“If we are The Body… “What’s in it for me?

“The church is an eternal organism in the earth, doing the will of God and accomplishing the purpose of God.”

Colossians 1: “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”Colossians 1: “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”

are 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

in the house of God, which is the church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth1 Timothy 3:15 – “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

It is God’s vehicle to get us where he wants us to goIt is God’s vehicle to get us where he wants us to go

waytruth lifeJohn 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

while they beheld, He was taken upActs 1:9-11 – “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

way truthlife  John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:….” The church is our vehicle to get us where God wants us to go. (It’s the WAY to get there)The church is our vehicle to get us where God wants us to go. (It’s the WAY to get there)

…“What’s in it for Me?”

It’s Where we findIt’s Where we find our authority

It is God’s instrument through which we carry out his commission to goIt is God’s instrument through which we carry out his commission to go

are 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

is the head of the body, the church He might have the preeminence Colossians 1:18 – “And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

Matthew 28: “Go ye therefore, and teach ( disciple ) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

in the church that was at Antioch Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them they their theythem theybeing sent forth by the Holy GhostActs 13:1-4 – “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

It is God’s Family through which He Designed us to gRoWIt is God’s Family through which He Designed us to gRoW

It’s Where we findIt’s Where we find our BELONGING

The Longing for Eden

ImmortalityImmortality

The Longing for Eden ImmortalityImmortality WealthWealth

The Longing for Eden ImmortalityImmortality WealthWealth PowerPower

The Longing for Eden ImmortalityImmortality WealthWealth PowerPower BelongingBelonging

Colossians 2:10 – “And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power”

Colossians 3:1-2 - “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

What are the THINGS to SEEK above?

The THRONE of God.The THRONE of God.

was the likeness of a throne of the throne Ezekiel 1: “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”

I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne Isaiah 6:1-3 – “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

a throne throne Revelation 4:1-2 - “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

What are the THINGS to SEEK above? The WORD of God.The WORD of God.

in heaven Psalms 119:89 - “For ever, O LORD, thy Word is settled in heaven.”

What are the THINGS to SEEK above? The PERSON of God.The PERSON of God.

in heaven 1 John 5:7- “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Mark 12:30 – “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: ….”

What are the THINGS to SEEK above? The FAMILY of God.The FAMILY of God. ( Ephesians 2 and 3 )

are 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

It’s WhereIt’s Where we find Our encouragement

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it 1 Corinthians 12: “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

Romans 12:15 - “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Let us Let us let us Hebrews 10: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Hebrews 3:13 - “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

“The church is an eternal organism in the earth, doing the will of God and accomplishing the purpose of God.”

“One another”-245 times in KJV Romans 12:5 – “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”Romans 12:5 – “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

ExhortExhort (Hebrews 3:13, 10:25) ConsiderConsider (Hebrews 10:24) Provoke (stir up for good)(rally)Provoke (stir up for good)(rally) (Hebrews 10:24) Confess Your Faults ToConfess Your Faults To (James 5:16) Pray ForPray For (James 5:16) Have Compassion ForHave Compassion For (1 st Peter 3:8) Show Hospitality To …without grudging!Show Hospitality To (1 st Peter 4:9)…without grudging! Be Courteous ToBe Courteous To (1 st Peter 3:8) Minister ToMinister To (1 st Peter 4:10) Bear BurdensBear Burdens (Galatians 6:2) DO:

Care ForCare For (1 st Corinthians 12:25) ServeServe (Galatians 5:13) Forbear (put up with)Forbear (put up with) (Ephesians 4:2) (Colossians 3:13) ForgiveForgive (Ephesians 4:32)(Colossians 3:13) Be Kind - “be pitiful”- kindheartedBe Kind (Eph. 4:32)(1 st Peter 3:8)- “be pitiful”- kindhearted Be TenderheartedBe Tenderhearted (Ephesians 4:32) TeachTeach (Colossians 3:16) ComfortComfort (1 st Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11) Be Subject To (respect)Be Subject To (respect) (1 st Peter 5:5) DO:

Have peaceHave peace (Mark 9:50) Love and many other places in scripture (total of 19) – John 15:12 “as I have loved you”Love (John 13:34)(John 15:12)(1 st Peter 1:22)(1 st John 3:14,4:12) and many other places in scripture (total of 19) – John 15:12 “as I have loved you” Be kindly affectioned (cherish)Be kindly affectioned (cherish) (Romans 12:10) Prefer (leading the way to safety)Prefer (leading the way to safety) (Romans 12:10) Be likemindedBe likeminded (Romans 12:16)(Romans 15:5-7) Edify (build-up)Edify (build-up) (Romans 14:19)(1 st Thess 5:11) ReceiveReceive (Romans 15:7) Admonish (caution)Admonish (caution) (Romans15:14)(Col. 3:16) DO:

Deal Falsely WithDeal Falsely With (Leviticus 19:11) Lie To (Leviticus 19:11Lie To (Leviticus 19:11 (Ephesians 4:25) OppressOppress (Leviticus 25:17) JudgeJudge (Romans 14:13) Be A Stumblingblock ToBe A Stumblingblock To (Romans 14:13) Be Puffed Up AgainstBe Puffed Up Against (1 st Corinthians 4:6) Provoke (in anger)(stir up to wrath)Provoke (in anger)(stir up to wrath) (Galatians 5:26) EnvyEnvy (Galatians 5:26) Prefer (Be Partial)Prefer (Be Partial) (1 st Timothy 5:21) Speak EvilSpeak Evil (James 4:11) GrudgeGrudge (James 5:9) DON’T:

It’s WhereIt’s Where we find Our accountability

Matthew 18:15-18 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

not to company if any man that is called a brother 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 – “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

that he may be ashamed 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

I beseech you, brethren Romans 16:17-18 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend;…” Ephesians 4:15 – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”

Galatians 6:1 - “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

AuthorityAuthority BelongingBelonging EncouragementEncouragement AccountabilityAccountability

That’s what’s in it for you… what’s in it for others because of you?