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06.08.07:Light for the Day
"The Body of Christ"
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(Home) (VN) (C1) (C2) (K) (S) (F) (It) (De) (Ar) ("Pray To Receive Christ") -- Epheisans 1:22-23 22 And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the Church, 23 which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. 
This is the real Church of the Lord Jesus Christ -- not merely organisation, but a group of people, individually the children of God, drawn together by the Holy Spirit for a particular task, either in a local situation or over a wider area. The Church of the Lord Jesus should be a group of those who are redeemed and bound together on the basis of true doctrine. But subsequently they should show together a substantial "sociological healing" of the breaches between men, which have come about because of... man's sin. The Christian sociological position is that the sociological problems which we find... are a result of the separation that has come between men because of sin. Now the world should be able to see in the Church those marks [which show] that there is a substantial sociological healing possible in the present generation. It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God's people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will take notice. Each group of Christians is, as it were, a pilot plant, showing that something can be done in the present situation, if only we begin in the right way. -- Francis A. Schaeffer
He works on us in all sorts of ways. But above all, He works on us through each other. Men are mirrors, or "carriers" of Christ to other men. Usually it is those who know Him that bring Him to others. That is why the Church, the whole Body of Christians showing Him to one another, is so important. It is so easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects - education, building, missions, holding services... The Church exists for no other purpose but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs.... God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other reason. ~ C.S.Lewis
Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion -- it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ. ~ Billy Graham Revival cannot be organized, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again. ~ G.C.Morgan Revival is a Divine attack on society. ~ R.McIntosh
-- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! -- John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. -- Colossians 1:15-18 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the Body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. -- Ephesians 4:2-7; 11-16 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is One Body and One Spirit -- just as you were called to One Hope when you were called -- 5 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; 6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 11 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; 27-31 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that One Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. 12 The Body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one Body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by One Spirit into One Body -- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -- and we were all given the One Spirit to drink. 27 Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. -- Romans 12 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one Body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyBody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Deut. 32:35) 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (Prov. 25:21-22) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -- Colossians 3:12-17 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of One Body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. //////////////////////////// -- Psalms 84:10 Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. -- Psalms 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the House of the LORD." -- Psalms 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. -- Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the LORD forever.
Church Bulletin: Give God what's right - not what's left. Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period. God grades on the cross, not the curve. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church. We don't change God's message - His message changes us. The church is prayer-conditioned. When God ordains, He sustains. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. If God is your co-pilot - swap seats. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning. Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. Wisdom has two parts - 1) Having a lot to say 2) Not saying it. (Pray) Never give the devil a ride - he will always want to drive. Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
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