The Body Works
1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4
We often call Jesus Christ the Chief Shepherd of this church, and everyone else, including and especially me, are under-shepherds, and we are all called to care for one another on behalf of the Chief Shepherd – Jesus.
When the Bible talks about how we “work together” (how we “function together”), it often uses the analogy of how a “Body works” together (and so we are called “the Body of Christ”).
And we are the Body of Christ
We are his hands and feet
We are his loving arms
We are his caring heart for those around us
And it is the Holy Spirit who orchestrates how the Body works together. It is the Holy Spirit who causes us to be dependent on one another for the health of the Body.
We often refer to the Holy Spirit as the Church Administrator because one of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to fit us together – to administrate the Body working together. He’s the Administrator of the Church because he administrates the Body working together to function in a healthy way. He also orchestrates or administrates our dependence on one another – our inter-dependence. So, Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, Holy Spirit is the Church Administrator, and one of the many roles (the Holy Spirit does so much, he has so many roles in the Godhead). But one of his roles is making the Body work. Making it function. He’s the one who takes us and fits us together in the Body so that the Body works.
In the past two weeks, I’ve seen it come alive. I saw the Body work, and I saw it work (it took some leadership), but without worldly motivation. It was just the inspiration of the Body, the Holy Spirit causing the Body to work. We have this incredible move of God in and through the Body where the Body was caring for itself; those who were well were caring for those who were sick. And everybody who could was saying, what can I do? Where do I fit in the “Covid Relief Ministry”? It was incredible.
I was down hard for twelve days. With many others in the Body (about a third of the church) sick at the same time, I saw this Body work seemingly perfect to accomplish so much care for one another, and it has amazed and inspired me. And so today, I want to look at how the “Body works” so well together and why this “Body is working” so well together now.
The Holy Spirit gives the Body of Christ all it needs. Whether we are functioning in it or not is different – we call that the “our part” part. The Holy Spirit gives us what we need through the gifts he has given to each one of us, and somewhere in the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit has specifically and individually gifted you to fit for us all to become functioning parts of the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
A spiritual gift is given to each of us . . .
But notice, the gift is not for our own benefit. Look at the end of 1 Corinthians 12, verse 7.
A spiritual gift is given to each of us So We Can Help Each Other.
The Holy Spirit gives us gifts so we can help each other, and that is when we become a functioning part of the body.
1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
This is how the “Body works,” and this is why “this body is working” so well right now.
This is a truth that will forever change how you view church.
The Body of Christ was not created to meet your expectations.
Instead, you were created to be a functioning part of the Body of Christ for the good of everyone else.
And that is exactly what I’m seeing right now in this Body.
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12, verses 4-6. This is how the Holy Spirit has put the Body of Christ together in order for it to function in a healthy way.
1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT)
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
The Holy Spirit has distributed different kinds of spiritual gifts to each one of us in the church, and the Holy Spirit is the source – the Administrator of them all.
And so then with those different KINDS of spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12 verse 5 says,
1 Corinthians 12:5 says (NLT)
5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.
So, two people can have the same gift but use it in different kinds of service. Two people may both have the gift of mercy, but one serves in the nursery with newborns, and one serves in hospice with those preparing to die. Same gift from the Holy Spirit – but different “kinds of service.”
So, different KINDS of gifts
and different KINDS of service
1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT)
6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
Meaning I can stand here and teach the Bible in one way, and then another person with the same gift of teaching can stand here and teach the Bible in a different way. Same gift – same Bible – different ways. Make sense?
There are different kinds of gifts
There are different kinds of service
And different ways that God uses all the different gifts – ALL for the benefit of the Body of Christ.
God takes each of us and gives us different gifts and then works through us in different ways so we can all help each other as we follow Christ together. Isn’t that a perfect plan?
And I’ve seen this Body working so well in these past two Covid years – it’s been awesome.
God has called each of us to be a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ, and so, if we don’t know yet what that means, we have to figure out where we fit and what we were made to do in order to be a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ.
And so, what does it look like when we become a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
When we are becoming a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ, we will be helping each other.
On the eve of Christmas Eve, Fletcher, here in the church, calls me and says he has a truckload of toys that need to go out to the community. I make a couple of calls – one to my missionary-hearted granddaughter Jozzie and one to Manny, and we go into the community. We go to the homes locally we know need us, and then afterward, we are driving down Hansen Street and see a tour bus over at Lucky Farms. I said we are turning around, and we went and drove in. There were probably sixty farmworkers – dressed to the nines – getting ready to head back to Mexico to be with their families for Christmas. We were able to distribute the toys to all of these young dads to take back to their families for Christmas. They were so moved – as we were.
