Gifts To Edify

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (1 Cor 14:12 KJV)

Our call is to edify the church not to destroy it. The church is the Body of Christ and according to St. Paul's letter to the church we are to help the church to grow. We are to help improve the visible church here on earth.

When we shine the spotlight on someone's particular gifts and ignore the gifts of all of God's children we are endangering the fellowship of the saints in the Body of Christ. Our mission is not to glorify ourselves or anyone else within the church because of particular gifts that we might have been given. Each and everyone of us has been given gifts by God; not for our own glorification; but, so that God is glorified through every member of the church.

God help us to excel in the edifying of the church! God help us to glorify him in all that we say and think and do!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Gather Together Often!

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

                                                                        (1 Cor 12:18-25 KJV)

As I attended a meeting for the South Eastern Conference SEC of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) last night I could not help but wonder why the various members of the Body of Christ are reluctant to come together. I am not only speaking of those who profess to be Christians and rarely gather with others to worship God. I am also speaking of whole congregations who prefer to be isolated from the rest of the Body. 

Sometimes it is doctrinal difference particularly when it comes to gathering with others of a different denomination. Sometimes, it is because they have genuine animosity toward a brother or sister in Christ of another congregation.  Sadly; sometimes, it is also because we do not want anyone interfering in the power that we may have in the congregation that we are in. We simply do not want anyone interfering with the little bit of control that we think we have in our place of worship. Yes, sadly, there are members of congregation who do not have care for one another; but, only to build themselves up. They want no outside interference reminding people that we are all members of the One Body of Christ and that every person is as important as the next in the growing up of the Body. There are those who actually think that we do not need one another and that we are not a part of the same Body. 

The list of excuses used for not gathering together with other Christians is too long to be able to go over them all. But, remember that we are One Body and one member is not better than another. God gives each of us gifts to the growth of the Body and they must be used together "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph 4:12)

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

                                                                      (Eph 4:1-7, 11-12 KJV)

The LCMC South Eastern Conference in conjunction with St. Paul's Lutheran Seminary is sponsoring a conference on the "Two Kingdoms" on Jekyll Island” on April 19 and 20 this year. Join us! More information can be found at this link: https://semlc.org/conference-registration/

Let us not neglect to gather together in the bond of peace often!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Grow Up

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

                                                                                           (Eph 4:11-16 KJV)

Each and every individual, it does not matter who you are or where you are from, have gifts; have abilities, to serve God and humankind. These God-given gifts are not meant to serve you alone or to enable you to lift yourself up over others. They are given so that as you use these gifts the Body of Christ, the whole people of God, are lifted up and united. By the loving use of the gifts that God has given us through Jesus the Christ we are edified and grow up as members of one Body in Christ.

May God help us to love as He loves so that we might truly grow up united and work together for the good of all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

One Body

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

                                                                             (Eph 4:4-7, 11-13 KJV)

We may be many; yet, we are all 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. 

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 growth it is very slow. That is 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

Growing Up In Christ

Growing up in Christ is not easy; but it is essential.

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." 

                                                                                    (Eph 4:14-16 KJV)

To truly grow up takes a lifetime and even at the time of death we still will never be as mature as we could be. Society, today, gives us about eighteen years to help our children grow up and then we turn them loose on the society. As Christians, we do our best to teach our children who Jesus is and what he has done for us and why. We pray that they will follow him. But, the devil prowls and not everyone would have our children go in "The Way" that they should go for their own benefit and for the good of society. With the help of God, we do what we can while they are with us and then we continue to pray for them until the day that we die.

It would be most helpful for our children and for society if we could all work together to help all of our children grow up into him is the head, even as we continue to grow in Christ. May God help us to follow in "His Way."

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Gifts For The Glory Of God

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"   

                                                                       (Eph 4:1-8,11-13)

We are all called to serve, according to the vocation that we have been called. If you wonder what that would be for you; how you can serve, then look at your gifts. What gifts has God given you so that you might serve and His children most fruitfully? Consider your talents closely and how they can be used to build up the body of Christ. Do not think so highly of yourself thinking that you can do it all because no one person has all of the gifts necessary. 

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.." 

                                                                                      (Rom 12:4-7 KJV)

God gives to each of us gifts to support and build up on another; to build up the whole body of Christ. When they are used this way these gifts glorify God. We are all members of the one body in Christ. There is a purpose for the gifts that we have been given and it is not to glorify one member of that body; but, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith..."

As members of the body of Christ, may all that we say and think and do glorify our Father in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love Increases

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. (2 Thess 1:3 NRVS)

On the first Wednesday of every month our congregation has a special service or program followed by a soup supper. The services began this past year with me leading a prayer or healing service and has evolved into having members of the congregation leading. 

This past Wednesday the theme was on Valentine's Day and love. Phyllis did an absolutely marvelous job sharing about the love of God in Christ and about the love we have for one another. The most amazing part was not just about what she said; but, about how her love of God and for us was seen in her words and actions as she presented some really Good News. What she shared about love was shared with genuine love. It was a unifying and edifying time together. It was evident in the way in which she shared the love of God that we are family and that not only does God love us; but, she also loves God and all the brothers and sisters in Christ to whom she was speaking.

And, then... all the brothers and sisters in Christ that were present gathered in the fellowship hall to share their love for one another over some awesome soup and bread.

I thank God for the love of every one of you for one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.