1 Corinthians 12:27 – It’s Really Huge – Bible study

1Corinthians 12:27 Its Really Huge That is a simple but powerful statement. The Apostle Paul used the term, the body of Christ, to describe to us who we are in Jesus Christ. Like Jesus and His parables, Paul was using an earthly truthour bodiesto explain a deep spiritual truthwho we are in Christ. This morning, lets skim the surface of that thought by considering three bodies: the ALL BODY, the YOU BODY, and the US BODY. I know those terms do not make much sense right now; but hopefully, they will when I am finished. I. The ALL Body A. We are part of a body that is bigger than we can see. 1. That is Jesus Christs body. Christians need to understand Jesus body. 2. Paul spoke of the body of Jesus Christ in books written to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Ephesians, and the Colossians. a. So also did the writer of the book of Hebrews \#Heb 13:3\. b. And he told everyone that he wrote to the same truth: You are part of Jesus body. c. That makes for a big body for that would cover a space of thousands of square miles. 3. However, the body was not limited to those locations or to the first generation of Christians. a. It includes every Christians from the cross to the rapture, from Israel where it was birthed all around the globe. (1) That is every born-again believer all across the globe for 2,000 plus years. (2) Its really huge! Its all the believers in all the ages. (3) By the way, death does not remove you from Christs body. (4) Death removes your on-earth responsibilities but the dead in Christ are still part of the body. b. All of us together form ONE huge body. 1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 4. All of this means that you and I are a part of that large, eternal body. B. It is somewhat difficult for some to get the concept of being a part of something so big. 1. I will confess, we are only a small part; however, we should never think we are insignificant part. 2. Every believer has been indwelt with the Holy Ghost of God, enabled to fulfill their role in the body, and placed in a spot where they can fulfill their God- ordained role. a. God has selected you, YOU, to do something and He has equipped YOU to do it. b. That to me is absolutely awesome. c. Dont minimize that. (1) Some of you have been very gracious to me to say that you feel I have been blessed by God with a gift to discern and share the Bible. (2) Suppose I had minimized my gift and not developed it? (3) Would I be the man I am today? Would I be the pastor of this church? Would you be here? (4) No gift that God gives can even begin to be understood until we accept and develop it. (5) But I will tell you that God does not give useless gifts to anyone! (6) All Christians are part of the body and all Christians are important to the body. (7) Listen to the words that Paul spoke: 1Cor 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: C. Being part of this large body of Christ is part of the plan of God and His salvationand it is a stupendous and amazing plan. D. So first, I speak of the ALL body. II. The YOU Body A. The All body is big, too big for us to see and perhaps too big for some to comprehend well, but God gave us each a smaller picture. 1. It is the body that we live in right now. 2. I could call that the ME body but I will call it the YOU body. 3. The body you live in is a picture of the body of Christ. B. For example, we know that for YOU to function properly, all of the members of your body must be doing their part. 1. John Moore fell yesterday. He shared that he fell because his left leg did not do what it was supposed. (He is 91!) He got up to walk and lead with his right leg and when it was time for him to shift his weight to the left leg, it was still sitting back where it was! Some can identify with that. 2. Just like the body doesnt work properly if all the members are not working, neither does the body of Jesus Christ work properly if all of the member are not working. a. Some would argue that. b. They would say, "God does not need me to accomplish His work." c. I did not say that God needed you. I said things are not working correctly without youand that is different. (1) The souls you are supposed to win, to grow, and to encourage will not be won, grown, or encouraged if you do not do what God has gifted and called you to do. (2) That is not speculation. That is Bible. Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. d. I am not here to offend or insult you, but some of you have the wrong idea about your responsibilities in Gods body. (1) You do not HAVE to assume your responsibilities. You can excuse yourself if you want. You can say, "I dont know how" or "God doesnt need me" or "Let someone else do it" or "I am too busy." (2) But just because you excused yourself, dont think God has! (3) You are part of the body and nothing but death will relieve your of the calling that God has put on your life. Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (4) You might say, "God did not call me." (a) He did. (b) If He saved you, He gave you the Holy Ghost and the manifestation (a gift of Him) to serve God by. (c) Just because you did not listen to Him or seek out your gift or develop your gift does not change anything. 3. We learn an important lesson from the YOU body. We learn that unless all of the members are working properly the body does not work properly. III. The US Body A. Just like God has given us the YOU Body that reflects the ALL Body, God has also given the US Body to teach us something about the ALL BODY. 1. The US BODY is the local church. 2. It is US, the Green Pond Baptist Church. a. There are many US BODIES. b. Any gathering of two or more believers in Christ becomes a US BODY. Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 3. The US BODY is not as large as the ALL BODY. a. Neither does it have the duration, the reach, or the ability of the ALL BODY. b. But each one reflects the ALL BODY as it follows and serve Jesus Christ; and we can learn lessons about the ALL BODY from the US BODY and about the US BODY from the ALL BODY. B. For example, both the ALL BODY and the US BODY must be under the control of the Holy Ghost. 1. Notice the emphasize that Paul placed on the Holy Ghost in this chaptera chapter about the body of Christ. 1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 2. All of these are references to the ALL BODY, the body of all believers from the cross to the rapture; but it emphasizes the necessity of the body relying on the Holy Ghost. 3. In fact, this is also reflected in the YOU BODY. a. You have heard me say it before, but it is worth repeating. b. You have a body, but you are a spirit. c. You can see your body. (1) It may be large, small, pretty, ugly, in shape, out of shape, but that is all right. (2) Your body is not who you are. It is just where you live. (3) Granted, we should take care of the body so that we can live longer and serve Jesus better, but no matter what you do, your body will die. d. You will never die because you are not a body. You are a spirit. e. But once your spirit leaves your body, your body will die because a body without a spirit is dead. 4. Here we have an amazing truth: For a body to liveany – bodyit must have a spirit living inside of it. 5. The Green Pond Baptist Church to be alive, we must have the Holy Ghost. a. Sadly, I am not sure we really comprehend that truth. b. Question – How strong is the Holy Ghost in the Green Pond Baptist Church? c. Another question (which actually partially answers the first question – How strong is the Holy Ghost in you? 6. I do not want to get too deep into this issue because of time, but did you know the Holy Ghost must be sought? a. I dont mean that you have to have a "2nd blessing" as some teach. (1) No. You got the Holy Ghost when you got saved, but His presence on you and His power must be sought. (2) By the way, the manifestation of the Holy Ghost is not primarily an unknown or some religious experience in a church house. (3) The primary manifestation of the Holy Ghost is that He separates you from sin and into service for Jesus Christ, compelling you to behave like Jesus Himself. c. That is call "being filled with the Spirit." d. How is He sought? Several things. (1) Remove yourself from sin. (2) Give yourself to God. (3) Seek His presence in prayer. e. Have you ever sought the Holy Ghost? f. If not, your level of the Holy Spirits presence in your life is weak and you lack of Him is causing His presence to be weak in the church. g. We are connected both by in ALL BODY and in the US BODY. Paul made a simple but profound statement in our text verse. You are the body of Christ. May God help us to understand the importance of that position.