A Body
Whole-Heartedly
Purposing God’s Plan
We have a head from the beginning and through to the end purposed and planned
We have a heart that bled, intervenes for us, cleans us up
Both touch every aspect of the body and has its best interest in mind.
How does the body function.
With a head and a heart.
And systems to keep them going with gift and purpose.
No aspect holds back, but operates beyond normal operating capacity to give of itself.
They labor together and separately as needed to accomplish what is required.
The don’t serve self, but the whole, under the direction of the head.
Well-fare/being of the body to accomplish its purpose
Ephesians 4:1-16 (organizational/factory – structure)
adopted heirs – very wealth father
a whole lot in common
no one can replace you
no two congregations alike
so often we want to be someone else.
need to be attached for workability
Romans 12:3-8 (family/sports team – workability)
– be self aware, honestly
whole lot of parts – each vital
don’t rate/treat differently
1 Corinthians 12 (city/orchestra – concern care for all)
1 Peter 4:7-11 (theater/temple – a big story)
the bigger story – end is near; it’s not about you.
Gal2:20 not me that lives; Christ!
make sure we are not ‘costuming other than Chrsit’
we are all important; overall status unimportant
Php 2:1-20
2 Corinthians 8-9 Treasures in Jars of Clay
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;…
Ephesians – like a victory in war
Psalm 68 – sharing the spoils of victory
the gifts of God for the purpose of God
the gifts belong to the other
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We can break up into all sorts of groups/ and those groups will pull from other group sortings – because to accomplish a thing we need each other, we need to work together.
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What happens if one holds out on the others? imbalance, malfunction
If we hurt one leg, and thus offset to the other – the whole skeletal system is off – and pain, discomfort, and possibly damage to many other parts of the body occur. -
What happens when we understand each other? compromise, compensation, building up of each other.
If we recognize weakness and build the support structure to protect and heal, all is restored in function. Function as a team one can win rather than be handicapped. -
If you lose hearing your other senses become more keen and so on.
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If you have a team and only one is a ____, this one may be the most vital as that gift become the most rare!
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We should not hold back on what God has given us – even if it is not our primary functions – many systems of the body have overlapping functions.
The major systems of the human body
Videos referred to that expand the message:
- The Cracked Pot–Is it really a Cracked Pot?
- The First Follower–If we are faithful and sensitive to the Lord’s leading in our lives, even in our discomfort zones, there’s a first follower in everyone of? If you don’t think so, consider the lengths you might risk discomfort for a loved one … if even to save a life. We’re in the life-saving business!