My point is this. We have different gifts. Fletcher – I don’t know why – was called to collect gifts from his shop, perhaps giving a discounted or free service, and people said they would bring a gift in exchange for the service. I do what I do – that’s lead. Jozzie was thrilled to be a part of this. Manny, well, he’s Manny, and he has specific gifts as well. This is an example of those gifts coming together and working in the Body here in Nuevo, making a difference in the lives of others.
And so, in 1 Corinthians 12, verses 8-10 is our first primary list of the different kinds of spiritual gifts that are given by the direction of the Holy Spirit to be used in different kinds of service as the Holy Spirit places us and to be used in different ways as God has made us, and all to be used to help each other in the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
That’s a lot of gifts, but it’s barely scratching the surface of all the spiritual gifts we see in the Bible. And notice (in the next verse) it is the Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NLT)
11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts, and he alone decides which gift each person should have. The Holy Spirit knows how you were made (because he was there when you were made – Psalm 139 says), and the Holy Spirit has gifted you to fit in the Body of Christ exactly where he has made you to fit.
God makes us for where he puts us. Isn’t it awesome? It changes the whole “consumer mentality” of church. Here’s what we like to say in the ministry, “Listen, fit where you fit and don’t throw a fit.” Just fit where you fit. And don’t throw a fit.
So, these gifts (1 Corinthians) are most often called the manifestation gifts because by them, God is manifested (shown or displayed) in your life.
But now, let’s turn over to Romans Chapter 12. In Romans Chapter 12, we see what are most often called the creation gifts because we generally see these gifts in the way God has created a person; these are the gifts you were most likely born with.
But – as a reminder – let’s start in Romans 12, verses 4-5.
Romans 12:4–5 (NLT)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Isn’t that awesome – We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
This is the universal Church and individual church bodies.
And then,
Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
These are the people who have been speaking out in faith to many of us who have been sick.
7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well . . .
These are the people who have been at the top of their game while so many have been sick, and we have incredible servants in our Body.
7(b) . . . If you are a teacher, teach well.
These are the people who have been suggesting how to get better to the people who have been sick.
8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging . . .
This is the wonderful gift of encouragement that we see so much in this Body, and I especially love this gift.
8(b) . . . If it is giving, give generously . . .
By God’s design, the Body of Christ cannot function without givers – every single thing we do involves someone giving. We are all called to give, everything about following Christ is giving, but some are given a special gift of giving. Here’s what I have found about the people who have the gift of giving. First, they support churches and ministries. It’s phenomenal to watch. Second, God always gives them enough money to give. Isn’t it amazing that when someone has a gift of giving, that God makes sure that they have enough to give? God says in Malachi, test me on this.
8(c) . . . If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
We had one person these past two weeks who was primarily laying on the couch sick – sending out dozens of texts a day to help those who were well to be able to help those who were sick.
8(d) . . . And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
During this pandemic, this gift has been at the top around here, from making masks in the early days (two years ago) to taking supplements and food to people in the past two weeks. There are so many in our Body with this gift of simply “showing kindness.”
So, these are what we call the creation gifts.
The point is, this is how and why the Church works.
And then, finally, our third primary gift list is in Ephesians Chapter 4. This list is most often called the leadership gifts because they are given for leading the church. Let me skip through a few of the previous verses leading up to the leadership gift list.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:4 (NLT)
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Ephesians 4:7 (NLT)
7 However, he (God) has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his (Christ’s) work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
These leadership gifts are given
to equip God’s people (the Church)
to do God’s work
in order for God’s people to build up the Body of Christ.
Can you see the Holy Spirit really does have a great plan for the Body of Christ to work well?
We just listed twenty-one different kinds of gifts (which is nowhere near a complete list). All these gifts are used in different kinds of service. They are all used in different ways, and they are all used for us to help each other as we follow Jesus together.
In the last twenty years, this church has not always “functioned” in a healthy manner. We’ve had some hard times when we’ve had people operating in the flesh and not in the gifts (fruit) of the Spirit. But in the past few years, as I’ve grown older and a bit more tired, by God’s immeasurable grace, so many of you have embraced the gifting God created you with. And as a result, this church is functioning at a level of spiritual and tangible health that I could only dream of for many years.
Thank you to every single person who has embraced their role in this body and who is operating in the gifting God has given you. We’ve seen this Body work throughout the entire pandemic. In fact, maybe we’ve seen it more because of the pandemic. But we have seen it work, and I have seen it work, and I’ve seen it in full force these past two weeks.
So, my encouragement for you today is, if you don’t already know, you’ve got to seek God for the answer to this question.
What were you made for in the Body of Christ?
Where were you made to fit in the Body of Christ?
And, how can you become a functioning part of caring for the Body of Christ?
Let me close by reading three verses, all from 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
1 Corinthians 12:25 (NLT)
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
What an awesome time we’ve had serving the Lord Jesus together. Thank you for being part of it.
