The Body Has Many Members
This topic has been mentioned before.
The Apostle Paul talked about the body of Christ.
I Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
To bring this concept to life, here is a short video illustrating the point. And this is only with the digestive system. It is not talking about the skeletal system, muscular system, endocrine system, nervous system or other major systems of the body.
The point is, if it is important for every part to be in place, doing its specific job, we can extrapolate from that a bit of understanding on how important it is for each part of the body of Christ to be in its exact place.
For example, in one part of this video it mentions three enzymes. What if only two are present, and not the third, what then?
Considering the body of Christ in relation to the principles of this video helps bring the realization of how important it is for each part of the body of Christ to be in its exact place, not trying to imitate another part of the body, but being where it needs to be in its specific support of the body. And when that happens, the whole body is stronger and functions better.
In a sense, the natural human body has more sense and self-preservation than the body of Christ. If injury occurs to the natural human body, white blood cells and other nutrients flow to help combat the injury. The eyes may view the injury and send messages to the brain. The brain may, though messages sent through the nervous system, may instruct the hands to wash the injured area with water to wash away germs. The various parts of the body and various systems of the body work together for healing.
But in the body of Christ, due to the fallen nature of man, there arises warfare in the body. If one part of the body is fallen or injured, often other members “pile on” and make healing more difficult.
The Apostle Paul said this. The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”
Yet that seems to occur at times.
In a natural body, can a liver say it has no need of a heart? Can the digestive tract say it has no need of a mouth? Can the muscles say they have no need of the skin or bones?
The whole human body is fity joined together, interwoven into one functioning whole.
When one part of the body is healthy, it contributes to the health of the whole body.
The body of Christ similarly must not try to take down other parts of the body, but simply recognize that they are doing a different task, which, when successful, contributes to the body as a whole.
In a physical body, certain parts of the body will probably never have any interaction. For example, a toe nail will likely never interact with a spleen.
But if a toe is stubbed, the whole body feels it.
Only certain parts of the body, for example, the blood cells that carry nutrients and oxygen, only certain parts of the body interact with more than localized parts of the body. In some way, the whole body is connected, but in terms of functional interaction, some parts of the body work in a more localized way, such as the heart, or gall bladder. The blood, on the other hand, flows throughout the whole body.
No part of the body is insignificant. And when each part is doing what it should to the greatest of its capacity, the body as a whole is strong and can do mighty exploits.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost: The Bible – David and Goliath
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
In the Name of the Lord, We Set Up Our Banners
Not too long ago, a little boy asked me to play a board game. I agreed. He pushed the instructions toward me and told me to read them. I asked him about one of the playing pieces. “What does the flag stand for?”
He was quick to inform me in a rather definitive voice, When you capture the flag, you win.
A little child shall lead them.
Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
In a Bible Dictionary, Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary, “banner” is referred to under “ensign”. Among the definitions it says this: “probably resembled…a figure or device of some kind elevated on a pole…such as…the king’s name.”
And who is the King’s name? The name of Jesus.
And so when the authority of the name of Jesus is used over a situation, when Jesus is Lord, the victory is won.
When you capture the flag, you win.
Short Clip of Kenneth E. Hagin, The Authority of the Believer
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Bible
John P Salvatore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
God is a God of Order
Photo Credit: Brett Jordan, Unsplash
I Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
Translators have a certain latitude when it comes to translation. In other words, “truck” could be defined as a pickup, dualie, 4-wheeler, semi, or perhaps even by manufacturer name. When translating from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, translators make those judgment calls, sometimes in committees with extensive notes.
So when I Corinthians 14:33 is translated, some use the word “confusion”; some use the word “disorder”.
In reality, the two are related. Where there is disorder there is confusion.
There can be disorder in various ways: in a church, household, family or individual life.
There can be disorder in the body of Christ, where one part of the body tries to play the part of another part of the body.
There are many ways to approach the topic of disorder. There can be disorder in a sports team, where players are not working in unity. There can be disorder on a medical staff.
For purposes of this post, the topic will center around disorder|order on an everyday basis.
Much more can accomplished the more perfectly you can order your environment and day.
Another word for “ordering” a day would be walking in a certain “way” and the Bible has many verses about way(s), path(s), and pathways. Here are a few.
(KJV) Psalm 25:1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth….
This is intended to be extremely practical on a day-to-day basis. While it is recognized that this could also apply to “enemies” in other considerations, this will be about day-to-day “enemies” in disorder, for example, strugging to find what you need when you need it, or forgetting to pack something that you need for a trip, or forgetting to take your passport to the airport.
This will only be an outline, a lot more could be said, perhaps at some other time. But for now, here are a few helpful points.
First of all, recognize that organization, like nutrition, is somewhat unique to each individual. If you read various books on organization or listen to various organizational teachers, this becomes apparent. One size does not fit all. So find the system that works best for you. These are some general tips and taylor them to what works for you.
