Ephesians 4:1-17 One Body

Ephesians 4:1-17 NIV
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (vs 4-6)

We may be many; yet, we are one in Christ. We are united in His Body as we abide in him and he in us. We, who are members of this Body of Christ have been called and equipped for service in order that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Do you see what that means? Although our good works contributes nothing toward our salvation; we are called to serve the whole body according to the gifts that have been given to us as individuals for the edification and growth of the body of Christ, who is the Church, who is Jesus the Christ. (vs 12-13)

We must all serve in unity, according to the will of God, with the mind of Christ, who is our head, in order for this maturity to happen. What I've witnessed all too often is that when one person tries to do it all nothing much gets accomplished. Too many frying pans in the fire at one time being handled by one person and something is liable to get left undone or burned. Many congregations and even denominations are like that. We equip only a few for service and growth, if there is any, is slow. It's because some of the members of the body of Christ aren't working.

Consider the times that you may have injured an arm or a leg, maybe you had a lung infection or other illness that affected one part of your body. Did that one member of your body not slow you down; maybe, even stop you from doing anything? 

We are all members of one body, meant to work in unity and unison so that the whole body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge and Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

So lets get with it and equip all of the saints! Train the members of the body so that together we might grow in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. So much in these 17 verses, one can barely begin to cover the enormity of what they mean for us in a simple blog. Read them and pray for a greater understanding often.

Matthew 4 - Temptation Will Come

Following Jesus baptism, he is tempted. After the temptations, which he resists; he goes out to preach and heal.

I have noticed that there seems to be, for many people who are baptized as older youth or adults or those who affirm their baptisms, a similar order to these things. I warn everyone who comes to me expressing their desire to be baptized or affirm their faith that they need to be aware that following in the footsteps of Jesus is not something that should be taken lightly. I also warn them that once they are baptized or affirm their baptisms, they will most probably see an increase in temptations. Faith affirming activities do not please the devil. Or, maybe they do. Maybe, he delights in the opportunity to try our faith through temptations.

I no longer can keep track of the teenagers and adults that I have known, who once they were baptized or affirmed their baptisms, who have never again gathered with God's people to worship. Well, maybe some have come back for a wedding or funeral....

Take it seriously, even as Jesus was tempted, we will be tempted. Following in the footsteps is not something for the fainthearted. You will need strength, courage and above all the faith with which you have affirmed publicly. It makes me real edgy to hear the affirmations of young people who are profess their faith only as a practice of ritual and have no real sense of what they are about to step in to. I care about these children and fear that they do not really understand what they are promising God. If they are not actually armed with the faith in Christ that they publicly profess they are going to have a rougher time than any of them expect..

It is wise when we affirm our faith and share the good news to be prepared to cling to the one who was able to resist temptation so that we might make it through those troubling times (which the devil will indeed tempt you with) with our faith still intact.

God's peace - Pr. J

P.S. The Sacraments and rites of the church are more than empty rituals; more than stepping stones on life's way. Playing with them, without any understanding of them is as dangerous as a baby playing with fire. There is a purpose to each of them for the growth and the edification of the Church and for you. If you're not sure about them, see me or better yet; come to Worship and/or Bible Study and get the bigger picture.

Haggai 1 - Build Up The Temple Of God

A message from the LORD of Hosts through the prophet Haggai: 

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:4-11 NIV)

The people had become complacent; spending all their time caring for their own homes; their own needs rather than trusting God to care for them. Because they worried so much about themselves, they were neglecting the rebuilding of God's Temple.

The message today is simply this: build up the LORD's house - His Holy Temple. Now, I am not speaking of a building of wood or brick or mortar, but the Body of Christ, wherein dwells the Spirit of God. That Body is the Church. We (those who follow Jesus) are the Church. We are to be about building up this Spiritual Temple and we do this by hearing and proclaiming God's word, by receiving and sharing the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Yes, the church building is an important factor in the life of a Christian. It is where we gather to be nourished by God as a family.  A loving family gathers as often as they can at their home and cares for that home and others in it. We, who are members of the family of God; likewise, gather often to be nourished as brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow members of the Body of Christ, for the mutual edification (building up) of the Body of Christ, which is the Church, the Temple of God.

Build up the Temple of God - hear His Word, receive the Sacraments which He has freely given you by the very death of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD. And... do not neglect to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J