When the Bible talks about how we “work together” (how we “function together”), it often uses the analogy of how a “Body works” together (and so we are called “the Body of Christ”).
And we are the Body of Christ
We are his hands and feet
We are his loving arms
We are his caring heart for those around us
And it is the Holy Spirit who orchestrates how the Body works together. It is the Holy Spirit who causes us to be dependent on one another for the health of the Body.
We often refer to the Holy Spirit as the Church Administrator because one of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to fit us together – to administrate the Body working together. He’s the Administrator of the Church because he administrates the Body working together to function in a healthy way. He also orchestrates or administrates our dependence on one another – our inter-dependence. So, Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, Holy Spirit is the Church Administrator, and one of the many roles (the Holy Spirit does so much, he has so many roles in the Godhead). But one of his roles is making the Body work. Making it function. He’s the one who takes us and fits us together in the Body so that the Body works.
In the past two weeks, I’ve seen it come alive. I saw the Body work, and I saw it work (it took some leadership), but without worldly motivation. It was just the inspiration of the Body, the Holy Spirit causing the Body to work. We have this incredible move of God in and through the Body where the Body was caring for itself; those who were well were caring for those who were sick. And everybody who could was saying, what can I do? Where do I fit in the “Covid Relief Ministry”? It was incredible.
I was down hard for twelve days. With many others in the Body (about a third of the church) sick at the same time, I saw this Body work seemingly perfect to accomplish so much care for one another, and it has amazed and inspired me. And so today, I want to look at how the “Body works” so well together and why this “Body is working” so well together now.
The Holy Spirit gives the Body of Christ all it needs. Whether we are functioning in it or not is different – we call that the “our part” part. The Holy Spirit gives us what we need through the gifts he has given to each one of us, and somewhere in the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit has specifically and individually gifted you to fit for us all to become functioning parts of the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
A spiritual gift is given to each of us . . .
But notice, the gift is not for our own benefit. Look at the end of 1 Corinthians 12, verse 7.
A spiritual gift is given to each of us So We Can Help Each Other.
The Holy Spirit gives us gifts so we can help each other, and that is when we become a functioning part of the body.
1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
This is how the “Body works,” and this is why “this body is working” so well right now.
This is a truth that will forever change how you view church.
The Body of Christ was not created to meet your expectations.
Instead, you were created to be a functioning part of the Body of Christ for the good of everyone else.
And that is exactly what I’m seeing right now in this Body.
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12, verses 4-6. This is how the Holy Spirit has put the Body of Christ together in order for it to function in a healthy way.
1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT)
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
The Holy Spirit has distributed different kinds of spiritual gifts to each one of us in the church, and the Holy Spirit is the source – the Administrator of them all.
And so then with those different KINDS of spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12 verse 5 says,
1 Corinthians 12:5 says (NLT)
5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.
So, two people can have the same gift but use it in different kinds of service. Two people may both have the gift of mercy, but one serves in the nursery with newborns, and one serves in hospice with those preparing to die. Same gift from the Holy Spirit – but different “kinds of service.”
So, different KINDS of gifts
and different KINDS of service
1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT)
6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
Meaning I can stand here and teach the Bible in one way, and then another person with the same gift of teaching can stand here and teach the Bible in a different way. Same gift – same Bible – different ways. Make sense?
There are different kinds of gifts
There are different kinds of service
And different ways that God uses all the different gifts – ALL for the benefit of the Body of Christ.
God takes each of us and gives us different gifts and then works through us in different ways so we can all help each other as we follow Christ together. Isn’t that a perfect plan?
And I’ve seen this Body working so well in these past two Covid years – it’s been awesome.
God has called each of us to be a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ, and so, if we don’t know yet what that means, we have to figure out where we fit and what we were made to do in order to be a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ.
And so, what does it look like when we become a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
When we are becoming a healthy, functioning part of the Body of Christ, we will be helping each other.
On the eve of Christmas Eve, Fletcher, here in the church, calls me and says he has a truckload of toys that need to go out to the community. I make a couple of calls – one to my missionary-hearted granddaughter Jozzie and one to Manny, and we go into the community. We go to the homes locally we know need us, and then afterward, we are driving down Hansen Street and see a tour bus over at Lucky Farms. I said we are turning around, and we went and drove in. There were probably sixty farmworkers – dressed to the nines – getting ready to head back to Mexico to be with their families for Christmas. We were able to distribute the toys to all of these young dads to take back to their families for Christmas. They were so moved – as we were.
My point is this. We have different gifts. Fletcher – I don’t know why – was called to collect gifts from his shop, perhaps giving a discounted or free service, and people said they would bring a gift in exchange for the service. I do what I do – that’s lead. Jozzie was thrilled to be a part of this. Manny, well, he’s Manny, and he has specific gifts as well. This is an example of those gifts coming together and working in the Body here in Nuevo, making a difference in the lives of others.
