one.
Verses 22 and 23 now, "I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me." May they be what? There it is again, one.
Do you see? "As we are one," There it is again, one. Folks, we've got to get this. Can you not hear Christ's plea to His Father?
You know when we’re really going to turn this world upside down, when we are really going to shatter the complacency of this world? When we are one. When the church finally gets it. I’ll tell you, if this church ever became one in terms of body life, and every one began to minister to each other’s needs spiritually, and sensed a super sensitive oneness, the world would never be able to cope with what would happen here. Because we would release the unity of the Spirit and all the energy that’s wrapped up in it. But we have got to see this for ourselves, before the world can see it.
Now you say, “Okay, so how does this oneness thing work?” Well, allow me to show you the key. This key, it’s based on humility. That’s the key. Now, turn with me to Philippians 2, because I really want you to see it. Verse 2, let’s look at verse 2, Philippians 2:2. Now, we saw Jesus prayed that we’d be one. Right? The apostle Paul wanted the same thing. And the Philippians evidently hadn’t fulfilled this. So, they can perhaps give us a good example of what we need to hear. Let's look at verse 2. Paul says to the Philippians, "fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal." See? What does Paul want the Philippians to be? One. Just be one. Have the same kind of love. You know, there are different kinds of love. Well, you really love her, and you don’t have too much of him, but you can tolerate him. You know, this, we all know it exists in every church, let's not kid ourselves. We have got to have the same love for all the body. Be one. Be like-minded, having the same mind. Focused on one goal. Jesus Christ.
Look at verse 5, verse 5, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." What kind of attitude did Jesus Christ have? Let's go back to John 17:21, "May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me." Now go back to Philippians 2, now verse 6, "who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage." In other words, something to hold onto. Let's keep going here, "Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross." Now, you know what mind that is? My beloved, that is the mind of condescending humility. Do you not see it here? Here is the mind of Christ. He was there; He came and was obedient to death. That is humility. You see that? Do you know how we get to be one? Let's look at verse 4, "Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." It's all spelled out for us, in plain language.
You’d get cared for, he'd get cared for, she'd care for them both. You’d have this whole body caring for one another. But most Christians today, spend so much time caring for themselves, that nobody else could stand to care for them. If we ever learn, and by God’s Spirit we can, to just start caring for each other, you would be drowned in love and care. See, that’s the mind of humility. I don’t care about myself. Why should I care about myself? I just want to care about you. No wounded egos. No stepped on toes. No toes that have been stepped on. "Well, I’m not going over to that hateful thing anymore; I’m never speaking to Mrs. So-and-so. Do you know what she said to me? Do you? I can tell you this. That’s the last time for that."
Come on beloved, that’s not humility. It's not! And you know that, don't you? Do you know what that is? That’s ego. That’s just ego going whisstt rising to the top. The mind of humility was a mind of Christ. Jesus Christ wasn't full of Himself, He was full of His Father. He was full of love. Not self-centeredness. Come one, He's the Son of God, and He's washing the disciples feet! That's humility! Nothing but humility. And we're supposed to be like that.
He never tired to maintain His ego when He came here. They spit on Him; He just stood there. They nailed Him to a cross; He just hung there. He didn’t say, "You can’t do this to Me; I won’t tolerate this. See, the mind of humility says if this means your salvation and your salvation, if this means that you can have that, if this means you’ll benefit and your blessed, then I love you enough that I’ll suffer, because I care about you." You know, that’s kind of a foreign thing, isn’t it? Sadly. But it's true. This is what the body concept is all about, people; it’s all about loving, and caring for somebody else and not loving and caring for yourself. Did you not know that? That’s what it’s all about. You all tell me you read your Bibles, right? So, you have to know this is what it says? I didn't just pull this out of my hat, like a magic rabbit, did I? No, it's right there, in black and white, in front of each and every one of you.
Let's turn over to Romans chapter 12, come on, you guys are getting good at this aren't you? Romans chapter 12. "For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one."
See? We’re all in the body of Christ. How do we get our unity? By not thinking about me but you. And you are thinking about me, And we are thinking about them and so on. You don’t need to worry about your own ego. You don’t need to worry about your own little problems. You don’t need to be so self-directed in all of your thoughts all the time. I hate to be the one to tell you this, But it’s not always about you. Just start reaching out and touching somebody’s life and forget about yourself. We are one. The point of contact for our unity must be humility. Everybody wants to point a finger, well, then, point it, but instead, today is about you. What can I do for you? How can I make your day easier. I mean you could get walked. So, get walked on. Get trampled. You think God can't deal with that person and restore you? Yeah, He can and believe me, He will. So, try it and see what happens.
In fact, try it with that person that you've not been talking to. Yes, that one. That one you said you'd never talk to again. Just go up to them and ask, "How can I make your day easier? What can I do for you today?" And let's see.. Can will take care of the rest. He always does, you know that already. I'm just here to remind you all of that.
Now wait. I've got something else for you. I hope none of you are in litigation at this point. (laughing) I Corinthians chapter 6, you’re about to get devastated. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 7 and 8 and 9 – I love it; I just love this. Paul here is condemning a Christian who sues another Christian. You know, goes to court and hassles publicly with them in court. Look at this, verse 7, 8, and 9. 1 Corinthians 6, "Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you act unjustly and cheat—and you do this to believers! Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived" Just take it. If it's worth your going to Hell, go ahead, it's yours!
You say, "But you don’t know how much it cost." I don't care, I'm going to heaven, it won't compare to that! So take it. "Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded?" "Allow myself to be defrauded?" "Nah, you do wrong, and defraud someone, and that someone is your brother?" Take it. Just go ahead and take it. Just learn to care and care so much that you could care less what happened to you. And do you want to know something? Some brother just may defraud you, but some other brother’s going to pick you up. Someone is going to make up what you lost and then some. "How do I know this?" Because a giving person and a loving person receives what he gives and gets back the love that he gives away. Ten fold. That's the way God's works things. But heaven help the one that took it, I wouldn't want to be that guy, let me tell you.
So, we've got a lot more to discuss, but it'll take some time, so I need to break it up some,
But don't worry, we'll get to all of it. Because I love all of you, and I care about you, I love and care about us. We are together, one. Now you can see that, right?
Christ is our Head, we are the body, and we are to minister to each other in love. Now, humility is the key. Real quickly, if there’s a second key, an equal key to the first, which is humility – wait, we will not say that these are unequal but they're kind of equal – the second key, equal to humility and completely detached, and they both kind of overlap, is love. It's love. And there’s a verse that is so exciting, John 13:34-35 Jesus says this, are you ready for it? Because it's really going to blow you away.
Seriously, are you ready? Because here it comes, "I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Did you see that? "I give you a new what?" A new idea? A new if you wouldn't mind? Nope, that's not it, "I give you a new command." Ok, Ok what is it?
"Love one another. Just as I have loved you." Say what? You want me to ...what? "
Love one another. Just as I have loved you." And guess what else? "you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." And there it is! How much clearer does it need to be before the whole church gets it? Love, see, love doesn’t care what happens. Love is un-circumstantial. Love just splatters out on somebody, anybody; it doesn’t matter what they do. See? That’s love. Love doesn’t pick and choose. Love is just there, and whoever gets in the way gets loved.
Every body gets covered up in love...
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries