Acting as the Body of Christ?

Acting as the Body of Christ?

What does it mean to act as “the Body of Christ?” What does it mean to you? I have an idea of what it means, but does that idea line up with the Word of God? The Word of God, you know, the B-I-B-L-E; yeah that’s the book for me. Ok, ok, ok. I’m going to give you a story from the gospels and then let you know how this story became alive to me and how this scripture represents a way the Body of Christ can act.

John 21

 1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

I wish I could demonstrate to you how I think Peter said: “I’m goin’ fishin.” I imagine when he said his shoulders were dipping and his bottom lip sticking out. Anyway the following is a story from when I was a youth pastor and how the Holy Spirit revealed this scripture to me.

So, one wonderful night back in 2005 nearly a third of our youth congregation raised their hands to receive salvation. I felt like I had just given the most convincing salvation message ever and the group responded. A THIRD OF THE CONGERGATION’S hands went up.  Now our group was 21 that night and 7 kids responded but still, STILL! I was so proud. I felt like God had used me in a mighty way and I was the world’s best preacher… until the Holy Spirit started talking to me. Here’s the deal. The night started out pretty normal until 2 family vehicles pulled up and out poured 7 visitors and 2 regulars. When I saw the visitors my original message went out the door and that night I laid down the Roman Road (salvation message). All 7 of the visitors raised their hands when I gave the invitation. When the night was finished and all had gone home and it was just me cleaning the church I started to brag to God about that night. That’s when the H.S. interrupted me mid-brag and reminded me of the story of the disciples’ fishing trip. The H.S. asked me one simple question that brought me to a humble surrender. The question was “how do you suppose all those fish got to the other side of the boat.” Well, how do YOU suppose the fish got there? My guess is Jesus somehow ushered them to the right place at the right time. Whether he physically moved them there or gave a simple command, he got them in the right place to be caught. Now how do you suppose those 7 visitors made it to church that night? They made in two family vehicles that belonged to one precious family that attended our church. Their two girls invited a bunch of classmates to our youth service that night. Not only did the family bring them but they fed them too. Back to the Gospel story:  You know what I don’t see in the story of the disciples’ fishing? I don’t see Peter and the boys bragging about what great fisherman they were. What I do see is they recognized the reason why they caught so many fish. That night I too had to recognize (with the help of the H.S.) why so many answered the salvation message. It was not because of my great preaching/fishing skills but because God used a precious, precious church family who took time out of their very busy day and ushered a bunch of smelly/hungry teenagers to our side of the church.

By sharing this story I don’t want you to think that I’m bashing the pulpit ministry. I’m not. I respect and believe in the vitality of the 5 fold ministry heads found in Eph 4:11. I believe those ministers are in place “to equip His people for works of service [ministry], so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph 4:12)  I can tell you that as a minister it is so cool to be used by God to bring the salvation message. It’s an awesome high. But there is also a serious danger that comes with the pulpit ministry or with any high profile position(boss, supervisor, coach, etc.).  That danger is Pride. You start to think it’s you that is the magnet and not the One that draws all men (and women)* to Him. I believe a great way to battle Pride is the following statement: Before you start thinking it’s about you, you better stop and review. That night in ’05 the H.S. made me stop and review. I’m glad He did. Now one of the greatest joys I get doesn’t come from just preaching salvation but rather ushering people into the right place at the right time. I get a great joy from being part of the Body of Christ. Whether it's hearing that the offering we gave was just right in time or if its seeing someone at church that we invited, the joy is immense. Take some time to read through all of Ephesians chapter 4. It gives some good instruction on how to act as the Body of Christ. 1^st Corinthians 12 also gives some good instruction. But also take some time to act as the Body of Christ by doing your part to usher someone to the other side of the boat. Invite someone to your church. Maybe even feed them and give them a ride.

1^st Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Stay Blessed Y’all; It’s Your Choice!!

Jimmy

 * John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

I love Jesus Culture. Great music, great heart. This song is just so-so to me until it hits the 5 min mark. That's when it becomes a So Strong Song. 

Thank God He won't relent. 

Go in Peace?!

Part 2 of "She had Issues"


Since I found out that I can add video here is a little P/W before we dive into the Word:

I had thought of moving on from the Woman with the issue of blood but I just had to take another look at the story. There is something rich here. This time let’s go with the Doc’s account. I wander if Luke knew who treated this lady before her healing. I also wonder why Luke left the part about “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” (Mark 5:26). Did Luke work on her before she got a hold of Jesus? Aw Kidding, I believe all scripture is God breathed so the Holy Spirit just must not have given that puff of air to Luke. Let's read Luke's account.

 Luke 8:42b As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
  45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

 “Go in peace.” That got my attention. Jesus told her to go in peace. Why? Of all the things He could have said to her, but He choose to say “Go In Peace.” That was His parting words to this lady. Come to think about it, I don’t know if there is anything better He could have said to her. Peace is what she really needed. Peace is what we all really need. Not world peace, that’s a pipe dream, but she/we need a peace that only Jesus can give. Jesus said the same thing to someone else, another lady who needed peace. That lady is found in Luke 7. She’s the lady who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed them with a very expensive perfume. In Luke 7:50 Jesus says to her “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The Luke 7 lady was labeled a sinful woman by the Pharisees. Jesus labeled her Forgiven.

I did a limited word study on the word Peace used here in Luke 7 & 8. It was limited because all my study books are packed up in boxes for a little bit. Blueletterbible.com helped me out with this study. The word Peace used in Luke 8:48 was the original Greek word eirēnē (εἰρήνη). Eirēnē shows up in 92 verses in the New Testament. I skimmed over most of them, but one stood out the most to me. It’s Eph 2:14. It states “For He (Jesus) Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Now in light of Eph 2:14 think about what Jesus said to these 2 ladies: “Go In Peace.” He is our Peace and without Him we can go nowhere. Without Him we can go nowhere near God, nowhere near the thrown, and nowhere near a life of full health. Do you need peace? Then reach for the true Peace: JESUS.

Stay blessed y’all, It’s your choice
jimmy