And so, in 1 Corinthians 12, verses 8-10 is our first primary list of the different kinds of spiritual gifts that are given by the direction of the Holy Spirit to be used in different kinds of service as the Holy Spirit places us and to be used in different ways as God has made us, and all to be used to help each other in the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
That’s a lot of gifts, but it’s barely scratching the surface of all the spiritual gifts we see in the Bible. And notice (in the next verse) it is the Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NLT)
11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts, and he alone decides which gift each person should have. The Holy Spirit knows how you were made (because he was there when you were made – Psalm 139 says), and the Holy Spirit has gifted you to fit in the Body of Christ exactly where he has made you to fit.
God makes us for where he puts us. Isn’t it awesome? It changes the whole “consumer mentality” of church. Here’s what we like to say in the ministry, “Listen, fit where you fit and don’t throw a fit.” Just fit where you fit. And don’t throw a fit.
So, these gifts (1 Corinthians) are most often called the manifestation gifts because by them, God is manifested (shown or displayed) in your life.
But now, let’s turn over to Romans Chapter 12. In Romans Chapter 12, we see what are most often called the creation gifts because we generally see these gifts in the way God has created a person; these are the gifts you were most likely born with.
But – as a reminder – let’s start in Romans 12, verses 4-5.
Romans 12:4–5 (NLT)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Isn’t that awesome – We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
This is the universal Church and individual church bodies.
And then,
Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
These are the people who have been speaking out in faith to many of us who have been sick.
7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well . . .
These are the people who have been at the top of their game while so many have been sick, and we have incredible servants in our Body.
7(b) . . . If you are a teacher, teach well.
These are the people who have been suggesting how to get better to the people who have been sick.
8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging . . .
This is the wonderful gift of encouragement that we see so much in this Body, and I especially love this gift.
8(b) . . . If it is giving, give generously . . .
By God’s design, the Body of Christ cannot function without givers – every single thing we do involves someone giving. We are all called to give, everything about following Christ is giving, but some are given a special gift of giving. Here’s what I have found about the people who have the gift of giving. First, they support churches and ministries. It’s phenomenal to watch. Second, God always gives them enough money to give. Isn’t it amazing that when someone has a gift of giving, that God makes sure that they have enough to give? God says in Malachi, test me on this.
8(c) . . . If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
We had one person these past two weeks who was primarily laying on the couch sick – sending out dozens of texts a day to help those who were well to be able to help those who were sick.
8(d) . . . And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
During this pandemic, this gift has been at the top around here, from making masks in the early days (two years ago) to taking supplements and food to people in the past two weeks. There are so many in our Body with this gift of simply “showing kindness.”
So, these are what we call the creation gifts.
The point is, this is how and why the Church works.
And then, finally, our third primary gift list is in Ephesians Chapter 4. This list is most often called the leadership gifts because they are given for leading the church. Let me skip through a few of the previous verses leading up to the leadership gift list.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:4 (NLT)
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Ephesians 4:7 (NLT)
7 However, he (God) has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his (Christ’s) work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
These leadership gifts are given
to equip God’s people (the Church)
to do God’s work
in order for God’s people to build up the Body of Christ.
Can you see the Holy Spirit really does have a great plan for the Body of Christ to work well?
We just listed twenty-one different kinds of gifts (which is nowhere near a complete list). All these gifts are used in different kinds of service. They are all used in different ways, and they are all used for us to help each other as we follow Jesus together.
In the last twenty years, this church has not always “functioned” in a healthy manner. We’ve had some hard times when we’ve had people operating in the flesh and not in the gifts (fruit) of the Spirit. But in the past few years, as I’ve grown older and a bit more tired, by God’s immeasurable grace, so many of you have embraced the gifting God created you with. And as a result, this church is functioning at a level of spiritual and tangible health that I could only dream of for many years.
Thank you to every single person who has embraced their role in this body and who is operating in the gifting God has given you. We’ve seen this Body work throughout the entire pandemic. In fact, maybe we’ve seen it more because of the pandemic. But we have seen it work, and I have seen it work, and I’ve seen it in full force these past two weeks.
So, my encouragement for you today is, if you don’t already know, you’ve got to seek God for the answer to this question.
What were you made for in the Body of Christ?
Where were you made to fit in the Body of Christ?
And, how can you become a functioning part of caring for the Body of Christ?
Let me close by reading three verses, all from 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
1 Corinthians 12:25 (NLT)
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
(we’ve seen that SO MUCH in this Church)
What an awesome time we’ve had serving the Lord Jesus together. Thank you for being part of it.