1 Corinthians 12 v1-19

This is a very significant passage. 

 In this chapter, the apostle describes how the Church should function.  It is essential to remember that Christ built his Church, and in his last words of earth told his Apostles they were to continue his work and take the gospel to all nations. The Apostles faithfully fulfilled his commands, and now his followers to-day have a duty and responsibility of continuing the work.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church, and has come to a point where he is dealing with spiritual gifts.  The  gifts were those of the Apostles, to authenticate their teaching when stablishing the Christian Church, following the departure of Jesus.

Paul begins this passage and relates to pagans, which was just another way of stating they were not Jews.

Those Gentiles found that some in the Church were speaking ‘in tongues’, This means they were using what was known as speaking in a spiritual way, and having come from idol worship, the new members were confused and referred to Jesus as being accursed.  Paul told them that only people filled with the Holy Sprit could say Jesus in Lord.

Paul in later times, spoke against such speaking, as it tended to make new members leave, as the words could not be understood,  and it created an appearance of delusion.

 He likens the Church to a human body, and describes it as the body of Christ.  The Church is the means by which Jesus reaches out to the world, and we keep this in mind.                                                                                       

Paul begins by describing the Church is the body of Christ, and as a body is formed by many parts, so is the Church. All the parts are to function with dependence on each other in a body, and all members of the Church are to work in fellowship together.  The Lord fully expects his people to work in harmony and fulfil their work with sincerity. There should be no identifying as different people. Men/women, black/white, employer/worker. Irrespective of nationality.

Paul emphasises the analogy of the human body to that of the body of Christ.   The major part of a body is of course, the head, where the brain controls our actions and unites all the other parts, and Christ is the head of the Church.  

An ear performs one vital function, but so does an eye; the body needs both; similarly with hands and feet.  Never consider yourself as an unimportant part of the Church. You may not be called to preach or lead a Bible study group, but there are so many other equally important tasks in their own way by which you can take an active part.  If everyone did the same thing, the Church would be ineffective.

But a body only functions properly if it is healthy, and every part is working properly.  We must accept we need one another, and there is no need for competition or jealousy.  Occasions arise when, someone feels they are not being given the recognition they feel their secular work demands, and others are doing what they should be doing.  If any organ in our body fails, the whole body is affected and any disruption in the Church affects the whole situation.

The Church is not just a group of religious people gathered together to enjoy mutually desired functions.  We should be sharing the same kind of life, belonging to the one Lord, filled with His Spirit and be working together to change the world.  Such is what makes a true and healthy Church.  Just coming to Church in itself, does not necessarily make you a Christian, you have to believe in and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

Paul states, for in one spirit we were all baptized into one body

You may ask, in what way can you play your part?   The Spirit unites people and avoids division. Water baptism is an outward sign of conversion, being baptized in the Spirit is having been fully committed after repentance and a declaration of faith and united to the corporate body of believers

There are so many ways by which your gift can be exercised, possibly in a manner you have never considered.  In a Church I was once at, we gave everyone £5 and invited them to use their talent to increase it, with the proceeds going to the Church.  People found they had hidden gifts.  So often gifts are seen as only relating to ministry, which is so wrong and narrow an outlook.  The Church is not like a bus, with the Vicar being the driver, and all others passengers.

Often we find professional men and women who have their professional talent to use in the service of the Church, and they serve well and so usefully, especially gifts of accountancy and law.  But also valuablem is the man or woman who can do technical, work effecting repairs; or the lady gifted with flower and decorative arrangements; ladies who spend hours baking for Church fairs.  I had two sisters in their 80s who worked tirelessly, and I cannot imagine how we could have done without them. Other ladies regularly clean the Church, which is not to be seen as a meanial task, it is as worthy as any pother work, and is usually by females.

One thing I have always reegretted, is that many Churches have magazines in which are filled with events which have taken place.  There are also many seasonal fayers with members atending to stalls of various goods. The essential is, what is the individual Church doing to proclaim the gospel.   

Every Church magazine should have a Bible story, and full timetable of servicescstating the type of service.  The place of seasonal sales posted with details of the services on the entrance and leaving doors..  We miss vital opportunities to advertise our faith. Business spends thousannds of pounds on advertising and would only do so if it proved worthy,, we can do so with very little expence.  Sometimes it seems as if we are embarrassed at telling of our  presence.

Sometime of course, it may seem as your work is not appreciated, when you do not get the thanks and recognition your work has merited.  Do not be depressed or disheartened, if you have done it for God, He will be pleased and recognise you.  When all our gifts are put together we can become a strong body, able to serve the Lord as He would want. 

 

 

May God bless His Word to us, and may He be ever glorified