- Do it now. Whatever it is, do it now. If you think of it, do it now, or as much as you can, right now. In other words, if you remember you need to call someone Monday, and it is Saturday, at least write a note in a way that you won’t forget. If it is coming to mind, there is a reason. Deal with it now, whatever it is, now.
- If you have the same problem more than once, figure out why and deal with it. Don’t keep having the same issue day after day. Not necessary. If it is a family or group-related thing, figure out how to solve it. Get together. Find the best solution. Implement it. Yes, that takes time to get everyone together to do this, but once you find a solution, your daily/weekly time wasted dealing with that problem over and over will disappear. And if it is a group thing, there is accountability, and that really is better for everyone. Everyone becomes better as they become accountable, even if it is a voluteer organization.
- If you can’t figure it out, find someone who can. There is someone who can give you an idea that you might not be able to think of on your own, simply because you may not have the experience or background necessary. Read a book. Find someone with skills you don’t have and barter skills. If you absolutely are stuck, it is worth it to pay someone who can easily do what you find difficult to do. There is no shame is saying, this is not my skill set. There is no point in staying stuck. Someone can easily do what you find difficult to do, or can at least teach you a few skills to make your life easier.
- Give away or sell what you don’t need. You will find a simplified life is a more peaceful life. Recognize that some things are needed for a season, but perhaps you no longer are in a certain line of work, or have moved, or for any number of reasons, no longer need certain objects. When they are out of your life, you life will be simpler.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Finding Your Place Within the Body of Christ
Jesus prayed:
John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
The importance of oneness was brought out in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 11:1 (KJV) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
St. Paul likens the Christian church to a body where each part of the body has a particular function.
I Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
In science we learn that for anything to happen within the human body, digestion, movement of muscles, growth, anything, a number of factors are involved. For example, in digestion there are enzymes. There are also co-enzymes which do not do the job of the enzymes, but are necessary for the enzymes to work. And so it goes. Multiple comparisons could be made.
Perhaps the thinking of the world has seeped into the body of Christ. Some people seek to have the most “likes” on Facebook. American Idol pushes the idea that unless you are the “one” winner, that you are the loser.
All that really is not in line with the thinking of the body of Christ.
There are those with the gift of administration. They should be leading in whatever capacity their gifts take them. There are those with the gift of helps. They should be helping in whatever capacity their gifts permit them to help.
If the body of Christ is ever to be one and have the power that is promised in oneness, there has to be a unity that comes from all members finding their place in the body, not trying to take the place of another, but finding their exact place and functioning there.
In reality, in a physical body, a liver cannot do the work of the kidney. The tongue can’t do the work of the hand. The eye can’t do the work of the ear or foot. It would be foolish to even try.
A liver is best being a liver. An eye is best being an eye. A hand is best being a hand. An ear is best being an ear.
When each part is fitly joined together, that is the place of increase.
Ephesians 4:16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
What of the Cross?
I Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
….
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; 25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, 29 that no flesh should boast before God. 30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Help Mom Year Round
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James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
While Moms will probably be treated better today than usual, it is good to be helpful and treat them better all year long.
Every man that is ignorant of what his wife is concerned about is imitating Elkanah, who was the husband of Hannah. He seemed to be oblivious of the fact that his other wife was bullying Hannah concerning Hannah’s inability to conceive a child. He seemed to be oblivious of the fact that a child was important to Hannah.
There are lessons to be learned.
Problems in a household arise because people are oblivious of the things that need to be done.
Now moms/mothers are aware of all the many details that need to be done because they can’t get away from those details. There’s laundry to do, dishes to wash, homework help for the kids, lunches to prepare, diapers to change, noses to wipe, floors to mop, windows to clean, bills to pay, kids to transport, events at the school and a myriad of other details.
Often, not saying always because there are some good shining examples where this does not happen, but often the kids and dad just walk past all those details or simply leave them to the mom, or add to them.
How many bags of trash have moms taken out that a child or dad could have taken out instead?
How much laundry have moms picked up off of bedroom or bathroom floors simply because no one bothered to put it in a laundry hamper or washing machine?
How many floors have moms swept that someone else could have swept?
How many pets have moms fed and watered and taken care of because no one else did?
How many little details were thoughtlessly left to the mom to do when someone else could have, and should have, done them instead.
Moms are detailed oriented. They have to be. Laundry has to be done on a regular basis or no one has clothes to wear.
Food has to be purchased regularly and prepared or no one will eat.
Dishes have to be washed on a regular basis or no one will have utensils to eat with.
Where are the dads and kids helping with the work? Moms do not need to be carrying the weight of the household by themselves.
Let’s put it in scriptural terms.
Moms are not called to carry the crosses that others are either unwilling or too lazy to carry.
If you don’t help, there is a loss, because any time someone picks up work someone else should be doing, something unique that could have happened does not happen because things are not in divine order and gifts are being misused.
We Gather Together Lyrics
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Repost: ANCIENT CHINESE RECORD ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS!
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Repost: Pray This 4 Minute Prayer with Morris Cerullo NOW To Receive The Greatest Miracle In All The World!
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.